#KuToo: Why Women In Japan No Longer Want To Wear Heels To Work

Women in Japan have started a revolution against a rule that makes high heels mandatory for women

By: Ankita Bose |
March 22, 2019 6:18 pm

Women across the world have had to battle internalised and enforced sexism to find equal opportunities at their workplace, but for women in Japan, the sexism permeates even in dress codes. Women in Japan have started a revolution against a rule that makes high heels mandatory for women.

Japan Today reports that both men and women are expected to wear suits when out for hunting jobs, but they cannot get out of wearing heels. The hashtag #KuToo started trending on Twitter as women spoke out against this practice with some calling it misogynist.

“Both men and women are supposed to wear suits, though women can opt out of a necktie. What they generally can’t get out of, though, is wearing heels. Granted, showing up in club-worthy stilettos is a faux pas, but flats are usually frowned upon for ladies, since they’ve traditionally been viewed as too casual, and so mid-level pumps have become the de facto dress code for female job hunters in Japan,” the report states.

In Japan, applicants have to show their interest in the job by visiting their recruiting offices for seminars and interviews. Wearing heels during these visits, which naturally includes taking the public transport and tackling crowds, can be cruel to women’s feet. #KuToo is a combination of two words – ‘kutsu’ meaning shoe, and ‘kutsuu’ meaning pain.

This is how Twitter users vented their ire against the practice:

#KuToo #韓女は日女の味方
Wearing uncomfortable and harmful shoes is not an obligation.
We support Japanese womyn.
Let’s break down the misogyny together.

— 天賦(천부) (@hayeong_second) March 15, 2019

There is no fucking reason to be seen beautiful when we go to work. We are there to work, that’s what we’re paid for. Stop making stupid statements like “men wear suits! we are in pain too!” “Why men are not considered?” Well then make a new hashtag “no suit for men” #KuToo

— 렌거 (@13070450a) March 22, 2019

Interesting to read about the #KuToo movement in Japan to get rid of high-heel shoes wearing requirements by employers. It’s sexism. It’s unhealthy. Office wear has long needed reconsideration of women in the workplace. https://t.co/IVoDOYPKP7

— Karen Lane (@karenlane32) March 21, 2019

It’s a shame that women around the world are still fighting against such things!! Even though heels have always been symbolic of patriarchal and sexist social constructs. #KuToo https://t.co/V5FbAGuqHy

— Ridhima Shukla (@RidhimaShukla7) March 22, 2019

Wearing heels is similar to foot binding. #KuToo https://t.co/3vaylceUbt

— Kaye Ko (@kayeko3) March 21, 2019