I commented, in a previous post, on the so-called ‘wiggle’ in women’s walks—as sung about by The Big Bopper and Jerry Lee Lewis—and about how Marilyn Monroe capitalised on that characteristic of the female/feminine gait. I was reminded while writing that post that there is something else about stiletto heels worth noting.
I once asked some of my female students what they thought made wearing high heels desirable—in their and men’s eyes. After all, high heels can be quite uncomfortable, so why go to such lengths? They thought that the key thing high heels gave was greater definition to their calf muscles. There is indeed greater definition when calf muscles are contracted—and made to remain contracted when standing in high heels. This may indeed be attractive, but this will be subjective—in the ‘eye of the beholder’. Is there an explanation that is more ‘fundamental’?
It has been suggested that longer-looking legs—at least in proportion to the trunk—are indicative of good health or at least a healthy developmental history. Factors contributing to and influencing the development in one part of an organism can also influence other parts in the same organism at the same time and in similar ways. What is going to aid development of one structure is going to aid development of another.
When looking for sexual partners, healthy individuals tend to be given preference. A partner needs to have some—at least implied—physical ‘qualities’. If that is indeed the case, there is an argument to suggest that longer (looking) legs—naturally so or enhanced by heels—act as a signal in sexual selection. One finds longer legs attractive—not because they are so in any absolute sense—but because they act as surrogates for something of more fundamental biological importance.
What we find ‘attractive’ is not attractive in an absolute sense. After all, what does ‘attractive’ really mean? There are often different nuances regarding attractiveness in different cultures. It is, on one hand, a very subjective matter, but on the other, because there is often some consensus, there appear to be objective elements too. What seems attractive is often something that is or implies a healthy physical state.
Try the converse. Take somebody one knows to be unhealthy and consider how one feels towards them in terms of their attractiveness. (Being careful not to confuse this with sympathy.)
Addendum
As a potential test of some of the ideas introduced here, one might take a trip down to the shops. Not least those specialising in cosmetics and grooming products. When there, ask yourself what bearing the things on sale have on one’s appearance with regard to health. While some ‘lateral thinking’ may be required, it is not hard to see that they all invariably try to enhance one’s appearance of health.
