Excuses

The small but recurring set of "reasons" used by those objecting to bare feet are based on nothing but timeworn prejudice and deliberate misinformation. Here is why none of them are valid excuses for discrimination:

Health/Sanitation: There are NO health laws or regulations in any state in the US (or in most municipalities) against bare feet. Bare soles do not spread germs on floors any more than shoes do, and feet kept open to the air are in fact much healthier than those confined in shoes.

Safety: Barefooters enjoy more agility, balance, situational awareness, and general comfort, even while working in harsh environments and around heavy items. People used to being barefoot are more secure and steady without shoes than with them. Some "acceptable" footwear, such as flip-flops or high heels, make their wearers far less safe. The perceived safety risks for bare feet are generally overblown, as the routinely shod don't understand how tough and resilient the human foot can be given the chance.

Liability/Insurance: Laws around premises liability and duty-of-care hold that an establishment has NO responsibility for anyone's feet, despite the fears of venue management. There is not one general-liability business insurance policy that specifies footwear concerns for its patrons. No lawyer would take on a foot-injury claim by someone who freely entered a premises without shoes, as any such case would be summarily dismissed if it ever got to court. Looking out for one's own well-being is always 100% on the individual, regardless of circumstances.

Food: The "No Shirt/No Shoes/No Service" signs are one of the most insidious, dicriminatory holdovers from the sixties, and there has never been any legitimate reason for them. See comments on 'Health' above. Unfortunately, many people in restaurants and food retail are not aware of these facts and still run on their own prejudices.

Social Decency: Barefooting, for many, is a personal choice, to be treated with the same respect as other personal choices (dress, hair color, etc). In a civilized society, we simply tolerate each others' quirks and attributes. "Decorum" is about how we behave, not how we appear, and it's generally agreed that arbitrary harassment is what's unacceptable.

Thus, NONE of these myths have any bearing on people going about their lives without shoes. Bare feet in public have absolutely no impact on the operations of any business establishment, venue, attraction, or infrastructure. In addition, there are some people with a medical need to avoid wearing shoes, and they must be accomodated without question for ADA compliance. While unshod visitors or workers may not be the most common day-to-day sight, the sooner such a thing becomes an accepted norm, the better.

Myths and Excuses Against Barefooting