The Independent annoys me by having excellent articles about the environment interpersed with injunctions to keep consuming, for example a weekly 50 Best series of things to buy. Last week it was shoes, illustrated with the usual 8 inch spike heels and I was so enraged I removed the front cover before I could bear to read it. There's something about high heels that epitomises everything I loathe and despise about fashion and postfeminism. I experience them as if they were actually grinding my face, rubbing my nose in it ha ha we hate you you hideous hairy old thing.
I was talking to my lovely feminist niece about Sex in the City, which she likes, though understands why I don't. But it's changed hasn't it? Episode one poured scorn on men who had sex with models, a couple of series later and Carrie was teetering down the catwalk.
well they got women on TV but I still ain't satisfied
cos cooptation's all I see and I still ain't satisfied
they call me Mzzzzz, they sell me blue jeans
call it women's lib, they make it sound obscene..
(red star singers, back in the 60s)
Beware all your hopes and dreams and best ideas they will try and sell back to you.
material girls in the Guardian on the new golddiggers says it well
does it matter? Yes, they are still thrashing about trying to keep us stupid and unhappy and buying buying buying.
Meanwhile back in the real material world no one wants to worry their pretty little head about..
Climate chaos is inevitable. We can only avert oblivion
It is so sad, isn't it? The push for women (everyone!) to feel bad about themselves... just to keep the economy rolling along...
Posted by: heather | Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 04:12 AM
I don't get this at all. What's wrong with high heels? Unless you're talking about the maufacture then who cares? I do the best I can -- natural and organic foods, ecofriendly cleaners, mineral based sunscreen, but I live in the first world and don't want to grow and make everything for myself. I have other things to do. And I like high heels. I think looking pretty or having girl talk isn't necessarily anti-feminist. And after the 90s most feminismis anti-feminist. But what's choice in footwear got to do with the planet? I know lots of people who buy Birks because they've become as fashionable as SUVs.
Posted by: Eco-art | Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 02:34 PM
I suppose the question is: *why* do women wear high heels? Ecopsychology isn't just about the environment... it's about our whole psychology and consumerism (and lots of other things). So if women are doing it to feel good about themselves (and don't care about posture/what feels comfortable) because they want to "fit in", appeal to men due to low self-esteem, then that's not a healthy way to be or to consume. If people are wearing Birkenstocks because they want to appear "green" or fit in with "eco" friends, then that's not a healthy way to be or to consume either. It's just that high heels are generally assumed to be related to sex appeal more than Birks are. ;)
Posted by: heather | Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 06:17 AM
well the link with consumerism and the environment is very clear, and green consumerism very confusing.
wearing high heels though, like footbinding and genital mutilation is painful and disabling, and perpetuated by women as necessary to femininity. Don't see why men would find them attractive unless they like women who can't run away.
But yes Eco Art you are right it is mostly about feminism, whatever that is. If most feminists are anti feminist what does it mean.
Posted by: medusa | Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 12:49 PM