I'm 32 so I think I just missed the big barefoot movement back in the 60s and early 70s. When I started to be able to remember anything, it was mostly people wearing shoes but no socks and THAT was the big prep deal. I can't figure out how come being barefoot just disappeared totally (except for us). I apologize if somebody asked this question before but I couldn't find it. Some people here get ripped if somebody repeats a question; some get upset if you haul in an old one. Anyway, I'd like to hear a few answers. I see a lot of stuff now on the web so maybe theres a chance?
I believe a firm called Nike and Addias killed the barefooting movement in my opinion. I grew up in the late 60's and early 70's the exact timeframe you mentioned. During the summer months, it was quite common to see my peers walking barefoot around the neighborhood where I lived. Back then, you basiclly had your shoes for school and church and sneakers for gym class. If you didn't elect for either one, you went barefoot. For me it was an exception, I didn't go barefoot as I was painfully shy about exposing my feet to others, if fact I was quite jealous of those with the confidence to do so. I'll be willing to bet some of the other kids thought there was something wrong with me because I was always in shoes. America was still envolved in the Vietnam war, so the hippies of this period helped perpetuate the barefoot movement until about 1975 when the war ended. Getting back to Nike and Addidas, a new style fancy looking tennis shoe hit the stores in the mid 70's. Everyone had to try this new sneaker with the "waffle print" sole. As you guess it, later down the road a bunch of new companies jumped on the bandwagon with trendy sneakers, barefooting just seemed be be a thing of the past.
barefooting requires self confidence, shoes require money. which thing you think is going to be more popular, respected and supported in today's world ? 'nuff said. also, going barefoot is perceived not much as a personal choice but as a sign of distress or rebellion against commonly accepted rules , which outrages some bigot fellows and makes them feel entitled to bug barefoot people just because they are. or attires unwanted attention from pigs and other kinds of slaves.
Companies became obsessed with avoiding lawsuits. Stores adopted safety policies that eliminated any perceived risk, no matter how slight.
I just got back from the mall walking it for excercise. I don't think anyone even gave me a second look so I'm not sure it's as frowned upon as it used to be. On the other hand, I've been doing this for several days so I might be getting immune to it.
But for some reason, the 'risk' of going barefoot got blown way out of proportion, and bare feet are singled out. Because even while companies are obsessed with avoiding lawsuits, I have yet to hear of a sign saying 'no high heels or platforms'. Oh wait, yes I do, at an open house where the place had nice wooden floors and they didn't want the floors damaged by stiletto heels. But that was to protect the floors and not the people's ankles! I think the Health Department myth is the main problem; somehow, somewhere, people started posting signs saying shoes are required by the Health Department. We've speculated about it but never really determined how that myth came into being; possibly a major national chain started it and local stores picked it up without checking for themselves, assuming a large, well-known chain would know the laws and if they posted it, it had to be true. Then, when people see anti-barefoot signs all the time, even if they don't consciously read them every time they enter a store, it still registers in their mind somehow that barefoot = bad. It's constant negative advertising. So when they manage a business they post a sign too, more negative advertising, etc, etc.
I walk barefoot sometimes, Downtown, in town, on the trails, in the mud. It's fun. Not all the time though.
I thought it was McDonalds that started the health department myth. The trouble is that management in the national chains and local stores don't seem to grasp that health department regulations don't apply to customers.
McDonalds, when challenged, claimed the signs refer to their company Health Department, not a government (state, county, whatever) one. Might sound like a good excuse but I think their signs are still misleading, since people who see 'by order of the Health Department' written, will almost always assume it does refer to a government agency. It's quite possible they were the ones that started it, they're big enough that people would take their word for it without bothering to verify (or check just what Health Department they meant ). And it wouldn't surprise me if that was intentional; some clever footphobe who thought, 'customers might argue with our employees if it's only a store rule or go to another fast food place (especially back when those signs weren't such a common thing that many people take them as a matter of course), but if we put on there that it's required by the HD then it looks as if it's not OUR fault...'
I don't recall the McDonald's signs but you may be right. I know the few McDonald's I've been to don't have the signs, but the damage was already done. Home Depot has "Shoes Required" signs on their doors, but I've been in several and have never heard a word. My suspicion is that Home Depot's signs are a "cover your ass" move so that if you do get injured, they can say you were in violation of posted policy. That's fine with me - I don't anticipate doing anything in a Home Depot that would get me injured. My personal feeling is that a lot of the crazy laws in this country are the result of greedy personal injury lawyers. Remember when kids used to get hurt and it was just considered part of growing up? Now if anyone gets injured it's cause to sue and try to get rich. No wonder insurance premiums have skyrocketed and the court system is clogged.
I haven't seen a sign saying "no children" either, except at adult businesses. You know, those little 2-year-olds walking around tend to fall a lot, and the alleged dangers to our soles are real dangers to them!
One could argue McDonalds and Health Department are a contradiction in terms How healthy fast foods is can be quite a discussion. While I can understand, but not agree with, some people's preference not to see bare feet in certain settings there is NO WAY I would remove my stilettos for which I spent a lot of money on. I can be quite nimble on my heels and while I do enjoy the comfort and freedom of going barefoot and have the callouses to prove it, there are those times when I like to dress up and do the town
What's even worse about the shoe companies is that there's one called Vibram that invented FiveFingers, those crazy looking rubber toe-socks that are supposed to give you a barefoot feeling without actually being barefoot. Sad, indeed, when people don't want to experience true barefoot running for themselves, and instead have to have something that protects the foot.
I am 33 and also missed the good old barefooting days. The thing that I think is interesting is that in the days when my grandparents were growing up there were still kids who did not even own shoes and they went to school barefoot. These days if a kid was to go to school barefoot because they did not have shoes social services would show up at home that very night. How fast things change.
I go barefoot A LOT (i.e, nearly always) weather permitting, but when the temperature drops, Vibram FiveFingers are a nice compromise. The other cool thing about them is they're a great conversation piece. Most every time I wear them I get some very supportive, positive comments. It seems most people are "closet barefooters." Now that the weather's getting warmer I just go barefoot. I still get the occasional comment, but not as often. Somehow the FiveFingers make me "more approachable." I had an interesting exchange at the airport about a week ago. I was on an escalator to baggage claim when a woman on the stair in front of me asked how the metal felt on my feet. I said it was fine. She then asked if I ever get any comments about my feet. I replied that I rarely do, and if it's something negative I have my flip-flops (at least when I'm traveling through airports) with me. She said she was surprised I didn't get challenged more often and seemed sort of intrigued. I wonder f she'll try going barefoot the next time she flies?
