When Is It OK To Go Barefoot In Public?
Have you noticed that a lot of people are going barefoot in public these days?
Apparently, celebrity feet are hot. Many celebs have taken to performing on stage sans shoes.
Even on American Idol recently, Brooke White became quite popular as one who performs without shoes. In her final performance on American Idol, you can see her playing guitar and singing "Teach Your Children Well" with Graham Nash.
If you are an American Idol fan, you probably also noticed that whenever she played piano, she had one or both shoes off.
Some artists and entertainers such as Ottmar Liebert, Amy Grant, Cesária Évora, Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin, Linda Ronstadt, Joss Stone, Sandie Shaw, Lauren Harris, Sass Jordan, Cyndi Lauper, Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Mutabaruka, Henry Rollins, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, Deana Carter, Xavier Rudd, Measha Brueggergosman and Michael Franti perform and/or appear in bare feet so frequently that the barefoot look has become a "signature" of sorts for them. Their lack of footwear is often cited in publicity photos, album titles, interviews and even (in the case of Genevieve Gorder or Julia Roberts) parodies. These performers often cite comfort or nervousness for their preference, go barefoot to express political statements (Michael Franti, for example), and sometimes (as with Isadora Duncan) challenge significant social obstacles in order to do so. Source
But what about everyday non-celebrity people, like you and me? When is it okay to go barefoot in public? Better yet... is it even good etiquette to go shoeless, or to wear shoes that show your entire foot?
When It's Okay To Go Barefoot...
With the exception of the state of Alabama, you can drive barefoot.
See the regulations for driving barefoot in other countries here.
You can go barefoot in any establishment that does not have a sign prohibiting it -- like restaurants, grocery stores, and many clothing stores. Contrary to popular belief, bare feet are not prohibited by U.S. law in business establishments. The law actually refers to employees and not patrons. The Society for Barefoot Living proves this fact in a compilation of responses from states based on a mass inquiry about barefoot laws.
You can go barefoot in people’s homes (unless they happen to have a problem with bare feet). Many people I know, actually prefer that you remove your shoes in their home. Walking into a home and surveying whether or not there are shoes on the floor should tell you if the homeowners prefer guests to be barefoot or not.
Is Going Barefoot Good For You?
There are many reports that going barefoot may actually be healthier than wearing shoes. SixWise.com http://www.sixwise.com shares
Check out The Major Health Benefits of Going Barefoot… Really.
When It's Not OK To Go Barefoot
Of course, there are also times when you wouldn’t want to go barefoot. They include:
Dirty places such as public restrooms and city streets
Business environments, because business dress includes wearing business shoes
Formal occasions, even though many women remove their shoes by the end of the night -- especially if they are dancing
The White House and similar honored events. (You might recall the huge issue over the Northwestern University champion women’s lacrosse team visiting the White House in flip flops. If flip-flops aren't allowed, bare feet will certainly be a problem.)
My $.02 On Bare Feet
Personally, I don't mind seeing bare feet, but seeing them in unexpected places can be a bit distracting -- such as on the stage of American Idol, or in the grocery store. I may or may not wear my feet bare, depending on my mood and the temperature of the ground or floor.
As a mother, I worry about foot injuries such as the pencil lead my daughter recently got in the bottom of her foot, and my son’s habit of stubbing his toes. However, I would rather them be barefoot than to see them ruining socks and stockings.
As for public places, I make my kids wear shoes whenever we visit a business or go in a store, a restaurant, or any other place that might have a “no shoes, no service sign”. And I tend to keep a pair of flip-flops in the car for my daughter. (She has a habit of getting into the car barefoot without thinking ahead.)
The only time bare feet would ever really bother me in public is when they are excessively dirty -- such as the pair I encountered at the Social Security office this morning. The person in question was wearing flip flops, but when she picked up her feet, they were black as if she had been walking in tar. It rather freaked me out.
I think you are probably right just because people are more used to seeing a woman's feet. I mean, we wear open shoes and sandals and stuff like that plus you see women barefoot in magazines and on tv and stuff. And i think it goes along with the old "barefoot and pregnant" thing for women. Men think they are superior so they don't go barefoot.... just women!
I go barefoot as much as I can. I have noticed that I have been asked to leave an establishment for being barefoot more than my girlfriend, I don't think it is fair. Has anyone have a comment on the fact that I think the public is more ok with a girl going barefoot more than a guy. Any feedback?
I'm a 29 year old guy and I go barefoot pretty much anyplace I can when I'm not at work. I tend not to go barefoot in bigger stores, thats when I put flip flops on but in smaller stores its usually not a problem. I always wear wide leg cargo pants or jeans so it makes it a little eaiser.
I have not gotten hassled too much about it, A guy at a used music store once gave me a little hassle saying "you should really get some shoes on".
but I told him my feet were tough(which is true) and that I wasnt worried about stepping on anything. He was kinda taken aback.
Personally i love walking around without shoes. It feels great! I love being barefoot in public and driving barefoot. While I may not be totally barefoot I do wear socks most of the time jus for some protection.And when I do wear shoes I almost always am playing with them taking them off and such. It feels really good.
This is a link to the ugliest feet I have ever seen. This is actress, Christina Hendricks. She should not be wearing these strappy shoes because her feet are horrible. If you have decent looking feet, it is okay to go out in public barefoot.
http://tv.msn.com/tv/emmys/photos/red-carpet/?GT1=28103&photoidx=35
Hi, April,
I'm a barefooter too and I saw your comments. I have noticed the same thing. There's a small market I go to all the time and I am almost always barefoot when I go in there. They would probably not recognize me if I wore shoes lol!
I notice the same thing where sometimes the bottoms of my feet get really black in there and other times they don't. I don't notice any difference in the cleanliness of the floor or anything so its hard to know what makes them get dirtier than other times. Could be the same with your girls.
Great observation April... I wonder if the daughter with dirtier feet happens to also have sweaty feet? That might cause dirt to stick.
I let my girls (9yo and 11yo) go barefoot too. One thing I do not understand is how sarah's feet get so dirty and her older sister's don't? I mean they walk with me across the parking lot, both barefoot. They follow me around the grocery store. When we get back to the car, sarah's feet are black on the bottoms and becky's are still fairly clean. I wonder if age has something to do with it. When Becky's friend Julie comes over for the weekend, she often comes barefoot and doesn't even bring flipflops with her. Her feet stay cleaner too. Fortunately, Becky and Julie wear the same size shoes and Julie can always borrow a pair. My girls go barefoot almost all of the time. April