Comments on: Bad Shoes and the Author Who Takes Them On http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:35:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sea mckey http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-12778 sea mckey Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:25:17 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-12778 Yes, the issue is WHO is deciding what is sexy? I have often heard women who wear high heels, use this argument that "they make me feel sexy, it's not about men." I support my sisters choice to wear what she wants and won't fight against those who choose to wear heels. However, like other comments above, I would raise LOTS of questions. Why do we think high heels are sexy? Why do we think shaved legs are sexy? etc... What makes this feminine? Simply put, Men Do. The patriarchy has determined what is fashionable, what is sexy. In this case, they have decided that shoes that make women's butt and breasts stick out, that make it difficult for them to walk (or run away) that force them to walk in small measured steps are sexy. Surprise, surprise. I like fashion AND I like being comfortable. I am aware that the more comfortable I dress (usually) the less appealing I am to men (Thank goddess) Think about what would happen if we all got dressed everyday without giving an "F" about what men think. That is radical and that, I think would be sexy as hell. Yes, the issue is WHO is deciding what is sexy? I have often heard women who wear high heels, use this argument that "they make me feel sexy, it's not about men." I support my sisters choice to wear what she wants and won't fight against those who choose to wear heels. However, like other comments above, I would raise LOTS of questions. Why do we think high heels are sexy? Why do we think shaved legs are sexy? etc… What makes this feminine? Simply put, Men Do. The patriarchy has determined what is fashionable, what is sexy. In this case, they have decided that shoes that make women's butt and breasts stick out, that make it difficult for them to walk (or run away) that force them to walk in small measured steps are sexy. Surprise, surprise. I like fashion AND I like being comfortable. I am aware that the more comfortable I dress (usually) the less appealing I am to men (Thank goddess) Think about what would happen if we all got dressed everyday without giving an "F" about what men think. That is radical and that, I think would be sexy as hell.

]]> By: Five Reasons A Ms. Blogger Won’t Wear Stiletto Heels : Ms Magazine Blog http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-5528 Five Reasons A Ms. Blogger Won’t Wear Stiletto Heels : Ms Magazine Blog Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:01:58 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-5528 [...] a lot about stiletto heels, or as I think of them, Weapons of Mass Destruction, from the book Bad Shoes and the Women who Love Them by Leora Tanenbaum. It is smart and well-researched.) The "Prison Warden" [...] [...] a lot about stiletto heels, or as I think of them, Weapons of Mass Destruction, from the book Bad Shoes and the Women who Love Them by Leora Tanenbaum. It is smart and well-researched.) The "Prison Warden" [...]

]]> By: Bonnie http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-5004 Bonnie Mon, 24 May 2010 04:25:50 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-5004 @Luna and Jenn: You didn't read the indented paragraph above at all, did you? One name for this sort of thing is "internalized misogyny"; another is "denial (ain't just a river in Egypt). All of us have it--it's just a matter of identifying it and getting it out in the open. @Luna and Jenn:

You didn’t read the indented paragraph above at all, did you? One name for this sort of thing is “internalized misogyny”; another is “denial (ain’t just a river in Egypt). All of us have it–it’s just a matter of identifying it and getting it out in the open.

]]> By: Aletha http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4907 Aletha Fri, 21 May 2010 07:33:45 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-4907 Women are colonized. Some women may be convinced there is nothing wrong with the accoutrements of that colonization, but that just speaks to the power of social conditioning. There is nothing innocuous about societal expectations of women. They are meant to keep women subservient, our health and well-being be damned. Women are colonized. Some women may be convinced there is nothing wrong with the accoutrements of that colonization, but that just speaks to the power of social conditioning. There is nothing innocuous about societal expectations of women. They are meant to keep women subservient, our health and well-being be damned.

]]> By: Jenn http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4894 Jenn Fri, 21 May 2010 03:25:51 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-4894 I am pretty over other women telling me I must be crazy to wear my five inch heels. Ya know what? No, they dont hurt (seriously). No, I'm not wearing them for my Ior any) man. And you know what? I LOVE them. High heels demand a certain posture. Yes, they force your foot to point at an angle (something I always found reminiscent of ballet- not bondage), but that angle also encourages you to walk taller and it creates a strut. Women (who traditionally walk in a manner that is quieter, more reserved, and takes up less space than a man) suddenly are forced to walk in a manner that portrays confidence. I dont want to wear armadillo heels, I dont want to wear pointy heels (I dont think anyone likes squished toes), but when I walk in a room feeling as good as I do in my favorite foot architecture- I Do expect everyone to be wowed at the power house that just came in the door. I am pretty over other women telling me I must be crazy to wear my five inch heels. Ya know what? No, they dont hurt (seriously). No, I’m not wearing them for my Ior any) man. And you know what? I LOVE them. High heels demand a certain posture. Yes, they force your foot to point at an angle (something I always found reminiscent of ballet- not bondage), but that angle also encourages you to walk taller and it creates a strut. Women (who traditionally walk in a manner that is quieter, more reserved, and takes up less space than a man) suddenly are forced to walk in a manner that portrays confidence. I dont want to wear armadillo heels, I dont want to wear pointy heels (I dont think anyone likes squished toes), but when I walk in a room feeling as good as I do in my favorite foot architecture- I Do expect everyone to be wowed at the power house that just came in the door.

]]> By: Gloria http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4882 Gloria Thu, 20 May 2010 21:44:00 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-4882 To commenter Luna: I'd like you to ask yourself, just WHY does wearing makeup and high-heels make women feel "sexy"? Why does it make them feel good about themselves? Why does a woman need to make an outward fashion statement that is in line with current cultural standards in order to feel sexy FOR HERSELF? I don't buy the line that women find high heels "more comfortable" than other types of shoes. They want to wear them because they care about what other people think about them, and even what they think about themselves is dictated by what other people think! As for myself, sneakers and tennis shoes for me, thanks, I have back and foot problems enough as it is! To commenter Luna: I’d like you to ask yourself, just WHY does wearing makeup and high-heels make women feel “sexy”? Why does it make them feel good about themselves? Why does a woman need to make an outward fashion statement that is in line with current cultural standards in order to feel sexy FOR HERSELF?

I don’t buy the line that women find high heels “more comfortable” than other types of shoes. They want to wear them because they care about what other people think about them, and even what they think about themselves is dictated by what other people think!

As for myself, sneakers and tennis shoes for me, thanks, I have back and foot problems enough as it is!

]]> By: Luna http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4879 Luna Thu, 20 May 2010 20:31:35 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-4879 This is bollocks. I think wearing high heels has nothing to do with feminism, or fashion for that matter. It depends on your motivation. If you are wearing heels or sexy clothes for a man or to conform to an ideal that society depicts, then yes, it may be considered anti-feminist. But if a woman wants to feel sexy for herself and she enjoys wearing heels, etc then why not? What's wrong with wearing makeup and sexy clothes to feel good for yourself? I can't think of anything more feminist than feeling good about yourself and make your choices accordingly. This is bollocks. I think wearing high heels has nothing to do with feminism, or fashion for that matter. It depends on your motivation. If you are wearing heels or sexy clothes for a man or to conform to an ideal that society depicts, then yes, it may be considered anti-feminist. But if a woman wants to feel sexy for herself and she enjoys wearing heels, etc then why not? What’s wrong with wearing makeup and sexy clothes to feel good for yourself? I can’t think of anything more feminist than feeling good about yourself and make your choices accordingly.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Bad Shoes and the Author Who Takes Them On : Ms Magazine Blog -- Topsy.com http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/20/bad-shoes-and-the-author-who-takes-them-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4877 Tweets that mention Bad Shoes and the Author Who Takes Them On : Ms Magazine Blog -- Topsy.com Thu, 20 May 2010 20:14:54 +0000 http://msmagazine.com/blog/?p=8663#comment-4877 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Toni_KatVixen, Robyn Okrant. Robyn Okrant said: RT @msmagazine: What to make of feminists who wear high heels? http://ht.ly/1NP3B [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Toni_KatVixen, Robyn Okrant. Robyn Okrant said: RT @msmagazine: What to make of feminists who wear high heels? http://ht.ly/1NP3B [...]

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