engleski

Increasing Women’s Attractiveness: High Heels, Pains and Evolution – A GMM Based Study

Since the early 19th century foot pathology caused by wearing high heels is covered by many publications. The most painful effect is the Morton’s Neuroma, obviously described in Hans Ch. Andersen‘s fairy tale “The little Mermaid”: “Every step she took was as the witch had said it would be, she felt as if treading upon the points of needles or sharp knives”. GMM (Geometric Morphometrics) analyses of female feet gives evidence, that permanent wearing high heels can change the shape of the foot already in young age range of women. Latest publications in consumer behaviour and the evolution of female attractiveness are giving evidence how strongly significantly high heels can increase female attractiveness with a lot of benefits, which has been highlighted by Morris, 2013. In evolutionary psychology, this fact is described as “The High-Heel Hottie Effect“ (Scientific American, 2014). In general, men tend to find women in high heels more attractive. Already in 1854 Mary Philadelphia Merrifield and Frederick William Fairholt wrote: "pride never feels pain", when they discussed the pathological consequences of wearing high heels permanently. We discuss the morphometric alterations of women’s feet as well as theories dealing with the evolution of female attractiveness.

high heeled shoes; Hallux valgus; GMM; female attractiveness

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