Stereotypes

Ever heard of tips on how to secure the job on your job interview? Putting aside ideas adapted from Steven Covey's '7 Habits of Highly Effective People' or quotes from the whole plethora of self-help books available, I believe there is always the section on 'if you think that doesn't work for you...' which often concludes with the sentiment of wearing a mini dress with a plunging neckline and naturally to go with all of that - a pair of heels to complete the look. Perhaps this sentiment was included to imbue humour, but there is no denying such associations exist in this culture around us.

The elevation of one's worth is often a tedious process involving bettering oneself in terms of abilities or knowledge, or in the case of a job interview, to showcase all these desirable qualities to the interviewer. Dressing to 'seduce' immediately presents itself as a quick way to leave an impression. Putting on heels as the quick-to-go option in stark contrast to the slow, tedious process of working up the ranks has in fact led to the intuitive association of wearing heels with a character willing to do anything to rise up to success the quickest and easiest way possible. Think about the stark contrast presented in the American TV Series 'Ugly Betty': Short, braces-in-teeth, gaudy outfits and flat court shoes (Betty) as opposed to tall, blonde, tight fitting dresses and killer heels (Amanda). Betty is immediately thought of to be simple-minded but capable and hardworking while Amanda is portrayed as the secretary who gets around by dressing up and seducing her boss.

The reality of this behaviour has resulted in such meanings being fed into culture, and upon encoding it into heels, is propagated into society as a way of doing things. This has therefore shaped stereotypes that we immediately associate with the wearing of heels, dictating our so-called 'logical' flow of thought and deduction and henceforth result in the proliferation of such stereotypes.

Posted by Enqing