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Walking barefoot

Going barefoot means not wearing shoes, socks, or other foot covering. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Image File history File links Healthy feet of an 11-year-old girl who regularly goes barefoot. ... Image File history File links Healthy feet of an 11-year-old girl who regularly goes barefoot. ... For other uses, see Shoe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Sock (disambiguation). ...

It is more common to go barefoot is more common in developing countries, but less common in industrialized countries due to greater availability of footwear and societal taboos against going barefoot.  High human development Medium human development Low human development Unavailable (colour-blind compliant map)   Developing countries not listed as least developed countries or as newly industrialized countries, in their respective articles. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (as of 2004). ...

A barefooter^{[citation needed]} is someone who prefers to go barefoot in situations where folkways expect shoes to be worn. Calling oneself a barefooter implies that being barefoot is a voluntary choice (as opposed to, for example, not being able to afford shoes). Reasons for choosing to go barefoot include sensation of one's feet in direct contact with the ground, and/or perceived spiritual or health benefits. Folkways are the patterns of conventional behavior in a society, norms that apply to everyday matters. ... For other uses, see Foot (disambiguation). ...

[edit] Religious and cultural aspects

[edit] Acts of devotion

Many religious traditions consider removing shoes as a pious gesture of respect, especially appropriate when approaching holy places.

• In Exodus, Moses had to take off his shoes before approaching the burning bush.
• Muslims are usually unshod for prayer (commonly on a prayer mat) or to attend services in a mosque, though socks are permissible.
• Some Christian churches practice barefoot pilgrimage traditions – an example being the ascent of Croagh Patrick in Ireland.
• In the Hindu religion, shoes are removed before entering temples.
• Among many neopagan reconstructionists, bare feet are considered an ideal way to remain in touch with the elements.

Going barefoot is also a common form of mortification, often combined with others such as pilgrimage, either as penance or ascetism. Roman Catholic religious orders that permanently restrict the ability of members to wear footwear are known as "discalced", though in reference to certain religious orders the term means wearing only sandals on the feet. Barefoot orders include the Camaldolese and the Teresian. This article is about the second book in the Torah. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Salah (other terms and spellings exist) (Arabic: صلاه , Old (Quran) Arabic: صلوة ) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. ... Typical manufactured prayer mat showing the Kaaba A prayer mat or prayer rug, (in Arabic, سجادة sajada (plural sajjad) or musallah, in Persian: جانماز Janamaz), is a piece of fabric (often decorated) used by Muslims during their five daily prayers (Salat). ... For other uses, see Sock (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... This article is about the religious or spiritual journey. ... Croagh patrick is a 764 m (2,510 ft) mountain in the west of Ireland and an important site of pilgrimage. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism, meaning New Paganism) is a heterogeneous group of religions which attempt to revive ancient, mainly European pre-Christian religions. ... Flagellants mortifying the flesh, at the time of the Black Death Mortification of the flesh literally means putting the flesh to death. The term is primarily used in religious contexts, and is practiced in a variety of ways. ... For other uses, see Penance (disambiguation). ... An ascetic is one who practices a renunciation of worldly pursuits to achieve spiritual attainment. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A Taoist monk playing an instrument. ... Discalced is a term applied to those religious congregations of men and women, the members of which go entirely barefoot or wear sandals, with or without other covering for the feet. ... Modern multi-colored Sandalette Yoga sandals In some parts of the United States, this type of sandal is referred to in slang as the mandal in that it is worn primarily by men. ... Camaldolese Priory on Bielany in Kraków, Poland The Camaldolese are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities which follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of St. ...

"The Barefoot Path in the Western Contemplative Tradition" by Ken Rice (link below) provides a good overview of the subject.

[edit] Artists renowned for performing barefoot

Some artists and entertainers such as Mutabaruka, Henry Rollins, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, Deana Carter, Xavier Rudd, and Michael Franti perform and/or appear so often shoeless that the barefoot look has become a "signature" of sorts for them. Their lack of footwear is often cited in publicity photos, album titles [1], interviews and even (in the case of Genevieve Gorder or Julia Roberts[2]) parodies. These performers often cite comfort or nervousness for their preference [3], go barefoot to express political statements [4], and sometimes (as with Isadora Duncan[5]) challenge significant social obstacles in order to do so. Mutabaruka (b. ... Henry Rollins (born February 13, 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield) is an American singer and songwriter, spoken word artist and author. ... Saba Douglas-Hamilton Saba Douglas-Hamilton was born in Kenya on June 7, 1970. ... Deana Kay Carter (born January 4, 1966 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.) is an American country music singer-songwriter who broke through in 1997 with the release of debut single Strawberry Wine, which reached Number One on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. ... Xavier Rudd was born in 1978 and is a multi-instrumentalist musician and surfer from Australia. ... Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966, in Oakland, California) is an American poet, musician, and composer of African, American Indian, Italian, and German descent. ... Genevieve Gorder Genevieve Gorder (born July 26, 1974 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American television host and interior designer. ... Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an Academy Award-winning American film actress and former fashion model. ... Isadora Duncan Isadora Duncan (May 27, 1877 – September 14, 1927) was an American dancer. ...

[edit] Barefoot on stage

No matter how formal the event, bare feet are customarily expected on Erawan Shrine Temple grounds.

In dancing, theatre, and opera performances, bare feet often express emotions, fears, vulnerability, a down-to-earth attitude, and/or familiarity. It may often alleviate a performer's sense of nervousness or anxiety in such situations, as being barefoot tends to promote physical, and by implication mental, comfort. The ceremony or ordeal of firewalking entails walking barefooted through fire, over a bed of embers, or over hot stones. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 529 pixelsFull resolution (1042 × 689 pixel, file size: 948 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 529 pixelsFull resolution (1042 × 689 pixel, file size: 948 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation... View of the shrine from the skytrain The four-faced Brahma (Phra Phrom) statue Flowers and incense around the shrine Thai dance performed for Brahma The statue after restoration The Erawan Shrine (Thai: , read San Phra Phrom) is a Hindu/Buddhist shrine in Bangkok, Thailand that houses a statue of... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... Fire-walking is the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot coals. ...

[edit] Regional traditions

In many cultures it is considered inappropriate, even rude, to wear shoes indoors. It may be acceptable to wear shoes in public places ( e.g. museums or libraries ), but people are usually expected to go barefoot, or wear socks, inside dwellings. This is usually true for countries where inclement weather is frequent, such as Japan, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Norway, or Canada, and serves the purpose of minimizing the amount of dirt and mud brought in from the outside.

[edit] Sign of poverty or mourning

This tradition dates to Roman times, when it was traditional for prosperous Roman citizens to wear elaborate clothing, including footwear, while slaves and lower-class citizens went barefoot. In Medieval times, leather shoes and boots were expensive, so poorer people often either went barefoot or wrapped their feet in cloth. In art and literature, bare feet often symbolize poverty. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows what he found. ...

Just as 'sack cloth and ashes' or even full nudity, it was also a sign of mourning in Antiquity.

[edit] Symbol of innocence

This largely American literary tradition dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, when going barefoot was a standard part of childhood play, especially in rural areas. It features prominently in the novels of Mark Twain and the poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier. Barefoot children and young women are also common in the paintings and sketches of Norman Rockwell, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and the artists affiliated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer. ... John Greenleaf Whittier (December 17, 1807 – September 7, 1892) was an American Quaker poet and forceful advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. ... Norman Percevel Rockwell (February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978) was a 20th century American painter. ... William-Adolphe Bouguereau, self-portrait (1886). ... Persephone, by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. ...

[edit] Symbol of peace

One way to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi, is to walk barefoot around his monument. Even Pope John Paul II and George W. Bush paid him this honor, as shoes are banned within Gandhi's memorial site, Raj Ghat. “Gandhi” redirects here. ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan PaweÅ‚ II) born   []; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) reigned as the 264th Pope of... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Raj Ghat, Delhi Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi is a simple black marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation on 31 January 1948. ...

[edit] Barefoot lifestyle

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

In certain countries, bare feet in urban areas are more "popular" than in others.

Of those that self-identify as barefooters, being barefoot some, or even all the time is a lifestyle choice. This choice to go barefoot in public is in direct opposition to the social folkways that exist in some industrialized nations, namely the USA. In other regions, specifically Oceania, a visibly minority, are seen walking barefoot. Upscale restaurants and most pubs, however, generally require shoes. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Folkways are the patterns of conventional behavior in a society, norms that apply to everyday matters. ...

Barefooters maintain their barefoot lifestyle is a matter of personal choice that harms no one, intends no disrespect and is consistent with the tradition of individual self-expression that has historically been a cornerstone of liberty in democratic nations. Other barefooters are now promoting barefoot living as a part of a simpler, more family-oriented way of living. They believe that it is healthier to raise children in a family oriented environment where going barefoot is strongly encouraged.

Some barefooters and social historians old enough to remember American life before the 1960s have theorized that the often inaccurate but nonetheless persistent stereotypical image of the filthy, unkempt, barefoot hippie from the later part of that decade has contributed to an overall change in society's attitude toward the practice of going barefoot in public. The widespread appearance of "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service" signs can be traced to this era, and some decidedly non-hippie individuals and even families who had gone barefoot in public on a regular basis opted to begin wearing shoes, lest they be identified with opposition to the Vietnam War and other causes associated with the counterculture.^{[citation needed]} In modern usage, a stereotype is a simplified mental picture of an individual or group of people who share a certain characteristic (or stereotypical) qualities. ... Singer of a modern Hippie movement in Russia The hippie subculture was a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread around the world. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... In sociology, counterculture is a term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. ...

[edit] Myths

There are many myths and popular misconceptions regarding regulations against bare feet.

[edit] Driving barefoot

Regulations concerning driving barefoot vary from one jurisdiction to another:

• In the United States, widespread belief in the existence of laws against driving barefoot has been debunked as an urban legend.^[1]

• In Germany, traffic laws do not forbid driving barefoot.^[2]

• In Belgium, the driving code does not explicitly ban barefoot driving, but article 8.3 requires drivers to be "constantly able to perform any maneuver". According to the federal police, this implicitly bans barefoot driving.^{[citation needed]}

• In Hong Kong, there is no law prohibiting or proscribing the type or lack of footwear while driving, though it is illegal to be dressed in a manner that interferes with an individual's ability to drive.

• In Italy, driving barefoot is allowed.^[3]

• In New Zealand, traffic laws do not forbid driving barefoot. ^{[citation needed]}

• In Australia, there are no laws to prohibit barefoot driving.^{[citation needed]}

• In Brazil, driving barefoot is recommended over driving with inappropriate footwear.^[4]

This article is about the electronic component. ...

[edit] No shoes, no shirt, no service

In the United States, it is also frequently believed that OSHA regulations prevent people from going to stores, restaurants, and the like without shoes (or a shirt). OSHA regulations refer specifically to employees, not customers. There are no state health codes that ban customers from going barefoot in establishments, as is demonstrated by a project undertaken by The Society for Barefoot Living.[6] Individual businesses, however, are free to refuse to serve customers without the footwear they deem appropriate. Individual cities and towns may also require certain footwear in public places. OSHA logo The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. ...

[edit] Health issues

[edit] Risks

Poisonous plants, animals or parasites that can enter the body through the skin or cuts on bare feet, and the use of shoes can be valuable in protecting them.^[5] Other hazards include sharp objects that can lacerate the foot and extreme temperatures. In addition, individuals with diabetes or other conditions which affect sensation within the feet are at greater risk of injury while barefoot. A parasite is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life in or on the living tissue of a host organism and which causes harm to the host without immediately killing it. ... Definition A cut is an injury that results in a break or opening in the skin. ... For other uses, see Temperature (disambiguation). ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ...

[edit] Benefits

A 2006 study found that shoes may increase stresses on the knee and ankle, and suggested that adults with osteoarthritis may benefit from walking barefoot,^[6] though more study is requird to elucidate the factors that distribute loads in with-shoe and barefoot walking. A 1992 correlational study also found that children who wore shoes were three times more likely to have flat feet than those who did not, and suggested that wearing shoes in early childhood can be detrimental to the longitudinal arch of the foot.^[7] A 1991 review article found that barefoot walking supported optimum foot development, and the best use of shoes are to protect the foot from injury rather than for correction of problems.^[5] Other doctors disagree, and believe shoes have use in correcting mild deformities such as flat feet.^[8] For other uses, see Knee (disambiguation). ... For a review of anatomical terms, see Anatomical position and Anatomical terms of location. ... Osteoarthritis / Osteoarthrosis (OA, also known as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, arthrosis or in more colloquial terms wear and tear), is a condition in which low-grade inflammation results in pain in the joints, caused by wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints. ... Positive linear correlations between 1000 pairs of numbers. ...

[edit] In television

• Lisa Snowdon used to present her show Lisa Snowdon's All Access for VH1 in her bare feet.
• Cat Deeley and Edith Bowman often presented in their bare feet when they presented on MTV together. They are usually seen at the start of the show wearing shoes, but they later kick them off and continue in their bare feet. Cat Deeley has justified this, saying she feels more comfortable and at home hosting this way^{[citation needed]}.
• Sue Barker used to present in her bare feet, as a superstition^{[citation needed]}.
• Tessa Jowell likes to go round in her bare feet.

Lisa Snowdon (born Lisa Snawdon on 2 September 1971) is an English actress, supermodel, television presenter and singer. ... Catherine Elizabeth Cat Deeley (born October 23, 1976) is a popular English disc jockey, television personality and former fashion model, who rose to fame at the age of 21, co-hosting the well-known childrens series SMTV Live, alongside Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. ... Edith Eleanor Bowman (born January 15, 1975) is a Scottish television presenter. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... Sue Barker, MBE (born April 19, 1956, in Paignton, Devon, England) is a television presenter and former professional tennis player. ... Tessa Jowell (born September 17, 1947 in London) is a British politician who is Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for the Olympics, following the selection of London to host the 2012 Olympic Games. ...

[edit] See also

• Barefoot and pregnant
• Barefoot doctor
• Barefoot park
• Barefoot running
• Social aspects of clothing
• Barefoot skiing

The phrase is commonly lengthened to Barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen... Barefoot and pregnant is a phrase most commonly associated with the controversial idea that women should not work outside the home and should have many children during their reproductive years. ... Barefoot doctors (Chinese: 赤脚医生) were farmers who got basic medical training and worked in rural villages in China to bring health care to areas where urban-trained doctors would not settle. ... Indian ladder in the barefoot park Nienhagen, Germany. ... Barefoot running is gaining a following on the fringe of the larger jogging community. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Barefoot skiing Barefoot skiing is water skiing behind a motorboat without the use of water skis, commonly referred to as barefooting. Barefooting requires the skier to travel at higher speeds than conventional water skiing. ...

[edit] Notes

Internet Archive headquarters is in the Presidio, a former US military base in San Francisco. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

[edit] References

• French language: B.F., Tongs au volant : gare ! in La Dernière Heure, August 6, 2003
• The Barefoot Hiker by Richard Frazine. ISBN 0-89815-525-8

is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

barefoot

• European Barefooting Resource Center
• The Barefoot Path in the Western Contemplative Tradition
• Footloose and Boot Free: Barefoot Hiking (The New York Times, September 22, 2006)