For many years, high heels were perceived as symbols of “class,” “power,” and “femininity.” While high heels are typically worn by women, many cultures view high heels as more than merely a shoe; rather, they are a sign of “power,” “beauty,” and “professionalism.” As well as being part of many of the formal dress codes, high heels also contribute significantly toward a woman’s appearance at work, ‘smartly’ ‘well-groomed’ appearance. Although many women feel empowered, attractive, and build their confidence from their high-heeled shoes, there remains controversy around the impact of high heels shoes on women’s health, so while the positive aesthetic and the increased psychological benefit of wearing high heels shoes should be considered, the negative impact on physical and health must also be examined. In conclusion, high-heels shoes allow an individual to portray a sense of ‘beauty,’ ‘fashion,’ ‘power,’ etc., however, at the same time, high heels shoes can also negatively impact an individual. As such, high heels shoes provide an opportunity to explore the due of life, that is, when an individual chooses to wear high heels shoes and fulfills the requirements of society. While high heels shoes can improve an individual’s appearance and promote increased confidence, there can be negative effects associated with high heels shoes: restrictions on a woman’s health, discomfort, and possibly social stigma. When taking into account the benefits of wearing high heels shoes, it is critical to think carefully prior to making a choice and not to simply rely on societal expectations to define the benefits of selecting high-heeled shoes.
The most commonly referenced advantage of high heels is how they change physical appearance. It can be seen from the use of high heels that shifting one’s posture creates an impression of confidence and composure by encouraging the wearer to stand tall with shoulders squared and spine upright. It can also be acknowledged that by wearing high heels, legs appear elongated and more tapered and therefore may conform with the standard definition of beauty in numerous cultures around the world. As a result of the visual impact high heels create, many women feel attractive and polished because of the look of their legs when wearing high heels, particularly when dressing for a formal or business occasion. While there are many reasons women enjoy the look of high heels and the increased level of aspiration that is often associated with wearing them, many women still choose to wear high heels despite their growing knowledge of the negative effects of high heels
Height increasing footwear can boost confidence and self-esteem for many women when wearing that type of footwear to enhance their physical appearance by making them appear taller and more powerful than they usually do. In many work environments where authority and presence are key elements, wearing high heels can help woman feel more confident and engaged during job interviews, meetings and presentations. The confidence gained through wearing high heels has an impact not only on how woman is perceived by others, but more importantly on how those women view themselves. As such, high heel shoes are a tool that help shape behaviors, attitudes and perceptions of self.
Self-expression is also related to high heels. Many people use clothing (like shoes) as a way to express their personal identity (like how they feel) as well as who they are overall. Some women enjoy wearing high heels because they style with their preferred aesthetics. To these women, high heels aren’t a pain, but rather an option that demonstrates the individual’s creative side and uniqueness of character. Additionally, this demonstrates the importance of the fact that not all experiences with high heels are negative. In certain cases, people may experience more benefits than they do disadvantages from high heels (in these specific instances), particularly when they wear them either infrequently or at a moderate level of frequency.
The negative impact of wearing high heels is well documented in addition to their many positive aspects and the negative effects are many. Possibly the most obvious negative effect of wearing high heels is physical discomfort, the unusual position that high heels put the foot in causes the body weight to be put primarily on the front of the foot. The pressure placed on the ball of the foot can create a great deal of pain in not only the toes but also the arches and heels. Although this may appear to be something that goes away fairly quickly, continued use of high heels can lead to chronic problems, and many women reports experiencing blisters, pain, or numbness after wearing high heels for prolonged length of time.
One of the primary disadvantages of high heels is their effect on comfort and ability to move freely. High heels require a great deal of balance and carefulness in order to walk as they do not allow the wearer to move naturally. The activity of standing, walking long distance or climbing stairs, becomes difficult for females who have to plan their daily activities based upon what type of footwear they wear. As such, most women will route their daily activities depending upon the type of shoes they wear or carry a spare pair of shoes (to change into) if they have to travel far away from home. The restrictions and limitations on females in these shoes show that many aspects of modern life do not support wearing high heels, even though they may have some positive qualities.
Wearing high heels on a regular basis over an extended time may have severe long-term effects on your body. There are numerous studies performed by health professionals connecting the usage of high heels to foot problems such as bunions, curly toes, posterior tibial tendonitis, and chronic lower back pain. In addition, High Heels change your body’s natural alignment creating stress on your lumbar and cervical spines causing your body to have compensatory postures, creating postural issues which further lead to muscular imbalances and repetitive motion injuries. High heels shoes also have a greater chance of causing ankle sprains and falls, particularly if you are on uneven surfaces.
The social and cultural pressures surrounding wearing “high heels” could be more intense on certain women than men because of societal norms regarding how to dress (dressing “professionally”). More specifically, women often wear high heels in professional or social environments to appear more “business-like” or “presentable.” Though this expectation may not be verbalized directly, it is often communicated through dress codes as well as through the media, which add to the perception that women must wear them to be considered “professional.” The overall pressure to wear high heels may negatively affect a woman’s health or comfort because she may “appear” to be adhering to social “norms,” but in reality, the choice may not be a reflection of her true personal preference.
In addition, the debate over high heels speaks to a larger conversation about how we view each gender’s respective norms of acceptable behaviour. Women are frequently told they must wear uncomfortable footwear to present themselves as professional or attractive, while men typically do not have similar expectations for their footwear. The disparity between these two categories brings into question issues of equity and an individual’s choice. When high heels (as stated previously) become the norm for women’s professional attire versus being “optional,” high heels imply a message that women’s bodies are to be constructed and portrayed based on arbitrary societal perceptions of women’s health, regardless of whether or not those perceptions have a negative impact on their physical well-being.
It is necessary to recognize that each woman experiences wearing high heels in her way. High Heels might be uncomfortable or painful for some women, and no major physical issues for other women. In addition, many things can influence a person’s level of comfort when wearing high heels, including heel height, shoe shape and support, the length of time a woman wears them during the day, the condition of the woman’s feet and posture. For example, a pair of low heeled or well design shoes worn during a short event will feel much different than wearing high heels all day long for work. Because of such discrepancy in women’s experiences when it comes to high heels, it would be best to have discussions about high heels that do not generalize high heels into either entirely bad or entirely good categories, but rather focus on awareness and making an informed choice. To make sure women have enough information to know the positives and negatives of wearing high heels, women should be able to choose what is best for their bodies, lifestyles, and their comfort levels, without feeling pressured or guilty.
In conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of high heels illustrate the complicated interaction of style and ease between fashion, health, and social norms, it is clear that high heels offer both benefits in terms of how they can enhance one’s appearance, confidence, and self-expression, while they also present potential hazards to one’s health, limit mobility, and represent more of the social burden than personal preference. In an era of modern living that promotes greater awareness about lifestyle choices and premises for living and working according to one’s personal values, high heels represent a significant force illustrating how social norms shape the decisions individuals make everyday as well as how culture can affect individuals’ behaviour. Thus, women should be free to choose whether or not to wear high heels and ultimately choose whether to use their appearance as an indicator of their inner beauty.
By: Setiananda Resia Ningrum
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