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.
Livius, I don’t think the issue is with HEELS. I like kitten heels and a little bit of heel myself. I don’t think flats (true flats) are all that comfy to wear all day - they give little arch support. The point is the 5 inch heels. They are dangerous. It’s not just that a woman can fall or twist her ankle; or cause spine issues. Suppose you had to make a quick getaway? I also hate flip flops for the same reason.