Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, stands at a height of 6’1″. This makes him taller than the average American male. However, when comparing his height to that of his wife, Michelle Obama, who stands at 5’11”, he is just tall.
When it comes to describing people as tall or short, it is important to have a referent or comparison point in mind. In the case of Barack Obama, his height is often compared to the average height of American men. This is why he is considered tall.
Stereotypes also play a role in how we perceive height. There is a stereotype that men are taller than women, which leads us to judge individual men and women on their height relative to within-group standards. Michelle Obama, being 5’11”, is considered tall for a woman, but if we were to compare her height to the average height of American men, she would be considered average.
It is important to note that subjective judgments of height can be influenced by stereotypes and within-group comparisons. While Barack Obama may be perceived as tall, if we were to use a measuring tape to determine his height in feet and inches, he would come out on top. This highlights the importance of using objective measurements and avoiding the problem of shifting standards when making judgments about height or any other attribute.