The History of Banning High Heels

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Though the early origins of high heeled shoes in European fashion were not gendered, as they returned in the 1850s popularity (and height) grew mainly on women's shoes. This placed yet another fashionable folly on the growing list of dangerous choices for women to make in the 19th c. With growing concern about both individual and public health, these choices were seen as much more than just silly clothing- they were downright deadly. And while the Victorians and their contemporaries were nothing if not dramatic, the concerns did not fade away in their era. As of the 1920s heels began to rise once more and the concern was revived. So much so that multiple states attempted to pass bills to ban heels over 1.5" (380mm)

And it wasn't just concerns over feet. High heels were blamed for many things, but causing infertility and damage to reproductive organs was top of the list of concerns. Birth rates were falling in many areas of Europe and the US, leading many to believe that population was going to reduce alarmingly in the coming years. But what was causing this decline? Some pointed to vanity of fashion such as corsets, high heels, thin clothing, etc supposedly leading to various health problems as a major cause.

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00:00 How High?
07:37 Follies
12:24 Hysteria
17:31 Legislation
23:39 Corsets, Divorce, and Bad Breath