...who is it, exactly, that's forcing white, upper-class women to buy and wear uncomfortable shoes?

Oh riiiight. Teh Patriarkee. That sucker is to blame for everything.

Ahh, the contradictory tenets of modern feminism: We must always assume women have independent-enough wills to vote and choose their careers, but the dumb-ass things that women do are the fault of patriarchal mind-control rays.

The only thing that matters is who you are. If you are a member of the right group then by definition everything you believe is correct. Otherwise everything is your fault. I don't write the rules, I just report them.

There is very little that turns me off faster than a woman complaining about her uncomfortable shoes. I'll take a woman who's confident enough with her looks to wear comfortable flats any day.

When I've had this discussion with women (asking the question "who are you trying to impress?"), you may be surprised, but the answer isn't "men." It's either other women or they're just trying to make themselves feel good.

So by all means, put yourself through hell to keep up with your girlfriends, but whatever you do, don't blame me. I'd rather see you in comfy sneakers than 4-inch heels anyway.

You obviously don't get it-- It is Teh Patriarkee which makes them blame other women or blame themselves for wearing uncomfortable shoes.

It's due to their internalized misogyny. Teh Patriarkee's mind-control rays yet again.

You ain't never gonna win this contest, boy. No matter what you say, there's always an inventive new way to blame men for it. Whatever it is.

Show me a culture where women are prevented from leaving the house if they don't wear Jimmy Choo's or skinny jeans. Sarkizy has this one exactly right.

My wife loved shoes. She bought shoes and then figured out what clothes to buy to go with the shoes. She was 5'11", but she wore 3 1/2-4" heels regularly. She did it for herself not for me. She preferred Christian Louboutin, but she also had Jimmy Choo, Prada, etc., including Jimmy Choo flats.

Sure, these jokes are funny but they convey a superficial sense of reasonableness that misses the whole point.

The historic cultural civilization of France is being threatened by a conservative northern african and middle eastern tradition of veiling the woman's body. The percentage of immigrants from northern africa and the middle east of the Islamic faith in France has risen dramatically in a relatively short period of time and now represents around 20% of the population, and that one fifth can cut deeply into the culture and self concept of manners and dress in that nation.

To traditional French, a woman's beauty is to be enjoyed by all and the dress, toiletries and mannerisms of the woman is to be celebrated not covered up and only seen by a privileged few in her family. French fashion is admired throughout the world. The veil really is threatening to those values and way of life in a drastic way.

There is also the question as to whether the Koranic command for women to dress modestly actually demands veiling - or if the veils and burqas are just part of certain regional traditions that have been incorporated into the religion.

And, let us remember, when women from western nations visit the middle east, they are fully expected to show respect for the dress codes of those nations and often have to don veils and burqas or be harassed or even arrested. Our western countries' traditions and dress should also be equally valued and respected.

who is it, exactly, that's forcing white, upper-class women to buy and wear uncomfortable shoes?

The Hohle phallus!

Apart from any the feminist issues, forcing businesses to allow gowned and masked people to walk into banks or any other sensitive area is just foolish and a threat to public safety.

Who knows what's under all that fabric? It hasn't always been women; quite a few suicide bombers have used that garb to assist their mission kill many innocents.

Do we allow nudist/naturists to move in society at will? Does the law allow voodoo type religious adherents to kill a witch or two even though they believe they have that freedom of religion right? Of course not.

The burqua/high heel issue is absurd. The burqua is a mask that completely hides the individual beneath it--whether male or female.

Sarkosy is right about this issue, even though he's a fool on others.

Consider a lone woman going into a lonely rest room and seeing a burqua-clad individual in there. Is she safe? Does she know whether there's a set-up here? Noooooo.

Even a mask, say for surgical patients, can be acceptable, but a total body-covering disguise. No way.

BTW: All of the above refers to burqa use in western nations. I believe the treatment of women in eastern nations is deplorable whether they accept or not. But that is a different issue.

Personally, I'm not thrilled with this garb even if the face can show. We live in dangerous times.

Perhaps the solution is the building of dedicated centers of shopping and business for those who wish to move about in disguise or burquas.

Uhhh, I think she's saying there's a strong cultural influence on the decisions women make of their clothing choices.

Linney, you need to learn to spell. The "ironic" spelling is so over.

I really don’t understand how feminists can square their support of the burqa with their opposition to high heels. That could just not be more wrong. Nobody forces women to wear high heels but people do force women to wear burqas.

A more sane cult than feminism would see how bassackward that is.

I think the difference is that no one is suggesting that high heels be legally banned or required. You can point out why you think someone else's choices are misguided, while still vigorously defending their right to make them.

Covering ones face is considered rude in my culture. Looking people in the eye is consider polite. I expect to be able to see a person's face when I do business with them. If they want to cover up like a nun that is OK but I'm not letting some guy in a burqa into the ladies changing room. I'm all for cultural sensitivity but it needs to go both ways. If I have to cover my hair when I visit your country you have to uncover your face when you are in mine.