HIGH HEEL SHOES: Why It’s Healthier to Be a Barefoot Babe

Wearing heels for long periods of time will grant you ugly feet...

As a girl, most of us are taught that fancy shoes are a requirement of femininity. No matter the height, we watched the graceful strut of women who had perfected walking in two-to-four-inch heels and wanted to be her! For me, her was my mom!

In her youth, my mother had a beautiful five-foot-one, hourglass frame. When we prepared for church, I would watch her strut across carpet in four-inch heels. The balancing act alone was so elegant, graceful, and awesome! The way she matched those beautiful stilts with her outfits was both colorful and stunning!

Most of the women that I knew in my life wore heels of some sort. It seemed to be a requirement. So, of course, I had to join the cult. I learned to walk like Bunny (at least tried to), and my inherited hourglass shape with full hips (thanks, Mom) made me feel like a certified Queen Bee! Plus, I was stopping traffic like Mom, so I felt like I had finally arrived!

Side note: My brother and I were walking with my mother one day. Her regal Black beauty and gently swaying hips caused an accident! Lol!

I digress.

After a few years of collecting and wearing small heels, kitten heels (ugh), pumps, block heels, platforms, and even stilettos very well, I discovered something.

I HATE WEARING HEELS!

In fact, I do not like wearing shoes much now at all. As a vocalist and performer (check me out on YouTube and music platforms by my name), I would wear some very pretty shoes. However, it got to the point that when I showed up to a performance, I would let my audience know from the start that the pretty shoes I was wearing were coming off before the close of the show. Many thought that I was emulating some mainstream artists like Patti LaBelle or Jill Scott (both from Philly too). Nah. We just all had the same idea.

Comfort!

Then it occurred to me that I never was a shoe person at all. As a girl, I remember running outside on the hot concrete in the summer barefoot. My grandmother would fuss at me in her Southern accent and say, “Get somethin' on yo' feets, gal!” Yet somehow, in my adulthood, I was sucked into the high heel cult!

Fast forward to present day. When I lived in Ghana, where most of the roads are straight-up DUST, I didn’t care much about my footwear. Oddly enough, Ghanaians tend to be quite obsessive about their shoes. I had a friend who would take my shoes outside and clean them. I wanted to be embarrassed, but I just wasn’t. I walked most places, and Ghana has two seasons—rainy and the dry season called Harmattan. Although I own some two-inch heels, most of my shoes are flat, comfortable sandals or slip-ons. My daily wear recommendations are B-Zees Shoes (very cute styles for any wear) and Skechers sneakers (slip-on Arch Fit, which are cute and washable). I wore B-Zees and Skechers all over Ghana, and they are still in pretty good condition today.

The most expensive shoes are more comfortable. However, I don’t understand how pointy-toed shoes, expensive or not became such a fashion statement. Squeezing your five toes into a tilted vice seems like well-designed torture! The guys seemed to like them, and it seemed like to be a “proper lady” you had to wear them.

It also turns out that wearing high heels consistently can cause many skeletal and muscle issues, such as calf muscle shortening, thickening of the Achilles tendon, ankle instability, knee, and hip damage, as well as back pain. Most women are aware of this.

So, why do we still wear them? Why, oh why do we follow trends that cause us pain?

Guys!It's you, guys! All your fault! Y’all stay pressuring us!

Just kidding.

Really though. I think it’s more a girl thing. I don't subscribe to it, but I do understand it. High-heeled shoes come in every color with sparkles, colors, and designs that scream dopeness when properly matched with your outfit. They have become such a required, finishing accessory to sync with your belt, jewelry, handbag, head wraps, and hats! Oh, girl! The shoes! The shoes gotta be right! Not to mention that watching performers like Madonna, Fantasia, and Beyonce’ magically perform in them on stage encourages us to wear them. Also, in most corporate offices, it seems that a sharp skirt of pant suit accompanied with coordinated pumps wins more respect than flats. 

So, what's a girl to do? While I am not a podiatrist, here is what I have learned:

• Pointed-toe shoes are the absolute worst! I can't imagine who the first person was to think up this rotten idea for our precious feet! They squeeze your toes with each step and cause a world of issues, including unnecessary discomfort.

• Peep-toe heels often cause a pinch also. The heel causes your foot to slide down and often you get that weird toe-struggle or toe hangover look. Ouch and eww!

• The higher the heel, the harder the fall. Seriously. So many tumbles in the street, off a curb, off the stage—you name it!

• Pointy heels often get stuck in cracks in the sidewalk, grates, manholes, the ground, etc.!

• Wearing heels for long periods of time will grant you ugly feet with corns, bruises, bunions, and all that skeletal damage I mentioned earlier.

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So, what's a girl to do?

My suggestion is that if you must wear high heels, you do so in moderation. I believe they are cool for first dates, runway catwalks, photos, and for brief wear at events. My mom used to always keep a pair of flat shoes in her tote bag. After church or a function, Bunny was out of those heels! I believe that is such a good and healthy idea, especially if you plan to be on your feet for long periods of time. I do not suggest wearing heels to Walmart, the supermarket, or the mall. Because, why?

I haven't really found really good flats comparable to wearing high heels yet. Maybe you might have some suggestions (or maybe a sponsor would like to send me some). In the meantime, I'm all about comfort, baby! Besides, I'm trying to hold on to any goodness in these knees in case I wanna drop it low on the dance floor!

So, I’ll be wearing my flat shoes and be a “Barefoot Babe” most times. I’ll put those two-inchers out on the very rare occasion.

What type of shoes do you wear? If you wear high heels, do you have any issues with your feet or your posture and back? Or are you more of a “Barefoot Babe” like me?

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Thanks for reading! Till next time!

With love,Nadira Norjahan