Shoes for Women - why is their pressure to wear uncomfortble footwear to 'fit in'?

[TwoCotbeds]

When buying shoes, I am remindeed of the old chinese culture on foot-binding. Why is it one gender ( men) can buy shoe which are smart for work AND can also walk all day, round town in comfort, or over grass, say.... but Women have the only Option of 'smart' shoes for work that go with a suit,and look professional or shoes that they can easily wear in comfort all day - but not both ?

I think this has got worse recently with the fashion for very, very high shoes which actually damage the foot.

I always think to myself, a womans and a mans foot is structurally the same. They are not different shapes, like torsos are. Of course I like to look feminine not male, but I also like to walk as much as I like.

I was also told by a chiropodist that the only reason court shoes ( ones with no strap) ever actually stay on, not fall off is because they are actually too small !

I looove clothes and finding nice ones - just don't believe in heels and I find clothes that you cannot sit down in without a major 'wardrobe malfunction' impinges on the 'joy' I get from living

Thank you msrisotto.

Fashion to me is like art.

Yes I agree - I think beautiful high heels would probably look great in a frame or on a shelf - just not on my poor feet

I stand and drink champagne and laugh and talk, and I only have to move fast if someone farts.. Ok only joking . But I don't wear heels to cross London on foot or anything.

Marsha, I don't wear heels myself, but I don't judge others who do

I think the facts do speak for themselves though, when you wear very high heels you are effectively "hobbled" or in danger of breaking an ankle

they also throw out your posture abnormally (the bit that appeals to men) by creating a deeper curve in your back, sticking your bottom out and tautening the muscles in the back of your calves

hence, low back pain, heel pain, chronically shortened achilles tendons and all that before talking about what they do to your actual foot/toes

having said that, I do love fashion myself, and shoes, for some women are a true "love"

I will admit I'm not a woman who loves loads of shoes.(or bags) I have infact one pair of Chloe pumps! And some mj boots with solid heels and flat vw ones. And two bags, one man's Paul Smith one and a nice one from liberty.

I prefer clothes. But I do just want to wear them for a few hours a month at a social do without feeling too bad about that darn patriarchy.

so do it marsha...wear what you like

Oh I know I went on about it

Most of my posts were trying to work out if I can be a feminist and wear heels. Feminist v fashion Angst!

And if there any others that feel the same.

I don't feel the same about shoes, but I do about some other stuff

eg. make-up. I wear make-up regularly.

I wear clothes that flatter my figure (I have a good one and am proud of it) and although never very low-cut/revealing nor very short, could be considered to be alluring to men, I suppose.

I do buy from a site called netaporter or Liberty. Fashion stuff, sometimes expensive (but keep it for years). I do enjoy it. Like I enjoy good food, films or books.

I understand others don't, which is fine. But because it is a little bit connected with looks I suppose it can be seen as superficial, shallow or for men.

I quite like the argument that some things aren't particularly feminist actions in themselves but we don't have to do feminist things all the time. So when I wear clothes that flatter my perfect hourglass figure I'm not going to tie myself in knots trying to argue that this is in fact a feminist thing to do - I think it's just a human being thing to do, in the context we live in - but I'm damned if I'm going to feel guilty about it! Being a feminist means you support women's liberation, it does not mean you have to wear a uniform.

the line (delivered with a certain amount of irony sometimes, depending on what you are talking about) 'you do what you have to to survive in the patriarchy' is a good one too I think.

Of course there are people with 100% integrity and consistency who do feminist actions whenever they get a chance, and I respect and admire them, but we don't all have to be them - we all have different ways to contribute to the struggle

hairshirts are soooo last season, dahling

Tall women are less likely to find a partner and less likely to have children because men generally prefer short women. It seems unlikely that women are going to succeed in the male dominated workplace by wearing heels to be taller, when many prefer shortness.

I think the preference of men for women in heels is to do with the other qualities of heels, and not because of an illusion of height.

I disagree. I know my height works to my advantage in interviews. Height and slimness. They don't even look at my shoes.

Anyfucker

Anyone who thinks they can't wear high heels due to them not fitting their feet, no problem you can have you deficiencies fixed!

Men prefer short women ? Where did you get that idea Milly ?

I am very tall for a woman (5ft 10), and have not been short on offers over the years

Men love tall women, IME

I have a short friend who always says she feels undervalued and would love to be "tall and have a commanding presence"

Then again, I would love to be petite and not tower over half the men I meet

I think the only tall women who may struggle to find a partner are those who cannot accept a bloke that is smaller or of equal height to them. But let me tell you, it is not because blokes aren't interested...

I have never had a problem either.

Quite handy as attracts the right men for me (ie not sexist aholes)

AF, I read a research paper a few years ago (am tall by the way!). It may not be true though.

Anyway, I think that are possibly different pressures on tall women in terms of appearing feminine, and the way you have to modify your appearance are different to those that a short woman might have. I would never have short hair for example, because I think I have to tone down the intimidating impact of my tallness.

I can only say that paper you read is mistaken, from my own experience, M

I have short hair. It suits me, because I have crap hair. Great legs, crap hair

I am sure I have read read about research that says tall women are more likely to be single. But there are many reasons why that might be....

Maybe they keep getting those great jobs and promoted and don't need to rely on a short arse man

I'm short, and I've never had much of a problem. I never wear heels either, so I'm not sure what theory I prove or disprove.

DH has had to put up with many variations on my shoe industry rant over the years. I hate the fact that most women's shoes are not the right shape to fit a foot in. They often have heels, which are uncomfortable, painful, shorten my stride (which is already substandard) and damage my spine. They are often pointy, when human feet, particularly mine, are not pointy. I have squarish feet that do not like being squished.

If they are not high heels, they are often slip-ons. Slip-on shoes, for me at least, fall off, and cause you to scrunch your toes up to keep them on. Modern slip-on shoes do not usually come far enough up the foot to stay on. I have tried on ballet flats in shops and had my toes flip out of the front due to lack of anchorage.

Even flat shoes with an instep strap still leave a big chunk of the top of your foot open to the elements. They require you to wear appropriate, or no, socks or tights, unlike men's shoes.

There are some nice brogues around this season, but they look daft on my tiny feet.

I have two pairs of boots with riding-boot style heels, one pair ankle-high and one pair knee-high. The knee high ones are for smart occasions, and I feel they do work in place of heels.

I can't see now who linked to sinologie, but its actually showing your name, address, past shopping history and more.

When I did presentation training at work, the trainer worked on each of us to find us a special "presentation stance" that worked for us - for the women, this meant looking bigger. But usually, more solid and bigger sideways - slightly more widely placed feet - so in fact a tiny bit shorter I suppose. Just not too narrow and apologetic looking, as if you are trying not to take up too much space. So heels would be irrelevant to that.