Glass Slippers are for Fairy Tales and Caitlyn Jenner

An appropriate fitting, comfortable shoe rarely equates to stylish, fashionable footwear in a woman’s world. Unfortunately, the typical, more fashionable high-heeled shoe with a narrow toe box causes increased plantar pressure and toe crowding, which can cause bunions (hallux valgus), bunionettes, hammer toe, and even neuromas in severe cases. 

(Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images) 

Studies show that 88 percent of women wear shoes too small for their feet and 70 percent were noted to have associated hallux valgus deformity. National studies show approximately 1 percent of all adults have hallux valgus, with an increasing prevalence with age; although only 9 percent of 30-to- 60-year-olds have bunions, approximately 16 percent of people older than age 60 have them. Women are two to four times more likely to have hallux valgus than men, likely due to a combination of intrinsic structural features and extrinsic footwear options. 

Additionally, the incidence of hammer toe is four to five times more common in women. So as you can see women suffer from all types of foot problems from the shoes they wear…. 

Now can you imagine being a women and having a size 12, 13 or 14 shoe? Many women have to deal with issue everyday. Caitlyn Jenner who now is in the news on a daily basis has brought this issue to light. 

Caitlyn sports a hefty size 13 shoe according to her publicist. And she has turned to some very fancy and famous shoe designers to help her match her stylish new clothes to her shoes. Unfortunately not all women can afford to custom shoes made for them and they are relegated to purchasing unstylish shoes or even have to wear men’s shoes. 

The courage that Caitlyn Jenner has shown to become her “true” self has also begun to shine light on issues that some of my patient’s have been dealing with their whole lives. 

Caitlyn has even taken to giving away her Large, Stylish Pumps to a Transgender admirer as reported here. 

Now that women who large feet have a “champion” of sorts, maybe mainstream shoe manufactures can start making stylish shoes these women can afford.