The disadvantages of being short:
I'm short, barely under 5'1" - most of my life I hated being the small fry. And since I've got them child bearing hips and a, erm, uh, bosom... and a very small waist, finding clothes that fit properly all around has always been an obstacle for me, just as it is for some of my friends (both male and female) who are really tall.
I can't reach anything when I see something at the grocery store that's on the top shelf. I usually wait for a good samaritan who's tall to come along and grab an item off a shelf.
Because I'm short, people can't see me. Or people choose not to see me. It happens all the time when I'm standing in line somewhere. People will try to cut right in front of me or sales people behind the register will look right over my head and flag down the next (taller) customer they see who happens to be right behind me.
I can't tell you how many times I've almost broken my ankle or neck from wearing high heels.
Sitting comfortably in chairs (especially the ones in schools or restaurants) is, well uncomfortable. It's not that I can't reach the table or desk, but my feet don't exactly rest comfortably on the ground - they usually dangle there. I can't sit back in a chair, as the seat of the chair won't allow my knees to bend. So I have to sit forward enough so my feet will rest on the ground but the edge of the seat piches the area above the knee which affects the circulation in my legs.
There have been studies shown that shorter people have a harder time moving up the corporate ladder - this goes for men and women. It is perceived that taller people exude an air of authority and assertiveness over a person of short stature (hence, a boss that everyone *should* look up to) This may be a cultural bias though. Also, short people who are assertive either in the workplace or wherever are tagged as having a Napolean complex.
The Advantages:
Aside from the minor but sometimes annoying quirks above, I really enjoy my height now that I'm older. I am perfectly comfortable in my body, it's just me and I like it. It took a long time to get over the fact that society likes to tell young women that being tall and slender with no hips is "in" and fashionable and sexy and important.
Miss MacPhisto mentioned that being short gives you a more youthful appearance which I believe to be true in my case. I think it may be one of the reasons why people don't think I am the age I am.
Being short means you can sit in the backseat of a car and not get your shins caught underneath the front seat.
Being short (and a short woman in this case) means that when I am at the store and I want something off the top shelf, it's usually a much taller man who happily jumps to the rescue. heheh.
Being short means I can play dress up to the 9's and wear high heels, and not dwarf everyone in the room.
Being short means there's more cuddle room with my 6'1" husband.
That being said - everyone usually has some sort of gripe about their height or size or whatever. It's really all a matter of how you perceive yourself in the end. There's advantages and disadvantages to every size in the spectrum.
As far as what I like in the opposite sex: Personally I've always gravitated toward taller men but I've dated or been attracted to a few short hottie men. I never really had a preference, never expected a person I was with to have a certain hair color or eye color, or fill a height requirement. But I think one of the reasons I may have gravitated toward taller men could have something to do my being short - my primal instincts assuring my survival and protection come from someone of the opposite sex who is larger than I am. I know that was a loose based scientific theory, but on the same notion there are primal instincts that indicate that taller women are sexier (more suitable for bearing larger children, and by larger I mean *larger* in the sense that the offspring will ensure survival as opposed to offspring that are smaller and 'weaker.') Taller women, as it is indicated in magazines made to appeal to both sexes, represent full grown womanhood (as opposed to the shorter stature of vertically challenged women with a short set of pegs which is more indicative - in a primal way - of women who haven't reached adulthood yet.) <--- anyone ever see the program called The Sex Files on Discover Channel, it talks about this
On the same token it is noted that taller men symbolize strength, sexual prowress, virility and protectiveness - which tap into the women's primal instinct of choosing a mate with these qualities to ensure propagation of the human race.
Again, the ideas above may be due to some cultural bias therefore indicating that size does indeed matter.
But personally, I don't think size matters. There are advantages and disadvantages to everything in size. In my eyes I think there are as many short men and women who are attractive, sexy, strong and assertive as there are tall people of the world. Looks aren't everything.