Do real women wear heels?

After digesting a rather misogynistic and ignorant comment regarding women wearing high heels, I've done a little self-reflection on the topic. I'm not a huge fan of heels and this off-the-cuff remark concerned me. It's not because I don't appreciate the look. Heels elongate your legs and give you the appearance of being skinnier which is always a plus. But I can't wear heels without looking like an 8 year old who's raided her mother's closet . When I wear heels I hobble around like a drunken idiot. I barely last an hour in the towering beasts without downgrading to flats or bare feet. The pain just isn't worth it and I'm perfectly content hovering around the 5'1 range that I've become so accustomed to.

Now, it offends me greatly to think that a man might think I'm not a real woman because I refuse to artificially increase my height and put on the illusion of being skinny day after day. There's a time and place for heels and darn it I'll wear 'em if I have to ( or at least start the night wearing them) but when it comes to the daily grind, I'm not about to sacrifice my feet for the sake of perceived femininity. I'm a dancer and I'll destroy my feet by banging the shit out of them while doing a hornpipe or by wearing soft shoes that are 3 sizes too small, but I won't subject them to the pointless pain of pumps. And it's not like I'm coming to work everyday dressed like a masculine hobo. I put time, effort and personal spunk into most everything I wear. But just because it doesn't include 4 extra inches doesn't mean it isn't flattering or feminine.

Update: In celebration of my own girlishly unique style I'm going to buy myself some boots sans heels this weekend and I'll post pictures.