History and Controversy of High Heels

High heels are feminine, fashionable, and sexy. They give the wearer a little extra height, they make the legs appear longer and more shapely, and they can enhance a woman's posture.

Although high heels belong solidly in the realm of women's wear, they didn't start out that way. High heels weren't even invented for aesthetic reasons. Originally they had a very practical purpose for horse riders: A bit of heel prevented the feet from slipping forward in the stirrups. This is why riding boots and cowboy boots look the way they do.

It was in France that the high heel shoe became fashionable. Men and women alike wore high heels. Over the years the heels became so tall and thin that the shoes were utterly impractical for riding. High heels became synonymous with wealth and nobility. After the French Revolution in the 1700s, high heels fell out of favor because of their link to the aristocracy.

High heels have also been embroiled in controversy. Feminists decried them as degrading and crippling to women. Moreover, they argued, excessively high heels hamper a woman if she tries to flee from a violent attack. And then there is the medical side of things: Podiatrists don't much like high heels because they can cause foot problems if worn excessively.

Although the high heeled shoe's popularity has fluctuated over the years, it is a classic that has never completely gone away. Strong-minded, career-oriented women still wear them without feeling as though they are betraying their sex. In fact, it could be argued that high heels are a symbol of feminine power and dominance: It is not an easy thing to cower and slouch in a pair of high heels.

Labels: feminists, high heels, shoes, women