Words by Vera Fortun Marco

Eds. Mistral Zerbi

The Devil Wears Prada, Carrie Bradshaw, Victoria’s Secret… the list of iconic female popular culture moments where the heel is the centre of our attention goes on and on. Even in our daily lives we are caught admiring the distinct click-clack of these pumps, stopping for a second to watch women glide elegantly across the street. But why are both men and women so in awe of the power of the heel?

On paper, the Heel is an uncomfortable, impractical shoe that can lead to severe health issues in women, like increasing low back problems and worsening scoliosis symptoms. Yet, the Heel remains one of the most crucial pieces in a woman’s closet.

Is it because it makes women more confident?

Yes…. and no.

Psychologists define confidence as “one’s belief in themselves, their abilities, qualities, and control over favorable outcomes.” and suggest that, to improve our confidence, we should attempt to act confident, focus on our posture, and so on.

In this sense, the Heel sounds counter-productive. Although it makes us stand taller, it worsens our posture overtime.

However, the heel is heavily associated with confidence in our society.

Career Success

The Heel has been associated with professionality for as far as we can remember, from male aristocrats in the Middle Ages to women today. It is no surprise that there is a link between height and power. Look at the way we use language: to refer to someone with a powerful position we would say that they are ‘higher up in the company’s hierarchy’ and to say that we are merely following orders from them we would say ‘orders from above’. So, if height is associated with professional power it is unsurprising that women feel more confident in the workplace when they are wearing heels, regardless of how uncomfortable they may be.

Likewise, the dress code of the corporate world is filled with masculine shapes. For instance, now that the oversize trend is in, blazers and suits hide any feminine curves, giving women a more “masculine” look, which honestly, could be more flattering. By pairing these masculine shapes with heels, women are able to accentuate their feminine features, and it is no secret that we feel most confident when we feel better in our own bodies.

The power of attraction

There are not many studies that focus on the psychological effect of the heel on women but there are many centered around their effect on men.

According to a series of studies in France, men find women more attractive when they are wearing heels. In fact, the higher the heel the more attractive the woman. But isn’t it a bit reductive to assume that women just wear heels to be more attractive to men?

In the same way that height is a sign of power, so is attraction. Being aware of one’s desirability increases one’s confidence, placing them in a position of power. This is not to say that women rely on attraction to assert their power, but feeling attractive can certainly help raise anyone’s self esteem.

Moreover, as these studies were only conducted on men, there is no evidence to suggest that heels do not have the same effect on women. After all, we have all stared in awe at women who are able to wear sky-high heels with grace. We admire their skill wishing we too were able to look so effortlessly cool and elegant.

A Tool for Confidence, Professionality and Power

After some research I have concluded that there are three main reasons why women continue to wear heels to this day.

Firstly, it helps us feel more confident. The extra height, lengthening of our figure and accentuation of our curves makes us feel better in our bodies. This may not apply to every woman but it is definitely the case for many.

Secondly, it is part of the corporate world. Heels are part of the dress code at many work places. As a consequence, they have become a symbol of professionality and female empowerment in the workplace.

Finally, they make us feel powerful. The skill required to walk gracefully in them, combined with the confidence and professionality associated with the heel makes it a symbol of not just fashion, but power for women.

The Power of the Heel