Naked_Foots

Why is it, that shoes are deemed necessary in today’s society' Do people really find it offensive when they see someone walking around barefoot' In 1997, a number of “barefooters” got together and wrote to 48 states, inquiring about the laws on footwear in public places such as schools, restaurants, libraries, etc. All states replied, saying that there are no such regulations forbidding bare footedness in public on a state basis. I feel very strongly opposed to putting shoes on in order to travel to public places not only because I prefer not to wear them, but also because I believe it is wrong to discriminate against folks who prefer a barefooted lifestyle. In my personal experience, I find it far more enjoyable to walk around barefoot, rather than with shoes on. Some people might think that it is painful or dangerous to walk around barefoot. Sure, you might scratch your foot every once in a while (and maybe even have to use a band-aid), but it is not nearly as serious of a risk as most people think. When I wear shoes, I feel like I am missing out on such wonderful feelings. Everyone uses all of their senses every day, but why limit your sense of touch' I don’t see anyone walking around with an eye patch on to impair their vision or wearing earmuffs so that they cannot hear clearly. Shoes have essentially the same effect as these; they limit the senses. I feel just like Myranya Werlemann states in her Barefoot Rights essay, “Feeling the ground beneath me, no matter if it's smooth or rough, wet or dry, cold or warm, is a very important part of my life.” I, too, find it necessary to experience these wonderful feelings on my feet. Shoes act as a barrier between me and the world I am standing on, so I prefer to be shoeless so that I can experience a sort of oneness with the earth. It is not right to discriminate against people just because they are not wearing shoes. Many restaurants have a ‘No Shoes, No service’ rule, but these illogical regulations should be changed. In the state of California, or any state for that matter, no laws exist that prevent people from being allowed to walk around barefoot. It is left up to the restaurant or other establishment to enforce these rules. In a letter from the California Environmental Management Branch, Chief Jack McGurk wrote, “there are no statewide laws or regulations requiring the wearing of shoes in public places such as restaurants.” Often times, upon seeing a barefoot person in their business, a manager will state that they are liable for anything that happens to that person’s feet so they must go put shoes on. This is not true. Nowhere does it say that businesses are held responsible for barefooted injuries. In fact, there has never been even one case in the United States where someone successfully sued a business because they were severely injured from being barefoot in their store. “No one would sue a store over a scratch requiring a band-aid, and if they did they'd be laughed out of court” (Werlemann). Any injury that may occur in a store will almost always be nothing more than a small scratch or perhaps bruise. In the event that a more serious injury might occur, it would most likely be from something sharp and dangerous lying on the floor. I don’t know about you, but I don’t see too many restaurants with broken glass or rusty nails on the ground. And if I do see them, well that is the point (no pun intended); I see this dangerous item so I choose to walk around it or step over it. Wearing shoes can actually be more dangerous than being barefoot sometimes. As Taylor Butterfield, Doctor of Podiatry, states, “Being barefoot in public does not pose a great threat to the person. In fact, wearing shoes can often times be more dangerous than not wearing them.” Someone could be wearing shoes with a slick bottom and step in a puddle of soda on the ground, and fall flat on their back. This could cause a lot more serious injury than if that person were to have had the great traction and reliability of bare feet. The assumption that shoes are a necessary part of everyday life is a load of malarkey. I, personally, do not like wearing shoes, so I don’t appreciate when I feel that people are judging me because there is no cloth or rubber protecting my feet. Since there are no laws forbidding it, there should not be discrimination against being barefoot in public. This prejudice is neither necessary nor wanted. Perhaps next time you see naked feet walking down the street, you’ll think twice before judging or condemning them. Werlemann, Myranya. Barefoot Rights-Why'. Barefooters.org, 2009. Web. 10 October 2011. Shakely, Bill. Bare Feet and the Health Department. Barefooters.org, 28 August 2009. Web. 10 October 2011. Butterfield, Taylor. A Barefoot Lifestyle from a Podiatrist’s Perspective. Hippiepodiatry.com, 27 March 2007. Web. 10 October 2011.