The equitable shoes changing the game for female athletes.
Our love of ball games dates back at least 3,000 years to Mesoamerica. This love endures today — fueling a multi-billion-dollar, global, athletic sneaker industry. While competitive sports have mostly been a man’s game, women are said to have played ball games in Ancient Greece, while in America, organized sports for female athletes date back to the early 1900’s. As the popularity for female sports leagues like the WNBA grow, we’re still waiting for salaries to catch up. What most don’t know is that pay isn’t the only equity issue.
It’s been reported that most athletic shoe makers base their basketball kicks, intended for both male and female consumers, on a male-based last. According to Shoemakers Academy, a last is a foot-based mold used by manufacturers to inform the shape, fit, and function of a shoe.
Male-based lasts put female athletes at a higher risk for injury because female feet are structurally different in ways that go beyond just size.
A recent study found that men have longer, wider feet depending on their stature and differ significantly in calf, ankle and foot shapes. Researchers suggest that men and women’s shoe designers take differences into account when designing optimal footwear.
“Every time you stand up your whole body is influenced by your feet…The proper shoe can provide more control of the heel bone and mid-foot, or sensory guidance for proper gait mechanics, or cushion to sense the foot’s impact on their body.”-Hruska Clinic, Physical Therapy
Natalie White, founder and CEO of Moolah Kicks, is taking this issue head on by designing sneakers for female ballers with equity in mind.
“Our last shape was crafted by professional trainers to mimic the female foot form and a basketball shape.” -Moolah Kicks.
White’s hopes her shoes will decrease the risk of preventable yet common knee, ankle and leg injuries in women’s basketball.
Shoe fit is important for wellness, and not just for athletes. A literature review from the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research revealed that between 63 and 72% of participants were wearing shoes that did not accommodate the proper width or length of their feet. People with Down syndrome and diabetes were more likely to wear shoes that were too narrow, leading to preventable foot pain and foot disorders.
We all deserve to stand or play on solid ground. I hope to see more shoe manufactureres and designers follow in White’s footsteps and more general awareness about how to properly care for our collective feet.
Imani Razat is a writer and communications consultant. She has a Master’s in Communication from Johns Hopkins University.
