Masculine power and female fetishization?

[Amanda]

While reading a college student researchers report I came accross this, “High heels have long been stigmatized as a crippling mechanism of the ever present and detrimental patriarchy. The significance of shoes, feet and high heels have a history of masculine power and female fetishization.”

[HappyFeat]

What a wonderfully written sentence that says very little except that men keep women on heels so we can be controlled. Does it have some basis in fact- probably in some perspectives and in some cultures, but is overstated in the modern and especially postmodern western culture. See, I can write BS as well. Today, i might argue that as western culture seeks a new identity, old conventions are breaking down. For example, my mother has told me that when she was in high school (in the early 1960s) girls were required to wear dresses. Today, girls ( as well as boys) are afforded many more choices in what they wear to school. Women once wore heels exclusively in a work setting. And not just any heels- typically pumps with no heels or toes exposed. Stockings were a requirement - which seems to also be going away. Today there are so many more acceptable choices for women- from flats to sky high heels. This section to the forum is simply an extension of that. Men supporting each other in gaining a fashion choice that defies convention. Say what you will about postmodern society, but choice is a key result. The student's quote seems to exclude the possibility of free will and I read posts every day here that demonstrate people making new and exciting, though unconventional choices.

[Bubba136]

While reading a college student researchers report I came accross this, “High heels have long been stigmatized as a crippling mechanism of the ever present and detrimental patriarchy. The significance of shoes, feet and high heels have a history of masculine power and female fetishization.”

First, I would love to know the sex of the person that wrote that report. (I wonder, by the way, if that school gives extra credit for coining new words or for using old words applied to new meanings?)

Secondly, that is a really unusual statement for anyone to write because I would bet that throughout history, about 99.8% of the females that lived at one time or another wore no shoes or flat sandals -- not high heels.

Thirdly, isn't it a fact that women have, since the dawn of time, sought ways of attracting male members of the species? I mean, didn't Eve even ware bright colored leaves to cover her modesty while Adam chose the less eye catching drab colored leaves (little humor there). However, I really don't see where the female sex has chosen them as an item of fetish concentration. If anything, it would -- in my opinion -- be the other way around......more men would have chosen them as a fetish object than women.

Someone "splain" it to me. (Where does my thinking go wrong?)

(the author, whom ever it is, is probably an ardent feminist with statements like "ever present and detrimental patriarchy".

[CassieJ]

All these so-called studies ignore the fact that people like things and dislike things...period. Some men and women love heels for a variety of reasons. The researcher her obviously doesn't share our love of heels and probably feels pressured to wear them (instead of the drab crocs that keep potential dates away) by men and women. Her agenda shows through...her study was done to prove her beliefs, not to discover the truth. As a man, I feel no pressure to wear heels...in fact, quite the opposite. Despite this, I wear them because I love them. Carrie Bradshaw also wears them because she loves them. Thus, a percentage of the population loves heels and CHOOSES to wear them. She can't understand this so she blames it on men trying to control or weaken women. She needs to get a life.

[t-strap lover]

I htink Cassie has said it best. Thanks Cassie.

[heelma]

While reading a college student researchers report I came accross this, “High heels have long been stigmatized as a crippling mechanism of the ever present and detrimental patriarchy. The significance of shoes, feet and high heels have a history of masculine power and female fetishization.”

"have long been" - what's the next sentence then? What does this person think of them now?

Also, do you have any link to the source? Let's read the context as well.

[johnieheel]

While reading a college student researchers report I came accross this, “High heels have long been stigmatized as a crippling mechanism of the ever present and detrimental patriarchy. The significance of shoes, feet and high heels have a history of masculine power and female fetishization.”

Yep! All true!

[roniheels]

Bottom line... High heels do get attention. Visually, through the written word, physically, mentally, men and women, scolars and John/Jane Q. Public with his or her opinion. I myself am just glad the high heel shoe was invented for whatever reason.

[Guest]

Thanks Amanda

I can almost read into the last line a reversal of what is meant

ie: masculine power (from males wearing heels) and the female as a form of fetish adoration which steps away from all the negatives in the full script.

With so many fetish sites on the web, do researchers not explore the alternative worlds and try to explain/expand a theory or is it too much of risky taboo to put any comments or acknowledgements forward in the risk of loosing a degree?

So often we are told to find new ideas to improve work related situations "think outside the box" yet research on behavior keep leaving out all the extremes or is blown out of all preportion by the media.

I'm glad I'm here and out of my (shoe) box or am I intoxicated from the altitude or attitude???

[euchrid]

While reading a college student researchers report I came accross this, “High heels have long been stigmatized as a crippling mechanism of the ever present and detrimental patriarchy. The significance of shoes, feet and high heels have a history of masculine power and female fetishization.”

My marks on his (or her) report:

B+ Good effort but you need to do some 'in the field' research of your own.

[Bubba136]

While the gender of the author is not identified, I would peg the person as an ardent feminist. And, as to:"The significance of shoes, feet and high heels have a history of masculine power and female fetishization,” unless I've missed something along the way, I've never read anything where the male population has "forced" females to wear high heels. In fact, throughout the course of the history of civilization, it has always been the females that have strived to appear dainty, helpless and vulnerable to attract male attention. "Fetisization" is a good thing for males, isn't it? And, if this is due to "male influence," sorry about that.

[Nick-65]

Well Amanda, I think that are a serious fashion statement for you very fine young ladies as they "Boast" a fantastic figure as well as sexulity.

[Trolldeg]

I've never read anything where the male population has "forced" females to wear high heels.

It is, of course, not as simple as that. But I don't suppose you believe in terms like socialisation or internalisation...

[crotchboots-m]

there is a lot of truth in that statement. but as is usually the case when such statements are dished out by neutral observers,a lot is left out. in other words,they just dont get it,and probably never will. most of us that come here have emotional attachments to the subject,so dry and clinical statements about it are rather meaningless. its a lot like discussing why the sky is blue,the sun and earth are round,etc....they just are.

[shrimper]

While reading a college student researchers report I came accross this, “High heels have long been stigmatized as a crippling mechanism of the ever present and detrimental patriarchy. The significance of shoes, feet and high heels have a history of masculine power and female fetishization.”

I was into heels long before I was mature enough to understand the concept put forward here. Now that I am I can say this sounds absolutely Freudian. I always thought Freud was nuts too.

[Bubba136]

It is, of course, not as simple as that. But I don't suppose you believe in terms like socialisation or internalisation...

While I really know and understand the definition of these words, I don't believe in either concept. If I did, I'd move to Sweden !