I'm not a woman, but i can provide some insight nonetheless.
Well, you don't say your height, so it will be hard for a woman to make a determination as far as your height. But it is not just women on this forum. Taller men are viewed as stronger, more commanding and better leaders. Also a full head of hair. There are various traits viewed, both by men and women, that causes people to make assumptions about the type of man they're looking at. And those traits will be more appealing, on average, to women.
But, much like men, women come in different heights. Even if you are not taller, there are women who will be shorter and will see you as taller than they are, and still maintain that attraction. Or even a woman your height.
Height is only ONE factor of attraction, also. When these women are speaking of height, they are also considering other factors. I think the concept here is that they want a man to be taller than they are. Whether they're 5'4" or 5'9". Long as you can be taller than them, that seems to be the priority. Not just being tall.
But at the end of the day, it's irrelevant. You can't change your height. So no point in focusing on it. Just go out there, be yourself, and you will fit into someones ideas of attractive.