No they're not - they're called 'shoes'.
"And I don’t think it says a thing about one’s morality."
Neither do I, per say, but I think towering heels have earned the label "stripper heels" for a reason.
A higher heel makes the leg look longer and better. Exaggerated heels - for stage performances, shall we say - obviously exist for this reason.
As late as the 18th century, btw, before men started to wear trousers and were still wearing “britches” and stockings, men also wore heels, usually about 2” or so.
It’s all about fashion! Naturally, the liberal librarian and the OWS vegan will be stomping around in their Crocs and Birkenstocks, but that’s also all about fashion - for their crowd.