High-heel revolt forces review in Parliament

IN keeping with an undertaking made by Number 10, because 142,000 people signed a petition calling for a ban on companies forcing women to wear high heels to work, the matter is due to be presented to the petitions committee and may well result in a debate in Parliament itself.

Although the sale of high-heel shoes for leisure activities is still buoyant, many women object to being forced to wear them to work and 27-year-old Nicola Thorp started the petition after she was sent home from a temporary position for refusing to wear shoes with up to a four-inch heel.

The investigation will review whether there is actually any problem, whether it is covered by law and whether the law should be made better.

One signatory is quoted as saying “Having to wear high heels whilst on your feet all day is uncomfortable and all evidence suggests (it is) very bad for your health.”

“It is also discriminatory for people who are overweight as it is harder to wear them.”

Clearly in these days of sexual equality, it must be considered unreasonable to expect women to have to comply with sexual stereotypes in order to benefit their employers businesses especially as they run the risk of long-term damage to their health.