Scientists have finally made a breakthrough, tackling an important issue close to the hearts of many people: “Why do women wear red shoes?”

Dr Elaine Webster, a Sociologist from Otago University, New Zealand has spent the past six months asking why women wear red shoes. And, she has concluded that young women wear them for excitement, and out of a desire to be noticed; whilst most men associate red shoes with sex and sin.

Dr Webster, whose long term interest is “dress and identity” conducted the research after being impressed with the way that women spoke about their red shoes. She said:

Women always say ‘my red shoes make me feel great, I love my red shoes’. They never say ‘I love my brown shoes’.

Many of the women interviewed made a connection between their red shoes and Red Shoes, the film of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, or Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

Dr Webster believes footwear, more than any other items of clothing, has a special quality in our lives. And red shoes are a way to lift you out of a drab and ordinary existence. She stated:

Women and some men wear red shoes because they’re really wanting a richer and more exciting life than the one they are living.

Now that the issue of red shoes has been investigated, I hope that the next matter to be scrutinised will be clear heels.

You might also enjoy reading:-

• A different train of thought
• Thirteen weird facts about women
• Fun with Cold Reading
• Sex is better for the well-heeled
• Women think of shopping while men think about sex

Posted by Jonathan in Psychology, Sociology

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