The Blister Gap: One Viral Post That Made Thousands of Women Say “Yes, This Happens to Me Too”

By SheSight Editorial Board

“It’s just a pair of shoes.” That’s what many people might think — until you’ve stood in them for hours, heels digging in, back aching, and voice still struggling to be heard in the room. For many women, dressing for work isn’t about style. It’s about survival.

That quiet reality (often overlooked) was captured in a simple but powerful LinkedIn post by Mark Freed, Managing Director of Men for Inclusion, a UK-based consultancy working with organisations to build cultures of gender equity. The post has since gone viral, resonating with over 2,000 professionals and sparking a wider conversation about the subtle, everyday ways women still navigate unequal terrain at work, starting with their shoes.

In his now widely shared LinkedIn post, Mark recounts a conversation between two men, comfortably dressed in casual sneakers, and a woman who appeared equally tall and confident in their presence. She was dressed in a flowing summer outfit, her height nearly matching theirs. But when she shifted slightly, she quietly removed her shoes, revealing a pair of high stilettos with four-inch heels. Suddenly, she stood several inches shorter.

What she said next lingered with him.

She shared that she doesn’t wear heels because she enjoys them, but because at that taller height, she feels more seen. More heard. More included. The pain, the blisters, the discomfort- they were all part of her strategy to “level the playing field” in a space that still doesn’t fully accommodate women in their natural form.

It was, as Mark put it, a powerful reminder of the invisible advantage that men often walk around with — quite literally.

The High Cost of “Showing Up”

Mark called it the “blister gap” — and thousands of women across LinkedIn immediately understood.

_{Pic: Mark Freed /Linkedin}

Because the truth is, while we talk about equity and inclusion, the expectations for women (especially in how they present themselves) still come with unwritten rules. Rules that often include painful shoes, tailored silhouettes, and a polished appearance that takes time, money, and a physical toll to maintain.

According to a UK Trades Union Congress (TUC) report, more than 70% of women have felt pressured to wear formal or feminine clothing — including heels — in order to appear professional.

A 2019 Harvard Business Review study also found that women are significantly more likely to be judged on appearance than men, particularly when aspiring to leadership positions.

And unlike men, women are rarely afforded the luxury of dressing for comfort without being considered “too casual” or “not serious enough.”

The Hidden Hierarchy of Height

While heels have long been part of professional attire, what’s rarely discussed is why so many women feel compelled to wear them in the first place. It’s not just about fashion; it’s often about power and visibility.

Several studies have linked perceived authority with physical height, a phenomenon called the “height bias”. Research from the University of Florida found that each inch of height may be worth nearly $800 more in annual salary, and taller individuals are often rated as more persuasive, competent, and leader-like.

Women, knowing this subconsciously or otherwise, try to close this “presence gap” with inches of elevation, even at the cost of pain, long-term foot problems, and restricted mobility.

That’s the blister gap in action.

More Than a Footwear Issue

What Mark Freed’s post so powerfully captured was not a footwear faux pas or a dress code debate, but a deeper reflection on what true inclusion looks like.

Are women expected to endure pain to be taken seriously?

Do we unconsciously reward those who perform confidence, rather than those who simply show up as themselves?

And how often do we notice the quiet compromises women make every single day to “fit in” to spaces not designed for them?

Inclusion must go beyond surface-level optics. It means creating a culture where people aren’t required to dress up ( or down) to be heard.

The Path Forward

As Mark concluded in his post:

“Let’s change the culture so everyone feels seen, heard, and valued — no matter what shoes they wear.”

At SheSight, we believe stories like these are essential to exposing the subtle yet persistent barriers that still exist, especially for women in professional settings. And we applaud male allies like Mark who don’t just notice these moments, but choose to speak out.

Because the blister gap isn’t just about stilettos.

It’s about whose comfort matters. Whose voice carries. And what it really takes for women to walk tall, in any shoes they choose.

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