The Great Heel Debate
Much ado is made each season when fashion designers send out their latest, greatest and highest heels. This year, it’s McQueen’s ten-inch shoes that are causing the ruckus. Today the New York Times presents a rundown of possible explanations of why we love shoes “that hurt us.” Frankly, none of them truly resonated with me. I do agree that the simple increase in height is appealing, it does make you feel more powerful. I enjoy being eye-to-eye with men. I have a tendency to equate being smaller than someone and being looked down upon in a more broad sense, justified or not.
I was particularly rankled by comments that we wear heels for sex appeal and the affections of men. Perhaps it’s my unique experience, but I’ve found many men are turned off by my penchant for towering heels. I’ve even been told by men that I’d have more romantic success if I turned to flats.
I find wearing heels personally sexy, I don’t wear them because society has told me I’m better for doind so. If I bowed to societal pressure, I’d probably toss most of my shoes. It’s a personal choice. Some of the critics featured in the Times’ piece make claims that women “can’t walk” or “wobble” in heels, but I find such claims to be sweeping and inapplicable to many, myself included. I don’t just not wobble in my heels, I can run in most of them. So to the heel haters, I say, back off. I won’t judge your flats as boring and matronly, so don’t judge my heels are masochistic.
