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'm not sure if there is pressure on women to walk in really high heels, to be honest.
Only in fashionista circles can I see this happening and then it would probably be more about what is in fashion rather than the comfort/height of a particular shoe.
If women wish to wear them it is fine; I like the look of many a shoe from an aesthetic point of view, but if I can't walk in them, they are out. I am not inclined to be crippled by something all day in return for something that is not going to help me.
Who gives a toss about the height of my heel?
As for any sexual attraction issues,
I don't happen to think men give a s* what shoes women wear. To be brutally honest, if a man doesn't fancy a woman a pair of shoes will not make him fancy her and if he does he won't give a toss about what's on her feet.
Unfortunately, gullible women buy into the 'shoes will make me sexier myth'. It doesn't- a person is sexy or not, no matter what they wear.
Most men would wish to sleep with a beautiful, 20-year-old wearing brogues then a 70-year-old wearing Louboutin heels.

I agree Marantha!

I employed all sorts of anti-leery-man devices in early 20s. Short hair, big boots, still they were leery (even though was tall ).

Now I still don't feel comfortable in heels on the street, still leery. But finally I can be around married people and not be leered at! I am enjoying one of the benefits of marriage, wearing quite high heels because I like the look of them instead of an item of attraction for men.

I know the difference. I expect everyone else at a house party too aswell.

Yes, MarshaBrady, I agree with you there- a beautiful young lady can wear a bleedin' sack and DM boots and she'll still get the attention from the opposite sex!

Working my way through this thread but it made me think of this sad story from 2009 (sorry for posting a Daily Mail link).

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1230181/Girl-16-killed-slipping-train-platform-ran-alongside-moving-carriage-high-heels.html

I think when you are out the vast majority of women are wearing fake uggs and the odd maybe real uggs. I dont often ever see anyone in any other footwear any more except for maybe in nightclubs.

I have to say my fake uggs are the best tenner I ever spent except it can be annoying in heavy rain but its ok once you change your socks. I also like the fact you can wear slipper socks with them with your trousers tucked in as it is as comfortable as slippers imo. I wear mine to work and all weekend I cant take them off.

My complaint about the shoe industry isn't that they make ridiculous uncomfortable shoes, as clearly there is a market for them. It is that if you want something comfortable it is very hard to find something attractive. For example I'd like to wear coloured shoes, boots with fun patterns etc, but they just don't make them (in the high street anyway). You can get funky but not for work. so I feel conspired against!

Dunno about being tall is great for picking up guys, but then I only like guys quite a bit taller than me otherwise I feel gawky and huge. Work wise I slightly worry about being intimidating at times. But I'm glad I don't feel that people look down on me I suppose. My greatest role model at work, my ex-boss was tiny (also black, beautiful, unconventional and incredibly determined), and it certainly didn't hold her back!