To hate heels for little girls

[RainOnATinRoof]

For work I was involved in running a family event over the weekend. I was shocked at how many little girls were wearing high heels. Like this, but also a lot of boots with heels even higher. On girls age 6-10.

It's one thing for an adult to choose to wear heels, but buying them for a child? Do people really not understand how damaging they are? They alter the gait causing unnatural stress on feet, ankles, knees, hips, spines etc. I don't know why someone would want to subject a growing body to this.

When I was a girl I coveted high heels (but children's heels didn't really exist back then outside of tap classes), so I can understand that some children may beg for them, but parents can always say no. Just because they are in the shops doesn't mean you have to buy them! (note, I'm not talking about the plastic dress up heels which are usually worn around the house only).

I think they look awful on children. Tack-tastic. And tbh I judge parents who let their children wear them.

well, i judge parents that are so controlling they wouldn't let their child have a pair of party shoes they wanted.

It's not up to my DD to fix all of society's problems, and i refuse to accept that girls wearing heels is any worse than boys wanting to wear suits - they are just trying to appear grown up.

I've pointed out many times to my DD that I never wear heels, she just loves them.

Luckily for me dreaming my daughter has good taste and doesn’t like this type of shoe so I’ve no need to be “controlling”

Must be your superior parenting there Mary...

Suits don't cause foot, leg and back problems. They don't stop you from walking normally, they don't force parts of your body into an unnatural position.

No sorry, suits and heels are not the same.

You’ll be called “controlling” if you carry on like that Delete.

I find flats terribly uncomfortably and heels and wedges much better.

Anyway the shoes are fine for the event described by the op. What a fuss about nothing st all

What makes you think that I'm not teaching my daughter to fight sexism where it's important? I'd rather she wore what she wants to but realised that this had really nothing to do with how good she is at maths, science etc.

Frankly, judging other women and girls for what they wear and considering them trashy on that basis/making assumptions about their parenting is all a bit icky for me.

“Controlling”?

Of a ten year old? isn’t that rather under the job description “parent”?

Quite happy to be “controlling” is that means “perfectly ordinary parenting choices”

I was obsessed with high heels as a child... begged my parents for heeled shoes and did end up with some because of that. I dont think its actually that bad as its about trying to form a female identity using stereotypical markers which is something many kids go through and then just grow out of as they become more comfortable with themselves.
I was totally obsessed with heels the higher the better, until I was about 21. Now days I dont own a single pair of heeled shoes. Cant be doing with them at all.
I think its just the same as makeup. Dont make a big deal about it with young children. They arent doing it in teh most part to sexualise themselves they are doing it as an experiment and the less interest you take in that the more quickly they lose interest in it themselves.

I remember my mum just used to let me wear what I wanted when I was around ten years old and I mustve looked mental. I used to try and copy the spice girls and wear platforms and stockings etc...
Im really glad she just let me go through that though because I think actually as a result I have less issues about my body than I might have done. She never made me feel like I shouldnt wear any particular thing which I think set me up well for later life.

Frankly, judging other women and girls for what they wear and considering them trashy on that basis/making assumptions about their parenting is all a bit icky for me.

Pot calling the kettle there since you branded parents controlling for not letting them wear unsuitable footwear. Seems it's ok for you to judge those of us who are against heels for children. But when it's the other way round it's totally unacceptable. FWIW no one judges the children wearing these shoes, it's the parents who have final say after all.

I also don't judge women for wearing heels, as an adult you can make an informed choice, but I do feel sad that for a woman to be considered 'smartly dressed' then that usually means wearing heels even if they are uncomfortable. You'd never catch men going to such lengths to appear smart.

To be honest I don't give a shiny shit if being against heels being marketed at children makes me judgemental. They are awful and kids shouldn't have their movement restricted by footwear designed for adults. If that makes me judgemental then so be it.

oh come off it - i said i would judge controlling parents directly in a response to a post saying they judged parents of kids wearing the dreaded high heels.

It's all a bit of a circle of grumpiness, isn't it?

I'm not sure this thread has really added much to the world in terms of moving women or girls forward.

muncheysmummy that's not true heels were originally created for men to wear especially when horseback riding as they stayed in the stirrups better that's why cowboy boots have heels, also butcher's wore them to stop getting blood on the bottom of their trousers, they were not created to make women's hips swing and look sexy

Well that’s how they’ve ended up!

I think we’re also talking about varying heights and kinds of heels here. Cowboy boots may have a heel but it is wide and still flat on the bottom. And I’ve never seen a butcher in stilettos.

Yes they look awful, but there are few 6-10 year olds with any taste. If you are that judgy though then please stop working with families.

I agree with the OP that they are unsuitable. In my view no adult should be forced to wear heels either.

As for 6-10 year olds having no taste- unfair to single them out as about 90% or more of people in the UK have no taste when it comes to clothing.

Also, everything that @Glazedover said.

They are hideous and I hate seeing children and pre-teens in them. If they would be 'wrong' for a toddler they are wrong for all pre-pubescent children.

i hate seeing little girls in heels, and im also not keen on heels for most adults unless theyre very good at walking in them, which about 80% of wearers arent.