Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

High Heels to Hell- Women continue to buy, wear and love painful shoes for the sake of fashion
Minnesota Daily ^ | 10/17/05 | Abby Bar-Lev

Posted on 11/16/2005 3:23:25 PM PST by pissant

Women, brace yourselves. There is a scary new cosmetic surgery that is becoming increasingly popular. This surgery has nothing to do with your face, and everything to do with your feet. In order to fit into more high-end high heels, women have begun surgically altering their feet to fit the shoe. That’s correct: cosmetic foot surgery. Read it and weep … or rather, read it and freak out.

Cosmetic foot surgery does not include surgery to relieve pain or improve function; it is merely to change the appearance of one’s feet. Common cosmetic foot surgery includes shortening toes, injecting silicon or collagen to the ball of the foot, and/or surgery to narrow feet.

Demand for cosmetic foot surgery has soared in the past three years. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer have all gone under the knife for fashion. Business boomed beginning in 2003 for Dr. Suzanne Levine, the prominent cosmetic foot surgeon who preformed the operations on the aforementioned celebrities. She undertook 40 percent more cosmetic foot surgeries in 2003 than she did three years before. Levine was quoted in The New York Times saying, “Take your average woman and give her heels instead of flats, and she’ll suddenly get whistles on the street.” High heels make us appear taller and make our legs more attractive. They also cause distortion of the foot’s natural function. Women may end up suffering from bunions, claw and hammertoes. In addition to foot pain, women who wear high heels often suffer from shoulder, back, pelvic, knee and even jaw pain. Issues related to wearing high heels often lead to foot surgeries necessary for improved daily function. A 1993 study found that “women have more than 80 percent of all foot surgeries,” and that, “women have more than 94 percent of bunion surgeries.” These surgeries that are performed to alleviate pain and are not cosmetic foot surgery.

Cosmetic foot surgery is not just expensive, but invovles serious risks that could take a toll on one’s health. Possible complications of cosmetic foot surgery include nerve damage, swelling of the toes, infection and chronic walking pain. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society issued its opposition to cosmetic foot surgery. When women put their health at risk for such a trivial reason, like wanting to fit into high heels more easily, that demonstrates how entrenched society has become in the patriarchy.

According to Dr. Gary Jolly, president of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, men may have bunions but no pain because their shoes fit the natural contours of the foot and contain plenty of room inside the shoe. High heels force the foot into an unnatural position and often create problems where there once were none. If high heels can instigate so many health problems, why do women continue to buy, love and wear them? Actor John Berger, once said, “Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at.” I am sure a lot of women are planning on writing letters in to The Minnesota Daily contesting that they wear heels because they like the way they look and feel in them. Even I, at a meager 5 feet tall, often feel a boost of confidence from the 2 inches or so of height. But where is the line drawn between what actually makes us feel good and what society and culture have told us should make us feel good? Where is the line drawn between our health and our vanity?

Looking down at blistered feet this summer, I was complaining about aching after a long day of work in high heels. My friend Brandon asked me, “Why do women wear high heels if they are so uncomfortable?” I am still searching for an answer. Now another question nagging in my mind is, What would you rather lose, the shoe or the foot? Until I find an answer to Brandon’s question, and being confident in the answer of my own, I am putting my heels on the shelf and buying a pair of comfort soles.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: fashion; pissantthread; yes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 241-251 next last
To: pissant; fortunecookie; Clemenza; wardaddy; Miss Behave

I am sorry. This may come as a shock but I, cyborg, love heels. Not the ankle breaker stilletos but a nice heel make a woman feel sexy imho.


41 posted on 11/16/2005 4:11:56 PM PST by cyborg (I'm on the 24 plan having the best day ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pissant


A pretty close approximation of my current footwear!
42 posted on 11/16/2005 4:12:38 PM PST by Xenalyte ("Every day should be the best day ever!" -Frank DellaPenna, Cast in Bronze)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pissant

Women don't wear elevated shoes for fashion. Fashion is merely the excuse.

Many women have a feeling of basic inferiority because they don't measure up. The fact is when compared to men the average woman is short.

They rationalize that fashionable heels obliterate the inferiority.


43 posted on 11/16/2005 4:13:00 PM PST by bert (K.E. ; N.P . (FR = a lotta talk, but little action))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bert

At five-ten, I'm taller than 75% of the men I run into. Yet I routinely wear four-inch heels.


44 posted on 11/16/2005 4:14:42 PM PST by Xenalyte ("Every day should be the best day ever!" -Frank DellaPenna, Cast in Bronze)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: bert

Oh oh. YOU stepped in it......no pun intended, of course.


45 posted on 11/16/2005 4:15:56 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (FR1....Varoooooom, Varooooooom!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: pissant
A few seconds to load, but a few minutes pleasure seeing that video again.
46 posted on 11/16/2005 4:17:34 PM PST by P.O.E. (Liberalism is the opiate of the elite classes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: bert; LongElegantLegs; teenyelliott; PaulaB; Dashing Dasher; Millee; EX52D
"Many women have a feeling of basic inferiority because they don't measure up. They rationalize that fashionable heels obliterate the inferiority."


47 posted on 11/16/2005 4:18:04 PM PST by Maximus of Texas (On my signal, pull my finger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte

Gor anything like those babies in post 32? I could see it now...


48 posted on 11/16/2005 4:18:13 PM PST by ovrtaxt (Does this suicide belt make my butt look big?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: ovrtaxt
As you wish.


49 posted on 11/16/2005 4:18:16 PM PST by Richard Kimball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Maximus of Texas

Well I did state that up to an hour in high heels is all a girl needs. If she needs more than an hour to peak his interest, then whatever she's doing, she's doing it wrong and pretty feet ain't the answer.

:-P


50 posted on 11/16/2005 4:19:07 PM PST by two134711 (Haven't we learned by now not to trust the AP to tell the whole truth?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte

Me too!


51 posted on 11/16/2005 4:19:28 PM PST by Maximus of Texas (On my signal, pull my finger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Maximus of Texas; pissant; EX52D
I am a heel girl

there are different types of course

some you wear out

and some ...ummm well you wear for 2 minutes
52 posted on 11/16/2005 4:19:49 PM PST by PaulaB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: bert

For some that may be true

I think each gal is different

I am 5'7 so my height is fine

I like the sleek way they

make my legs look


53 posted on 11/16/2005 4:21:39 PM PST by PaulaB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: SandyInSeattle

Well dust em off soon!


54 posted on 11/16/2005 4:22:07 PM PST by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Richard Kimball

LOL- ouch!!!


55 posted on 11/16/2005 4:22:40 PM PST by ovrtaxt (Does this suicide belt make my butt look big?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: cyborg; Tijeras_Slim

I'm not shocked. I still remember your breezy scooter ride. ;o)


56 posted on 11/16/2005 4:23:00 PM PST by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte

Heel's too low. Sorry.


57 posted on 11/16/2005 4:23:23 PM PST by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: bert

Some may. I have a sneaking suspicion there are other reasons as well!


58 posted on 11/16/2005 4:24:04 PM PST by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: PaulaB

I would probably agree.

But to be sure, you should mail me some pics.

I'll let you know.


59 posted on 11/16/2005 4:24:21 PM PST by ovrtaxt (Does this suicide belt make my butt look big?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: P.O.E.

Yes!!!


60 posted on 11/16/2005 4:24:28 PM PST by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 241-251 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson