Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums, for communication between foot health professionals about podiatry and related topics.
You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members (PM), upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, earn CPD points and access many other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisments in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Disparate cultural practices suggest that small foot size may contribute to female attractiveness. Two hypotheses potentially explain such a pattern. Sexual dimorphism in foot size may lead observers to view small feet as feminine and large feet as masculine. Alternately, because small female feet index both youth and nulliparity, evolution may have favored a male preference for this attribute in order to maximize returns on male reproductive investment. Whereas the observational hypothesis predicts symmetrical polarizing preferences, with small feet being preferred in women and large feet being preferred in men, the evolutionary hypothesis predicts asymmetrical preferences, with the average phenotype being preferred in men. Using line drawings that varied only in regard to relative foot size, we examined judgments of attractiveness in nine cultures. Small foot size was generally preferred for females, while average foot size was preferred for males. These results provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that humans possess an evolved preference for small feet in females.
Whilst I express no preference myself, it would appear the argument from a historical perspective does support the small feet are sexy theorem. In an excellent article on the sexualisation of the foot, which traces man's preoccupation with the pedal extremities, presented is a series of examples from art and literature which provide compelling if what circumstantial evidence that beautiful ladies should have small feet with curved arches and straight toes. This seems to be the case from the Middle Ages in occidental society and of course bound feet in oriental Society were bound to restrict growth. So it appears for about 1000 years certainly small feet (in women) were a more and metaphor for sexy in civilised society. Of course anything and everything that adorned them was also by association furtive. The term shoe itself of Anglo Saxon origin means to cover (furtively).
Whilst there is no definitive research available (to the best of my knowledge), many theories to explain the attractiveness to the smaller foot do exist. These are frequently associated with the literature relating to high-heeled shoes. The one I find most likely describes a primal recognition for the weakest in the herd. Some people react to these stimuli with a desire to protect and care for the vulnerable whereas others (the predator) see the lame as a weak link, and suitable victim to prey upon.
The attraction for small feet may be a primal attraction, which remains stronger for some than others. In most individuals this refinement been lost to our conditioning to live in an image driven consumer society, till the lights go out, then, as my dear Mother used to say.
“ No one knows where the nose goes, when the lights go out!”
Hi All
Does anyone think that it may not be feet alone?1
What I mean is: small feet= petite body, big feet= larger, manly kind of bod
What do you think?
Are people attracted to the foot size or the body that goes with them?!
The phenomenon is specifically attraction to feet and predominantly the smaller the foot the more attractive. Found in Occidental and oriental society and throughout history. No one knows why this is but there are many theories.
Re: The role of foot size in physical attractiveness
Sex differences in relative foot length and perceived attractiveness of female feet: relationships among anthropometry, physique, and preference ratings.
Voracek M, Fisher ML, Rupp B, Lucas D, Fessler DM. Percept Mot Skills. 2007 Jun;104(3 Pt 2):1123-38.
Quote:
Foot size proportionate to stature is smaller in women than in men, and small feet apparently contribute to perceived physical attractiveness of females. This exploratory study investigated the sex difference in relative foot length and interrelations among foot length, physique, and foot preference ratings in samples from Austria and Canada, each comprised of 75 men and 75 women. The findings included the following lines of evidence: the sex difference in relative foot length replicated in both data sets; the magnitude of this sex effect was large. Relative foot length was smaller in young, nulliparous, and slim women. Pointed-toe and high-heel shoes were more likely worn by smaller, lighter, and slimmer women. Men reported liking women's feet in general more than vice versa. A vast majority of both men and women favored small feet in women, but large feet in men. One's own foot size appeared to correspond to evaluations of attractiveness; particularly, women with small feet preferred small feet in women in general. The preference for small feet in women was convergent across different methods of evaluating attractiveness. Directions for investigations in this emerging field of research on physical attractiveness are discussed.
Re: The role of foot size in physical attractiveness
My grandfather used to make a lovely comment:
"Women's feet are smaller so they can get closer to the sink"
One would think that today, women would prefer their feet to fit snugly into a pair of pumps whilst still being sizable enough to adequately depreciate the groin region of archaic elderly gentlemen.
God bless you, Pop!
__________________
"I'm not a fan of facts. You see, the facts can change, but my opinion will never change, no matter what are the facts."
The role of foot size in physical attractiveness
feet?!
Linear Mode
