Nancy Jane Rants on the Radio

By Nancy Jane Moore

NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday program let me rant on the radio this morning -- they aired my comment criticizing Isaac Mizrahi for advocating high-heeled shoes.

I notice that my comment was preceded by one from a doctor who treats women suffering from the damage inflicted by high heels. His instruction to avoid heels in any situation where you might need to walk or stand is great advice.

However, they left out one line of my commentary -- my observation that high-heeled shoes make women more vulnerable. That's at the heart of my rant. If your shoes put you off balance, and keep you from walking far or running at all, they keep you from taking care of yourself in a tight situation.

Wearing high heels makes a woman a little bit helpless, but the myth persists that women look "sexier" in heels. I've asked before and I'll ask again: Do you really want a lover who is attracted to you because you look helpless?

Nancy's New Blog: Taking Care of Ourselves

Nancy Jane Moore has started a new blog: Taking Care of Ourselves: The Smart Person's Guide to Self Defense.

The subjects discussed on the blog will primarily come from material I'm developing for a book on self defense, but I'll also be responding to self-defense-related current events. I bring 28 years in the martial arts -- primarily in Aikido -- as well as years of thought to the subject.

It's likely that I'll occasionally venture into discussions of fiction and movies on Taking Care of Ourselves, since fictional portrayals of women who can't protect themselves bother me greatly. And I'll be glad to field questions.

Please drop by and add your comments.