Summary
A shorter chin length is typically perceived as a feminine trait, as opposed to the larger, more pronounced chins generally found in men. Men often exhibit more pronounced lateral tubercles (bony areas at the chin base), contributing to a broader chin appearance, identified as a masculine feature. Thus, comparatively, a shorter, less broad chin is seen as feminine. This understanding is further supported by a 2012 study by Garvin and Ruff, which utilized precise 3D surface laser scanning to examine chin differences between genders. The study found that, besides larger overall size and volume, men’s chins feature more prominent mental protruberances (forward-pointing parts of the chin) and lateral tubercles, and are typically taller. Consequently, the relatively shorter, less prominent chins observed in women are considered feminine.
Research
A shorter chin length is considered a feminine feature because it contrasts with the typically larger and more prominent chins seen in men. According to Thayer and Dobson (2013), men often have more projecting “lateral tubercles” or bony areas at the base of the chin, contributing to a “broad chin” look. This broader chin is usually more pronounced in men, making it a masculine trait. So, in comparison, a shorter, less broad chin is seen as a more feminine feature.
Additionally, another study conducted by Garvin and Ruff (2012), where they used a method called 3D surface laser scanning to study differences in chin features between men and women. This type of scanning allows for very precise measurement of body features.
The study found that men generally have larger and more protruding chins than women when looking at the absolute size and volume. Men generally have more noticeable chin features, like the mental protruberance (the forward-pointing part of the chin) and lateral tubercles (small bumps or ridges on the side of the chin), and they also tend to have taller chins.
So, the reason a shorter chin length is often considered a feminine feature is because women, on average, have less prominent and shorter chins than men.
Reference
Thayer, Z. M., & Dobson, S. D. (2013). Geographic variation in chin shape challenges the universal facial attractiveness hypothesis. PloS one, 8(4), e60681. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0060681
Garvin, H. M., & Ruff, C. B. (2012). Sexual dimorphism in skeletal browridge and chin morphologies determined using a new quantitative method. American journal of physical anthropology, 147(4), 661-670. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22036