The first thought that comes to mind when I see a woman’s stiletto shoe is “Oh, hell no.” This modern form of torture device might be sleek and beautiful, but it puts undue stress on the foot causing sometimes permanent damage to bones and nerves, not to mention blisters, swelling, and pain in the Achilles tendon. That’s to say nothing of the increased risk of twisted, sprained, or even broken ankles.
When I see these shoes, I see an industry that has worked for centuries to create fashion that holds women back. Wobbly high heels leave women unbalanced. They have traditionally made it harder to keep up with fast-walking male colleagues, required us to steady ourselves when going up stairs by grabbing a banister or a man’s arm, made it more challenging to carry, say, a heavy box of files. Even women who are pretty skilled at walking in these types of shoes admit to near mishaps.
When I see these shoes, I see centuries of pressure on women to put beauty and fashion before comfort, skill, health, and even fun. No one can really let loose and dance with total abandon wearing shoes like this. High heels were designed to draw the male gaze down past a tight calf to a delicate ankle and a dainty foot. As a short woman, I’ve been pestered to wear high heels to add some height to my frame.
