FOX: 'Stiletto Surgery' alters pinky toe for better fit

[Destino]

Errr... I don't think it is as simple as that. Seduction is a complicated thing, and women are just as active in it as men are. There is no way getting around the fact that women are less physically powerful than men. If it comes to brute force, they are going to lose. Thus, a woman making herself appear more "helpless" in this manner and appeal to a man's paternal or dominating instincts has developed into a very effective power play. Why not play all the cards you have been given to your advantage?

But high heels are still unhealthy and toe surgery is madness.

Not too many people spend a great deal of time thinking about the power dynamics involved in human sexuality. It can be an uncomfortable avenue for some to explore, especially when it conflicts with pride and modern views for both male and female.

[Darth Tater]

Your first sentence is funny, twa! speaking of guns, I just bought a revolver today, a S&W Bodyguard 38. Fits perfectly in my hand. Since I don't wear dresses, I don't have to worry about how it will affect the fall of MY dress.

All these things that people think make women "feminine" are largely designed to keep a woman helpless.

No, at least for the foot binding thing, it was a signal of wealth as it was an indication that you were not needed to work to help keep your family living (so, your family must be wealthy). Other things that we generally consider "sexy" are often indicators of genetic quality or fertility.

[Predicto]

Not too many people spend a great deal of time thinking about the power dynamics involved in human sexuality. It can be an uncomfortable avenue for some to explore, especially when it conflicts with pride and modern views for both male and female.

Some of us think about it entirely too much.

The problem comes when people living in a modern world can't separate sexy funtime from real life time. Back in caveman days, there was a real difference between what men could do and what women could do, and what was required to survive, and it affected how our sexuality developed. As a result (and grossly simplified), men desire, women need to be desired.

In modern society, a woman is every bit the equal of a man in every single way that really matters (unless you happen to be a pro athlete). She can kick your azz in the classroom and in the boardroom and do everything you can do in the home. Yet the glass ceiling still exists, sexism is still rampant. Being attractive/desirable is another tool in a woman's arsenal belt to try to equalize that situation, and I perfectly understand why she would use it, both consciously and subconsciously.

High heels still are painful, terrible for her feet and difficult to walk in. It's her call if she wants to pay that price for that level of return.

[Special K]

Chicks needing this surgery are complete wimps. They should be ashamed of themselves. Seriously.

I'd rather spend the thousands they waste on that surgery on 50 pairs of Manolos and Jimmy Choos to add to my shoe collection.

All these things that people think make women "feminine" are largely designed to keep a woman helpless.

Why do you say that?

I have to say I feel much more confident in my 4 inch heels and wear those types of shoes almost exclusively (except when working out, playing sports, or going to sporting events). Otherwise, I wear them to work, shopping, hanging out with girlfriends, out to dinner or nights out on the town...and I don't feel "helpless." I just think they make my legs look better. When I feel good about how I look, I exude more confidence in whatever I'm doing.

I am a firm believer in dressing up and presenting yourself in the best way possible in the work environment. Obviously it's not good to look like a floozy, but dressing smartly with high heels allows you to present a more organized, powerful, and put together package than dressing down. I know for a fact I am treated differently based on how I'm dressed. I could wear my lounging or shopping clothes that look trendy, but I won't be taken as seriously by senior staff. Or I could wear my "power" suits with high heels and appear like I mean business...and be taken more seriously. It's kind of sad that looks play that much into work and social envvironments and how you are perceived by others, but it is what it is and I'm more than willing to play that game.

[LadySkinsFan]

When I manage proposals at my clients' sites, I wear power pantsuits with Italian dress shoes, and am powerful. I constantly work with new clients/their employees and it's how I prepare, manage the process and work with people that determines my power. Most of the time, I work from my home office and don't even meet in person my clients. It's over the phone and online. So my appearance largely doesn't enter into my interactions. In fact, my present clients are located in Alaska, Wisconsin and Georgia and I've never met them in person.

I come from a very radical feminist perspective and males largely define "femininity" and we don't have to buy into it. I won't go into it here on ES because it's not well received.

[Special K]

it's how I prepare, manage the process and work with people that determines my power.

Well, that's a given

If you aren't competent in what you do, no dress, shoes, or makeup presentation is going to win you the respect you garner from being the expert in your field.

As far as not being able to voice your opinion here on ES, I actually think it is a pretty reasonable site that facilitates discussion of many viewpoints, and I don't think you should be afraid to voice what you feel.

I think it's pretty evident we come from very different viewpoints on femininity, but I actually am interested in your views and what led you to develop your opinions on these types of issues. I think it's an interesting viewpoint, something people could learn from even if they disagree with it Bottom line, I don't think you should feel you need to hold back just because something isn't well received. I say stuff all the time that isn't well received and haven't been banned or really unfairly been attacked for the most part

[Kosher Ham]

LSF...Why the moniker if you don't want to come across as feminine ? Why try to fit in the mold ? Special K and Ren don't have those types of monikers ???

Sounds a little fishy to me. You can't play both sides and expect to be well received either.

[China]

I'm not sure why anyone would want to have the surgery. But then again I don't understand the practice of foot binding either:

Generally when people are referring to foot binding, they are referring to the restructuring of the feet by the breaking of the arch and four smaller toes on each foot for the purpose of achieving small feet for females. Difficult to imagine, but it is the bending of the metatarsals after the four smaller toes have been bound into the plantars. It is somewhat like bending a corner of a paper so that it is tucked under. Then the paper is bent in half, shortening the size. After the initial binding procedure, usually around the age of seven, the feet would remain tightly bound with long cloth strips until the feet were no longer growing. Idealistic feet for women were three inches in length, which earned the title of san tsun gin lian, or golden lotus or lily.

[Special K]

Seriously. Have the ding dongs who opted for this surgery give any forethought to the fact that they are going to have to wear flip flops and/or sandals in the summer??? That is going to look nasty.