Local labor group Associate Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) requested the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to allow women who work to opt not to wear high heels as required by their employers. In the Philippines, most employers require women to wear high heels at work.
According to a Manila Bulletin report, ALU-TUCP made the appeal to the labor department after receiving complaints from salesladies working in the retail sector who complain of different types of pains while walking and standing on the job for hours on end.
What Wearing High Heels Does To A Woman’s Body
In their statement, ALU-TUCP National executive vice president General Seno said, “This is a grave concern to their health and safety and so we are asking the DOLE to prohibit employers from requiring their employees to wear high heel shoes in doing their work.”
He added that the future policy should not be limited to those in the sales force, but should include those working in supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and airlines. “Women workers should not be compelled to put on high heel shoes against their will. They should not be exposed to any harm and danger at all times,” he said.
Long-Term Effects Of High Heels
According to WebMD, wearing high heels and wearing them often can affect not just your feet, but also your achilles tendon, knees, hips and back. One foot doctor says that heels do not allow feet to “function properly” which can cause joint disease in foot bones, ingrown toenails, calluses and others.
The achilles tendon tends to shorten and stiffen when one wears heels frequently and for long periods of time. For the knees, when one wears heels, body weight shifts towards the ball of the foot thus prompting the knees to move forward. This causes them to misalign and in the long term may cause osteoarthritis.
Along with the knees, the hips also go out of line in order to compensate for the shift in body weight. Because the hips are also responsible for one’s posture, this also affects the spine. Finally, your lower back adjusts also to compensate, making it hyperextend. While it may look good for your backside, you may feel so good in the long run because of back pains.