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.

  • Mothra@mander.xyz
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    6 days ago

    Hello, woman here. I wouldn’t chalk it first hand to child like features. As long as you don’t have an elbow growing from your forehead, and as long as you bathe regularly you should be alright physically. You get a pass so to speak. By all means keep doing whatever you feel is the right thing to do about your looks, but don’t put all the energy there.

    I’d say it’s more your attitude, since you mention being socially awkward. I speak as someone who faced similar woes to yours, with the aggravant of being told to be attractive.

    If you keep to yourself most people will let you be and not bother you. Guys will hit on girls they can talk to and feel comfortable talking to.

    My suggestion would be join a group or activity that you enjoy. Bonus points if it is a group activity, but don’t let this restrict your options. This gives you access to people with similar interests, which already breaks down the ice, and also gives you something to talk about yourself if you meet people elsewhere. It’s helpful when socializing if you have something other than work and study in your life, like a hobby or a passion.

  • Bigfishbest@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago
    1. That must be quite frustrating and difficult for your self esteem.

    2. You may be right, but you might be putting your own insecurities on to the motivations of others. The world from other people’s perspective don’t always align with what we think. Could what you describe be as easily explained by something else, perhaps even your insecurity about it?

    3. Have you discussed this issue with friends / family and gotten their honest thoughts? Do they agree that what you say could pose a problem?

    4. Have you attempted to make yourself look older with makeup and such? Are the results the same with as without?

    5. Do you have male friends you can ask if you are attractive?

    6. Are there republican conventions nearby? If the men there show interest and say you’re mature for your age, you may want to A. Run B. Conclude that your features may be a challenge.

    7. If men don’t approach and talk to you, try approaching and talking to them. Showing you’re interested and available is usually a turn on. Men are simple.

    Best of luck.

  • PNW clouds@infosec.pub
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    5 days ago

    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.

    • adhd_traco@piefed.social
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      5 days ago

      From my understanding this tag is self-prescribed. She might have miss-clicked it upon account creation and didn’t change it in her profile settings.

    • Perspectivist@feddit.uk
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      5 days ago

      I thought it was clear as day that this is a fake post. I can’t believe the amount of serious answers here.

      • alina@lemmy.worldOP
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        5 days ago

        Again, why?I have a lot of specific and strange problems that I’m afraid to share with people, but this isn’t even one of the strangest, what’s so unrealistic about it??

    • Pamasich@kbin.earth
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      5 days ago

      Where do you see that?

      • The account type is a ‘Person’ account according to the federated JSON-LD. Bots use a different type.
      • I don’t see your instance claiming it’s a bot on her profile.

      So I’m a bit confused where this screenshot is from.

      If it’s just some random app, I don’t see how it has the information to conclude this is a bot. It’s a brand new account, no other content on it, and the app doesn’t have information on ip and other stuff like that. There’s nothing to go on.

  • serpineslair@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    Just pluck up the courage to hit on guys… 80% of men will find that in of itself attractive, especially the more shy ones. As another comment said, men are fucking simple.

  • Perspectivist@feddit.uk
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    5 days ago

    It is a toupee fallacy to claim that bait/fake posts are always so easy to spot, but this is definitely a toupee here.

    Edit: Damn, people are seriously responding to this. I thought it couldn’t be more obvious.

    • alina@lemmy.worldOP
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      5 days ago

      lmao, why is this fake? I sincerely share my problem and I admit that this post sounds confusing and strange because I was crying and I didn’t know how I could describe it more clearly. I admit that I might have exaggerated this problem a bit because of my emotions and frustration, but what is so unrealistic in this situation, please explain??

  • GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Is there anything you can do to make yourself look your age? Makeup, clothing, push-up bra, etc? Maybe go to age restricted locations (for example, in the U.S. there are some bars that require patrons to be at least 18/21 and they check ID’s at the door to verify)?