Over time, high heeled shoes have become a symbol of much more than just footwear. While some dismiss them as a vain frippery that could actually cause pain and musculoskeletal problems, others go so far as to define high heels as a form of pandering to the male gaze; a symbol of women who permit themselves to be objectified willingly subject themselves to discomfort. On the other hand are women – and men, apparently – who feel that high heels are about empowerment.
This man was inspired by the shoe choices of his female colleagues who said they felt empowered by their footwear choices. He now wears high heeled stilettos to work a few times a week and loves it!
Since ancient times, high heels have been used as riding footwear. In medieval and renaissance Europe, they were a symbol of status: people who didn’t have to physically labour for a living could afford to be in impractical footwear. Also, high heels keep aristocratic feet clear of the mud and squalor of the streets. They were originally meant for men, and women then adopted the fashion.
Call it vanity, call it a shoe fetish or anything else, many women simply love wearing high heels. Some women don’t feel fully dressed without a pair of high heels; some feel more confident in a pair of high heels. Some women feel that high heels improve their posture. There are many men such as the man in the video above, who enjoy wearing what we think of as women's high heeled shoes. Some men don high heels to show support for women’s issues.
For some women (and perhaps some men as well) it’s simply about wanting to be taller. Men do have a natural advantage in terms of height. Some women just want to be able to be on the same ‘footing’ – literally – as men; ergo the sky-high heels.
Many argue that high heels are a symbol of male expectations of what a woman should look like to be desirable. It is about women suffering discomfort to seek male approval. Some jobs require women to wear high heels whereas there is no comparable expectation from men. It is similar to our social conditioning about body hair, uncouth behaviour, gendered behavioural expectations where women are held up to far higher, more exacting standards than men.
One of the clinching arguments against high heels is that they are painful, uncomfortable and could actually cause significant problems. High heels are restrictive, prevent the wearer from being quick and purposeful and increase the risk of falling.
Clearly there are different views about high heels and they may all be partly true. Yes there are social and other expectations that force some women into wearing high heels. Equally there are women who simply enjoy wearing high heels; many choosing to wear them only occasionally or choosing more comfortable types of heels such as platforms and wedges. Then again if there are men who want to wear high heels, they should be free to do so without having to undergo ridicule and disapproval from others. Real empowerment is about the freedom to choose – and this should apply equally to women and men – shouldn’t it?
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