Writer's Block: Out of fashion

[lizzybennet]

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High heels. In my opinion, they are just a modern day form of foot-binding. We are expected to wear them because they make our calves look good, make us taller, which makes us appear thinner. Pain for the sake of looking good, wearing shoes that actually injure our feet is very reminiscent of foot binding. Yes, it is not as extreme, I realize that. I realize women aren't breaking the feet of their daughters and forcing them to wear high heels. Yet, this pain is undergone for the pleasurable experience of men, isn't it? And so was foot binding--Chinese men loved the tiny feet, the way hobbled feet made the woman's hips sway. It's still feet-pain for the sake of appearing desirable.

Comments

[liztunder.livejournal.com]

High heels, unlike foot binding, is a personal choice. I personally like them, though people tell me not to wear them, and they do not cause me undue pain; no more than my flat shoes do anyways. Plus, they're not modern (http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/036heels.html).
But really, the only thing I take issue with in your post, is that you say we are causing ourselves pain for the pleasure of men. This...just...makes me mad. I don't know how to put it. I wear high heels for myself, because I like to. Not for anyone else. If I wore my shoes for someone else I would, in fact, not wear high heels, because of my already grand height.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link, it is really interesting. You're quite right, I was mistaken to state that high heels are modern day.

I still feel, however, that many of the things women put themselves through in our society are painful and unnecessary because this is what we are taught by a male-driven society that we should do. We wax, we get implants, we wear crippling shoes.

Now, let me get down off my soap box. It's time for me to get my eyebrows waxed :)