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I've just been wondering this recently cause Ive seen so many girls struggle in high heels and it made me realise that there is no practicality around them. And for women to say 'i just do' or 'they look nice' or even 'they make my legs longer' i dont think thats enough. A friend countered this by saying that 'guys have to wear ties, why do they do that?' but i don't think ties are sexualised like high heels are - just look at pornographys obsession with women wearing high heels.

Theres an interesting article that talks about probably the radical view on all this; that male designers have shoe fetishes and project this on to woman.

"Many male fashion designers are "projecting their misogyny on to the bodies of women", and gives examples of collections featuring images based on sexual violence - Alexander McQueen's show for his masters degree was entitled Jack The Ripper, and depicted bloodied images of Victorian prostitutes. A later show in 1995, Highland Rape, featured staggering, half-naked, brutalised models. And John Galliano, in his 2003 collection for Christian Dior, Hard Core Romance, used the imagery of sadomasochism, putting his models in seven-inch heels and rubber suits "so tight they had to use copious amounts of talcum powder to fit into them""

I dont think i agree with that but i do think its an interesting question, something ive never given a moments thought about. Do women acknowledge the impracticality but wear them cause 'thats just the way it is. Or have they internalised the 'male gaze' and become so locked in their femininity that they cant see that high heels are impractical?

I can't answer for women in general, but for me there are 2 reasons:
1) they are pretty, and I like pretty things (and it's really hard to find pretty flat shoes... I've tried)
2) I'm short and they make me taller

And they are my reasons. Some people may not think they are good enough reasons but they are good enough for me.

I don't wear them, but I do like girls in them. I don't think it's that heels themselves are sexual, but they do make a girl look taller and generally make the leg shape and toning look better; both of which are sexual elements.