It is cold here in Northern Mississippi - 15 Fahrenheit this a.m. - so it is definitely boot weather. I was wearing my Madden Girl boots (one is shown above) in the recreation center locker room this morning after my post-swim shower and someone I know commented on them. I particularly like these boots because they are high (just over the knee) but have a comfortable low heel so walking around campus is not a chore and walking the 2-3 miles home is also possible. The low heels were part of what my acquaintance commented on, but she also made the point that there is still enough heel to make an authoritarian sound when you walk. I paid attention to this comment because I usually feel self-conscious when I wear 'loud' shoes or boots; makes me think of tap dance shoes or something. Sometimes I hear what sounds like women 'stomping' down the hallways in boots and I cringe a little.
But, obviously perception is everything - the sound I dread and want to avoid is seen by at least one other person as a positive sign; a sign of strength and importance. And this thought brought me back to the concept of bracketing that I blogged about yesterday. When I do "bracket" - or consider my biases and preconceptions - I also need to consider the orientation of 'flavor,' as well as the strength of those things. I might assume, using an example from my research interest in physical activity, that people are self-conscious as new exercisers and want to avoid being seen before they have some proficiency, when, alternately, some people might not mind looking a little awkward if they think it might result in getting additional help or attention. Of course that is a made up example that may have little or no applicability, but before today I never particularly thought of loud boots as a good thing!
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AuthorI am Sheryl L. Chatfield, Ph.D, C.T.R.S. I am a member of the faculty in the College of Public Health at Kent State University. I also Co-coordinate the Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Research and I am a member of the Design Innovation Team at Kent State. Archives
February 2024
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