Ms. Stiletto, Meet Ms. Rubber-heel

I understand the stereotypical female shoe fetish. I understand the draw to higher arches, slimmer heels, pointier toes, shinier patent leather. In a profession where office dress is often highly regulated, a woman's shoe is where she expresses both her power and her femininity. When, Ms. Stiletto, a powerful female professional, marches into a room in a 5 inch black pointy-toed stiletto, you can almost hear the click of the heels say "I am woman, hear me roar."

Ms. Stiletto, I highly admire you and your shoes, but I am not one of you. I've tried, but my feet hurt and my balance is lacking. With my one-inch high, thick, rubber-heeled, square-toed shoes, my feet thank me at the end of the day. I'm able to glide around a large office, bound up or down the stairs with ease and without a loud clack.

However, Ms. Stiletto, when I enter silently into a room, I see you glancing at my feet. I can see your judging eye. The men in the room rarely notice my shoes, but you do. They are not the ones thinking that I am too unconfident or timid to wear a bolder, "girlier" shoe. This is girl-on-girl judgment, and I'm standing up against it. I am standing up to say that my thick, low-heel diminishes neither my femininity nor my position as a viable professional.

[More after the jump]

Wonder what damage your high heels are doing?

Thanks to Lisa at Sociological Images: Seeing Is Believing, you can see all the damage your work shoes are doing to your feet--in gory, glorious detail. [Hat tip to LawGeek.] Here's a direct link to the full-size image, so you don't have to go blind squinting at your screen. Those stilettos are going to give you enough health problems to deal with already.

P.S. Here's a hint for healing that heel-related pain!

High Heels

Although it may seem a bit random - lately I can’t seem to get something off my mind:

HIGH HEELS...

No, I am not harboring some sort of fetish (although I do love shoe shopping). There are actually a few reasons the epitome of feminine footwear has been a thought provoking topic. It started as I prepared to start my summer job. I have never had a job that required more than a t-shirt and jeans. I have only donned a suit when forced to (ahem, oral arguments) and worn dress shoes only for fun. I am not very comfortable in a business suit and even less comfortable at the thought of wearing heels all day. Granted I am entering week five of my summer employment and have grown more comfortable with both of these things - but it is all relative - I am still extremely uncomfortable.