Boots Both/And Sneakers Not Either/Or

 

Right now M&M's are being rebranded slightly. The above picture is the "new" version of all the characters. (And if you look at the above picture and can't see many differences I feel you, I really can't either)

One of the mini "big stories" online is the fact that the Green M&M now has sneakers instead of her pervious boots. There have been several posts online such as one by The Mary Sue who have seen this as an intentional or unintentional critique of women. 

(Now I have to note that most of the comments are taking this all a bit tongue in cheek and discuss how these are just M&Ms and all these critiques are a little silly)

One complaint is that the Green M&M is less sexy now. (And in a nontypical turn of events it is women who are saying the Green M&M should be sexy, so the conversation is less about the male gaze as you might think.) 

There have been complaints that giving the Green M&M sneakers is a form of slut shaming. (There are also what I find more interesting conversations around the idea that Mars felt that if the Green M&M changed her shoes her personality would change)

Now I am coming to this conversation as an asexual cis-gendered female identified individual who has never worn heals, nor boots with any type of heal but I feel like this is a real case of Both/And not Either/Or. 

I always wear sneakers because they are more comfortable and unless it was a good winter/rain/hiking boot with lots of arch support I don't really get boots, especially fashion boots unless it is from the musical Kinky Boots but that is less the boots and more the wonderful songs :) )

Now to be clear this is all about M&Ms which I pretty much just eat and not think about the backstories of the characters. LOL. But I think it is a great example of needing Both/And not Either/Or. Some women wear boots, some wear sneakers, some ballet slippers, some wear high heals, some wear fuzzy bunny slippers. 

I think some of the conversations around these M&Ms is reminding me of other shows where being sexy is presented as a useful target, which don't quite work for me since being ace I really don't care if I am "sexy"

Do I think the Green M&M's shoes needed to be changed? Not really. 

Do I think switching the Green M&M to sneakers is that problematic? Personally No

Do I find the conversations around what footwear can represent interesting? Yep