Men Don't Notice When Women Wear High Heels, Study Says (POLL)

Teeter-totter all you want, but men apparently don't notice when a woman wears high heels, Time magazine reports. Researchers at the UK's Northumbria University studied men's reactions to women in heels versus women in flats and found no difference. Time writes, "The researchers wanted to know whether the changed posture that comes with high heels -- longer legs, accentuated rear and tilted torso -- get noticed by men." Guess not!

Orange News has quotes from Dr. Nick Neave who led the study as part of a larger project about attraction and movement. Neave said, "Women are spending money on high heels, which can be dangerous, presumably to make themselves look good and add to what nature has given them," adding, "Everybody is attracted to somebody else and making relationships is very important to humans. Making key relationships and having children are some of the most important decisions people will make. But scientifically we know very little about this."

According to the Daily Mail, Neave believes that movements like dancing can serve as indications of a male's "reproductive quality."

What do you think?

Quick Poll

Do men notice when women wear high heels?

NO! This study is totally right!

YES! It's definitely one of the first things they notice.

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Comments

[Ben Pename]

10:43 AM on 10/30/2010

I cannot believe the amount of people that didn't realize the flaw in the experiment. But for those who don't want to read, I'll break down this idiotic experiment for you.

They found that men had no preference over women who walked in high heels IF the heels were not visible.

They then concluded that heels have no bearing on sexiness.

That conclusion is out of scope of the experiment, as the study never showed the effect of what happened when the heel WERE visible, which is closer to real life. (women don't walk around hiding their shoes)

also the sub conclusion that it has no noticeable effect on the way women walk is faulty, because it assumes the visual factors work independently of each other. Obviously the leg lengthening effect is only noticeable with the complete figure visible. and the aesthetics of both the woman, her clothing, and her shoes have synergy.

I conclusion, I guess the university in question is not on UK's top ten colleges for a reason

[graywolf68]

01:10 PM on 10/28/2010

I like to think of myself as a typical guy in most respects and completely agree with the study. I really enjoy the effect that high heels have on a woman's legs and bottom but could really care less about the heels themselves.
Unlike women who spend a good majority of time critiquing each others shoes and fashion choices, guys are pretty simple creatures who don't really notice the details. We just appreciate that your legs look fantastic.
Women in general should stop wearing the stiletto style of high heels and start wearing something a bit more stable. You'll still get noticed and you don't have to endanger yourself.
Just my humble opinion.

[Ben Pename]

10:34 AM on 10/30/2010

perhaps you should have read the study...

They came to the conclusion that high heels don't make women sexy, but in the study, the high heels were not shown. Combine that with common knowledge, and you get that the heels themselves must be apart of it. You say its about what the heels do to the women's legs, but that's exactly what the study "disproved". and yet you agree with them???

Although some guys don't notice details, when it comes to sex apeal, they do

I don't know how they do science in the UK, but I don't see how anyone could overlook the fact that not showing the heels defeats half the point of the women wearing heels. you can't do a study on something based on optical illusions, without showing the illusion. That's dumb

[graywolf68]

11:49 AM on 10/30/2010

Well, I did read the study but going back to read it once again after your reply showed that I completely missed the point. Wow, don't I feel sheepish.

[Robin Feltner]

04:52 PM on 10/27/2010

I can only speak for myself. I know my heels always get me noticed!

[graywolf68]

01:02 PM on 10/28/2010

Your heels aren't what gets you noticed. What your heels do for your calves and bottom gets you noticed. Guys could really care less about your heels.

You could actually wear something similar that has a lot more stability and still get noticed.

[Ben Pename]

10:36 AM on 10/30/2010

that's exactly the opposite of what the study showed. The study said that without the shoe visible, men couldn't tell the difference. notice the "without" part

[VMoe]

04:09 PM on 10/08/2010

The Brits have quite the reputation for being complete bores when it comes to everything. It kind of makes sense that these men didnt notice.

[oxjr]

07:23 PM on 10/01/2010

This test must have been wrong. I worked in a high-end hair salon with a tile floor. Not only did the straight men notice women who walked in with heels - the whole salon turned and admired the women who 'clomp clomped' down the floor to their appointment. Heels are not only sexy - they are powerful.

[Ben Pename]

10:52 AM on 10/30/2010

IMHO you nailed that one on the head.
added height=more power
cute shoes that make legs longer and butt's bigger= sexy woman

[rayoflightinaseaoffog]

02:17 PM on 09/29/2010

You have to be back a ways to see a woman's shoes, and there are so many parts of interest to see. However when I used to go for walks at lunch that went thru department store shoe sections I saw that sculpturally womens shoes can be amazingly sensual. I just feel sorry for those who wear them rather than look at them.

[Kathleen Shimp]

05:54 PM on 09/28/2010

Do they just mean observing from a distance? I'm thinking if it's someone you know, and you're around their height one day, then the next you're 3 inches taller, they ought to notice.

[sofiapwns]

10:13 AM on 09/26/2010

I live in a city where looks, glam and sex appeal are a MUST if you want to be part of the "in" crowd. At my university I see a lot of young women wearing super high stilettos to class, they are barely able to walk and they just look plain stupid. I think a good pair of heels can look really great on a woman, but if she can't walk in them or if she wears them to places where she shouldn't be wearing them, then the whole effect of the heel just disappears. I think men have been conditioned to believe that high heels make a woman "sexier," but a good pair of flats can make a woman look good too. Heels make the body go into an unnatural position that can really damage the feet and lower back if worn on a regular basis. So in my opinion, if this study is correct and men really don't notice it when women wear high heels, then women should stop wearing them altogether. They're no good.

[jeremylh1]

05:13 AM on 09/26/2010

I do and I'm not gay or even a metro-sexual. I like simple, minimal styles.

[Citizen54]

11:38 AM on 09/25/2010

Perhaps British men don't notice, but many of us American men do.

[ewwendt]

07:17 PM on 09/24/2010

This study is incorrect (as far as this humble man goes). I notice every single time, but doesn't cause me to make any judgment calls. The right set of legs accented by a set of nice-looking heels, it's pretty sexy.

[ECB]

12:23 AM on 09/25/2010

Yes indeed, but the right set of legs look nice even in flip flops.

[Julia Bailey]

07:01 PM on 09/24/2010

I work in academia and heels are a status symbol - they are only worn by support staff and rarely by faculty. So its not really seen as a 'smart' thing to do.

[forestdweller]

12:25 AM on 09/25/2010

I work in academia too, and I'd say it's about half and half. Just as many faculty as support staff wear heels. It's a matter of taste and background.

In any case, your swipe at support staff as not being smart is uncalled for. To say the least.

[oxjr]

07:39 PM on 10/01/2010

He might be right - but to me that is a type of discrimination in academia. A man who has tailored suits and perfect Italian shoes would never be looked down upon. A woman who had highlights and great classic heels would be treated differently.

[Senseimilla]

05:59 PM on 09/24/2010

It's really simple, actually...

Heels can make a woman with cankles look like her ankles are actually long and skinny.

[NaNaO321]

03:33 PM on 09/24/2010

Heels, for some women, give a sense of elevated confidence. I'm very petite @ 5'0" so heels give me the extra lift that I need. I also notice that I walk more gracefully and with better posture when I wear them. I don't wear them all the time, however, as they don't feel as pretty as they look, lol. But they definitely give me a confidence boost, which makes me feel more attractive.

[themightylemur]

12:33 PM on 09/24/2010

It does make the caboose look better, but ultimately I don't care about what shoes you're wearing.

[moegreene]

12:36 PM on 09/24/2010

hot high heels and stilleto boots rock on women. notice every time and am definitely 100% more interested. flats = booring in the bedroom to me and the greater possibility of a lifetime of boring or little sex after the ring. diffrent strokes.

[themightylemur]

12:39 PM on 09/24/2010

you seem to assume a lot about women's personalities based on the shoes they wear, but like you said, different strokes...