It might make women think twice before putting on high heels for a date.
Men find the shoes attractive not because they are glamorous or give the illusion of longer legs but because they make a woman arch her back – which is a signal that she is ready for sex, a study suggests.
It seems to be not the stilettos or kitten heels which are important, but the angle of a woman’s back to her bottom.
The theory was tested by showing men photographs of women wearing heels or flats, but with the picture cropped at their ankles.
Men find the shoes attractive not because they are glamorous or give the illusion of longer legs but because they make a woman arch her back – which is a signal that she is ready for sex, a study suggests
The closer their back arched to an optimum angle of 45 degrees, the more likely men were to find them attractive.
The authors, led by Dr David Lewis at Murdoch University in Australia, state that this arched back in high heels may communicate information about a woman’s ‘openness to mating advances’.
In many animals, arching of the lower back is a signal of sexual proceptivity – the tendency to engage in behaviour which instigates or ‘promotes’ sex.
The study states: ‘Because no high-heeled shoes were present in any of the Study 2 stimuli, the current findings cannot be explained by an association between high-heeled footwear and perceptions of women’s sexuality, a media-constructed preference for high-heeled shoes, or any other reason that men might have a preference for the shoes themselves.
The theory was tested by showing men photographs of women wearing heels or flats, but with the picture cropped at their ankles
‘For the same reason, hypotheses suggesting that high heels influence men’s judgments of women because of the appearance or colour of the shoes cannot account for the current findings.’
The researchers recruited 56 women in tight clothing to be photographed in flat shoes, before providing five-inch heels for them to wear.
The photographs, cropping out the women’s faces as well as their shoes, were shown to 82 men to be rated for attractiveness.
Two years ago the theory was first proposed that men were most attracted to women with a back curving exactly 45 degrees above the top of her bottom.
The findings provided an explanation for the sex symbol status of celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, as ‘buttock mass’ was found to increase the angle.
The latest study supports this theory, with men finding women in heels most attractive when they were closest to the 45-degree angle.
The researchers also found men were more attracted to female celebrities when they were wearing heels, and that the shoes changed the arch of women’s backs by approximately two degrees.
An arched back may also be attractive to men, as an evolutionary signal that women are fit for bearing their children, the authors suggest
Explaining why this ‘lumbar curvature’ angle of 45 degrees is so important, the study states: ‘Lumbar curvature may also communicate information about a woman’s openness to matign advances – in other mammalian species, lordosis behaviour (i.e. arching of the lower back) is a sign of sexual proceptivity.’
The authors say celebrities, dressed up to enhance their appearance, may arch their back even more to look more beautiful in heels.
An arched back may also be attractive to men, as an evolutionary signal that women are fit for bearing their children, the researchers suggest.
During pregnancy, too much curvature of the spine would have been associated with risks like herniated discs, and not enough curvature would have been associated with muscle fatigue and injury.
The study is published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Men fancy women in heels even when they cannot see the shoes, researchers found.
FAQs
Previous research has shown that men find a woman's walk as more attractive when she's wearing heels, due to the heels changing lumbar curvature, exaggerating the chest and hips, and increasing pelvic tilt. Wearing heels can also signal health, due to the “cost” of wearing them, which is the discomfort.
Do high heels force you to arch your back? ›
“Essentially, wearing high heels for any length of time increases the normal forward curve of the back and causes the pelvis to tip forward.” “Walking in high heels forces the back to arch and the chest to thrust forward. 'Basically, high heels cause the neck and back to hyperextend.
Why are men so obsessed with high heels? ›
Male attraction to high heels has a variety of reasons. For instance, women's legs appear longer and more appealing when wearing certain footwear. In addition, thanks to the high heels, they always give a wearer a sexier, more powerful, self-assured feeling.
What do high heels say about a woman? ›
Participants judge the females in the heels condition as significantly more attractive than the females in the flat shoe condition.” In other words, heels exaggerate the “secondary sex traits” of a woman by shortening her gait, exaggerating the curve of her pelvis and pushing out her breasts and booty.
Do heels make women more attractive? ›
High heels might be a step above the rest. A recent study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that women are perceived as more sexually and physically attractive, feminine and of a higher status when wearing high heels.
Do high heels increase women's attractiveness? ›
Independent studies that employed distinct methods, eliminated multiple confounds, and ruled out alternative explanations showed that when women wear high heels, their lumbar curvature increased and they were perceived as more attractive.
Why are high heels a turn on? ›
High heels adjust lumbar curvature, or the posture of your spine, increase pelvic tilt, and enhance the appearance of the chest and hips, all of which contribute to men perceiving a woman's gait in heels as more erotic and beautiful.
What is high heel syndrome? ›
The pressure on the back of the heel bone can cause Haglund's deformity, a bony growth, also known as a “pump bump.” The daily wearing of high heels can also cause the Achilles tendon to shorten, increasing the risk of plantar fasciitis.
What is the high heel toe trick? ›
Woman's Wear Daily recommends taping your third and fourth toes (counting from the big toe) together to alleviate pain from wearing high heels. The proof is in the science: there's a nerve that splits between those two toes, which causes pain when pressure is put on it (like when you wear heels).
Why are guys obsessed with my feet? ›
Foot fetishism may be caused by the feet and the genitals occupying adjacent areas of the somatosensory cortex, possibly entailing some neural crosstalk between the two. Neuroscientist V. S. Ramachandran proposed that an accidental link between these regions could explain the prevalence of foot fetishism.
In the 17th century, high heels became prominent in European male fashion, symbolizing privilege. However, perceptions shifted towards practicality and reason, and high heels lost favor among men. Meanwhile, they gained prominence in women's fashion, associated with grace and femininity.
What is the male equivalent of high heels? ›
Though high heels are typically still considered a woman's shoe, gender norms are being pushed in the 21st century, and these days a guy can rock a pair of heels whenever he feels like it. If you're a man looking for a subtle height boost, elevator shoes, shoe lifts, or even low-heeled boots are a great choice.
What your high heels say about you? ›
Heels are a symbol of dominance and power. They make us feel taller and slimmer and increase our self-confidence and self-esteem.
At what age should a girl wear high heels? ›
Dr. Ramona Brooks, one time spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), told Footwear News that you shold wait until kids are between 14 and 16 years old — if not longer—to try out that first pair of high heels.
What is the psychology behind high heels? ›
Research has shown that wearing high heels can significantly alter posture and gait, amplifying femininity and projecting confidence. Studies conducted by the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom revealed that high heels promote a more erect posture, with the chest lifted and the lower back slightly arched.
What do high heels symbolize? ›
The shoe was likely made for a courtier, allowing him to feel taller and more powerful, and to signal his social standing. And indeed, heels have always been a status symbol, Steele says, because they reflect that the wearer doesn't need to perform hard labor or walk where they need to go.
Why are heels more attractive? ›
Jeeps are designed to be fun, recreational vehicles for playtime offroading. They appeal to people who either 1) want a capable vehicle 2) want to show the world what a tough, REAL MAN they are 3) are blonde girls who want a cute car.
Why do most women wear high heels? ›
“It is a shoe for events, display, performance, authority and urbanity. In some settings and on some occasions, usually the most formal, it is even required. High heels are something like neckties for women, in that it can be harder to look both formal and femme without them,” writes Brennan, author of High Heel.
