I’m 23 years old, but I look 14. I always looked younger than my age, even when I was in school. I’m 167 cm, which is the standard female height where I live, so I guess it’s my face, something with the shape of the bones, I dont know. I am sincerely convinced that this is the main reason why men have never approached me. I’m also quite socially awkward and not very pretty, but that’s usually not a problem for other girls, so I think it all comes down to my child-like features. I’ve never seen men look at me with desire, or that they’ve ever been shy when talking to me. I feel completely desexualized and lonely and I suffer so much because of it. This problem sounds so stupid and absurd, but that’s what I’m dealing with… At the very least, it’s probably worth being glad that men aren’t so attracted to childish features in reality…
Sorry if this post is too messy, I don’t feel well while I’m writing this.
This was me. When I got married at 26, the date of one of the guests thought I was the teenaged babysitter. (We met for the first time the day before)
Dating while in school/college was easier because the guys knew I was their age. And that I just looked young. Some of them caught shit for “dating a high schooler” even though I was actually in my 20s and a college student.
I was friends with my now husband for three years before we got married. Making friends with people, making a connection, can help them see you as the adult you are. Then you start to look like someone they’d want to date. I was 23 when we met and became friends, we started dating over a year later. Dated for 2 years and married ever since.
Things are different now, as far as meeting people. I know that. But how people perceptions change is still the same. Sometimes you have to just let people get to know you and get past the initial “She’s young” until they realize you are not that young.
Once someone knows you, they’ll think of you as their peer, even if you look young (or old for that matter)
If you just want hookups, that’s trickier. Because the easy pickings are um, questionable in their tastes when you look like a teenager. Or they are the teenagers. Just be careful if you go that route.
Oh, and I was an A cup, size 2 petite. So skinny and short on top of looking young. I also got mistaken for a boy if my hair was pulled back.
Learning to love my body and it’s changes through the years, boosting my self-esteem, finding things I could be passionate about… those things are very attractive to others because those things make you feel better about yourself.