Why is going barefoot considered unusual?

Question

I was at my shopping centre today with my shoes off and as I walked past a group of people I heard them whisper, "Look, that guy has got no shoes on."
Then when I was waiting in a shop to be served and a new shop assistant came out and asked who was next the person beside her said, "The guy in bare feet is next."
It is as though my bare feet are the thing that most people notice about me.

Answer 1

It draws attention because few people do it, and anything that only a few people do or wear draws attention. I've had other alternative looks as well, and it's the same with those. When I wear my goth clothes people look, too. When I had my hair dyed red, they looked. If people are just pointing it out, like your two examples, then don't sweat it, no biggie. Those aren't negative comments, they're just remarks.

Unfortunately in the US a lot of people believe going barefoot is unsanitary or gross as well, as most of the previous answerers show. That's more annoying since they often not just comment but also will try to make you wear shoes. However, they are mistaken. Going barefoot is NOT dangerous, unhealthy or gross. Our feet get very tough very quickly; I've been barefoot for over ten years, walk and even run barefoot in places like train stations where there's lots of litter and glass, and I've NEVER had a cut. I pick up a tiny splinter maybe once a year, but never even had that happen indoors at all. Germs aren't going to hurt you; the skin is made to keep pathogens out, we're at far greater risk of picking something up through our hands than through our feet. Unless you put your feet up on the dinner table or lick your toes, any dirt on your feet will just sit there harmlessly, while with our hands we're far more likely to transfer the germs from door knobs, shopping carts, etc to our face and/or food, where they can enter our body.

About 'smelly feet in your ice cream store'; feet that are bare do not smell -foot odor needs a shoe to develop, since it's produced by bacteria breaking down sweat in anaerobe circumstances -with lack of oxygen- and not by the sweat itself. Germs are no more likely to jump onto the food from the soles of a bare foot than from the soles of a shoe or the exposed skin in a sandal. I guess if you dislike the sight of feet, you'll ban flipflops too, since they 'cover' the foot only with a tiny strap, and are clearly not air-tight foot coverings? I'm sure you get a lot of business that way!

Insurance is just another excuse; barefooters have called many companies to inquire and none required or even recommended footwear for customers. Nor do Health Departments have any footwear rules; see source. People, please don't get your health education from the signs on store windows!

Answer 2

If someone walked in with a bright yellow tee shirt on would you not notice it? How would you describe him, that guy with the yellow tee shirt? What I have found about being barefoot is that people do notice you, not that it is bad. For those how stair at my feet, I know what they are thinking: to bad I have shoes on, they hurt, I bet that guy (you) feels so much more relaxed than I do. There are some people that think it is gross (OCDers), but they also think everything is gross. When people take notice of your barefeet, don’t sweat it, you do the same thing for the bright yellow tee shirt guy. When people make rude remarks (not often if any), just remember everyone is entitled to there own thought, just like thinking man those shoes are ugly. People notice more than just the feet of a person, they also notice your personality. Life go on, don’t get stuck on someone else opinion, let them walk in your sh.... barefeet.

Answer 3

Damn that annoys me, people not understanding bare feet. You miss out on so much when you have shoes on always. Not only is it an experience for your feet, it makes you more part of the place you are in. (By that, I mean, not only does it feel nice to walk barefoot say on the beach, but it also connects you to the beach more physically). Wearing shoes makes you unaware of so much. No wonder people have no connection to nature or the outdoors if they are always disconnected from it by plastic and brand names and clean socks.

At the moment I wear socks around outdoors and around town - because it is too cold here for bare feet but I really cant stand always wearing shoes!

I and my two best friends always wear bare feet around my not-freezing-cold-hometown. I think its a statement to be made, and its a shame that people assume you are poor or strange or something when you are just being more natural.

Also, feet are more happy when they get some sun and dirt!

Ok I think I'm done ranting. Go you! for going barefoot, I applaud you!

*edit* yes In realize that in town it is sometimes best to wear shoes. Especially if you plan on going to a public toilet! But honestly, anywhere else I really don't see whats so unhygienic. The ground may be made of dirt but that doesn't mean its "dirty". And if people have foot diseases then they should have the sense to realize that bare feet is not a good idea (but if they don't realize then by all means get affronted by them). Everybody has feet, so to think "gross I can see that persons feet" is just stupid.

Answer 4

To go barefoot in a store increases the store's liability. If you step on something that injures your foot or if you can prove that you acquired an infection in their store (if they had not posted a "no shoes, no service" caution), you may increase their insurance risk. This makes you an undesirable customer, so don't expect them to be warm and friendly.
Some people consider going shoeless unsanitary, which it certainly can be -- for you. In years past, many Southern Americans considered barefootedness unsanitary because some parasites enter from soil through the bottom of the foot.
I have loved going barefoot at home for comfort most of my life, but am unable to do so any more because of a painful foot condition that my doctor said was brought on by going shoeless. :-(

Answer 5

I wonder that myself sometimes, nearly 30 years ago, it wasn't a problem. You could go just about anywhere without shoes or a shirt, now people say it is unhealthy. They are probably the same people who started putting hand sanitizer down every aisle at the grocery store. These people need to realize, if you keep yourself sanitized all the time then your body won't be able to fight off sickness when you do come in contact with the germs.

Answer 6

Going barefoot is "allowed" at the beach and near the beach, at the pool and near the pool, at your house and at a friends house when the occasion in totally unformal you have asked for permission and your feet are clean. Going barefoot at public places is neither proper or healthy. You might step on something sharp or worse. Plus your feet get really dirty and if you decide to sit and cross your legs people will mind the view. Why even do it? Do you around bare-chested in a shopping centre?

Answer 7

Only because not a lot of people go around barefoot. Don't worry though, there are more and more people doing it and the barefooting will become more common to see. Then no-one will think twice about it.

Answer 8

I love to go barefoot, but not at a store or restaurant, I am worried about sustaining an injury, or stepping into something nasty. But if I am home, the shoes and socks are OFF!!!!

Answer 9

I do not wear shoes when I am at home, outside or inside, but I would never go out in public without my shoes. Not only is it socially unacceptable, it's unsanitary. I would not want to shop or eat next to someone who's been walking around barefoot, trampling through who know's what.

Answer 10

There are places where going bare-footed is appropriate. A shopping center is not one of them. Try the yard or the beach.