Discrimination

[NickW]

Ok, so I've read lately several stories of people being discriminated against for being barefoot. I've also heard others say it is the businesses right to refuse service and it's not technically discrimination. Well, I looked up the definition today and here it is from dictionary.com and it most definitely is discrimination,

1. an act or instance of discriminating.
2. treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.

Boy that sure sounds a lot like something that is illegal to do based on race or religion, even sexual preference is becoming more accepted. Why is it legal to discriminate against someone for choice, or lack thereof, of footwear? When I become a business owner (dreaming) I'm going to say "shoes no service". The way I was raised and grew up (small town) we were taught that discrimination of any kind is bad and a thing of the past. Now, as an adult I feel I was lied to. We really have not become more tolerable as a society, we just moved our discrimination to something new. I'm a closet barefooter when I go to the store. I feel the need to hide that side of me at public businesses. How is that right?

 

[barefootandagile]

Nickw,

I can certainly relate. Anytime I make a post about my running in barefoot shoes I get threatened by the moderator here and my post gets sent to the footwear forum. I don't think that is fair but life ain't fair. BTW I definetely think it is silly of a business to not allow someone into the store simply because they are barefoot.

 

[Mandovark]

BTW I definetely think it is silly of a business to not allow someone into the store simply because they are barefoot.

It is silly. It's equally silly that coffee shops put warnings on their cups saying that the coffee inside is hot, and that whenever I buy a bag of peanuts it comes with a warning saying "contains nuts". The fact is, silly things happen in a litigious society. Someone spills hot coffee on themself and sues the coffee shop. Sooner or later, someone barefoot will cut their foot in a store and sue the owner. I think it's silly that businesses don't allow people to be barefoot - but if I owned a business I'd probably do the same.

Common sense says that anyone going barefoot does so at their own risk, but common sense doesn't have much standing in the law. Until that changes, businesses are going to keep insisting on shoes.

 

[Andy Tomlin]

The way I was raised and grew up (small town) we were taught that discrimination of any kind is bad and a thing of the past. Now, as an adult I feel I was lied to.

I'm afraid to say that barefooters aren't the only ones who are still discriminated against in 2012...

I'm all for freedom of whatever and stuff, but you have to understand that when you're in someone else's space, you have to respect their wishes. If someone came to your house with shoes on, you'd ask them to take them off, even if they didn't feel comfortable without their shoes. Just be content with changing the world a little bit at a time by walking everywhere you can BF =)

 

[Smelph]

here's a solid take on the whole subject: http://www.maplegrovebarefootguy.com/2012/03/can-you-be-barefoot-in-private-business.html

Whoops! Should I have let him post his own link?

 

[NickW]

If I so choose to go barefoot, then I can't blame anyone else for an injury that I receive barefoot on their property, mine, or the states. I know the risks by going barefoot. The civilized world has some huge flaws. One such flaw is frivolous lawsuits stemming from ones own decisions.

 

[NickW]

Oh and Smelph, I have read that and while he's right, it's because the system is flawed.

 

[Smelph]

Oh and Smelph, I have read that and while he's right, it's because the system is flawed.

I agree.

 

[rbondi]

Substitute 'nude' for 'barefoot' and see how or if your position changes.

 

[NickW]

I need to own a store and require that their be no shoes allowed and hot women can only enter with no shirt or bras. That would be my way of discriminating because it's my property and my business and I don't care if it infringes on anybody else or their beliefs... Thanks for the nude idea rbondi!
***This response is purely joking to show the silliness of a store dictating what we wear***

 

[Bare Lee]

Check out Primalfoot Alliance's mobile phone uploads and business cards: http://www.primalfootalliance.org/onthego
You can use these to educate the ignorant about the merits and myths of bare-footing. It's a nice, nonconfrontational way to persuade shoddies, and persuasion is where it's at, because as many have pointed out, it's a legal issue; owners of private property have a right to decide who comes in unless they are covered by anti-discrimination/civil rights legislation. Barefooters do not currently fall under these categories. They could, but it will require gentle persuasion and education over a period of time. Also, be sure to check out SBL -- Society for Barefoot Living. Those folks have been collectively dealing with this for a long time.

 

[PatrickGSR94]

I went in Walgreens the other day to pick up some photo prints I sent online. While waiting at the counter, the guy coming around to help said next time I needed to have shoes on. He said I could cut myself and then they would have to pay for it. I explained that it would be next to impossible for me to win such a lawsuit, and also that I would never sue for such a thing because it's me taking the risk. He was just like "yeah okay" and then got my stuff for me. Not sure if that was a win or a loss there or what, but I still don't plan on wearing shoes when I go there (not that I go there much anyway, too expensive for most things).

My wife tries to use the "nude" argument with me sometimes. That doesn't work because there ARE in fact laws against public nudity in this country, much to the chagrin of all the naturists out there But yeah that doesn't really work as a "similar" scenario with relation to being barefoot.

I don't have a problem if a store clearly posts their requirements, or has a printed copy of policies containing footwear requirement. Well I do kind of have a problem with it, but I'll still comply with it (maybe hah) if it's clearly posted or stated somewhere. My problem is when stores just blindy say "it's store policy" or "because we serve food here" implying health department rules, when really no such rule or policy exists.

 

[rbondi]

My wife tries to use the "nude" argument with me sometimes. That doesn't work because there ARE in fact laws against public nudity in this country, much to the chagrin of all the naturists out there But yeah that doesn't really work as a "similar" scenario with relation to being barefoot.

Just because there is a law does not mean that the law is not discriminatory. Nudity is an excellent example of how things are perceived. Why is it illegal in the first place? Why do people have a similar(although not strong enough to enact laws in most cases) perception of barefoot in the first place?

 

[Zetti]

Systematic discrimination has not ended for race, religion, or gender identification. It has often moved out of the realm of “obvious”, “visible”, or individual level discrimination, but not out of the very systems which it is perpetuated in. Individual acts of discrimination are very problematic and still exist, but systematic discrimination is a whole different beast. Its pervasive, not always obvious (especially for those not feeling the effects), and just as anti-freedom as blatant individual acts of discrimination. Now the conversation on governments role in protecting individual freedom and what that looks like will depend on the readers political positionality.
Just my .02 $ on discrimination =)

 

[NickW]

I've also seen people say that we barefooters are not a real group so therefore it's not discrimination. What's the BRS, or the Society for Barefoot Living? If those are not groups of barefooters then I don't know what is. Being barefoot is about a belief that it is healthier for us and more natural. This borders on the realm of religious in the fact that it is a belief (not definitively proven yet). Why should we be persecuted for our beliefs? Being banned from stores because we are barefoot is akin to being banned from a store because of your color. It's not right and I don't care what anyone else says about it, because in the end it really isn't right. People believe that being barefoot is unhealthy and opens you up to diseases and violating imaginary health codes, this is kind of along the same lines of people believing that African Americans have different diseases so they can't use the same toilets as white folks...

 

[PatrickGSR94]

Just because there is a law does not mean that the law is not discriminatory. Nudity is an excellent example of how things are perceived. Why is it illegal in the first place? Why do people have a similar(although not strong enough to enact laws in most cases) perception of barefoot in the first place?

Because in this country and other more "conservative" nations (not so much in more liberal Europe), there are "private" areas of the body, and to the large portion of the population, seeing such areas of the body can elicit sexual feelings and reactions. And in this country, it is viewed negatively to elicit those feelings out in public. While not nearly as much as 40-50 years ago, sex and the human body are still very much taboo among the general public (internet and other forms of porn, strip clubs, etc. not counting as "general public").

 

[barefoot kean]

this pretty much puts the argument to rest, from out own saypay

http://www.maplegrovebarefootguy.com/2012/03/can-you-be-barefoot-in-private-business.html

 

[PatrickGSR94]

lol funny that he used that pic on that blog post. Any Google image search for "barefoot" will bring up plenty of pics of that girl on Flickr, taken by her boyfriend "colorblindPICASO".

 

[NickW]

Kean, that was referenced up above already. Just because this is the way it is, doesn't mean it's right. Right? Or am I wrong and we should all just put on shoes and bury our heads in the sand???

I don't bring up this topic because I want to argue with everyone, but I'm shocked at how many are not willing to stand up for what they believe in and what's right. My eyes seem to be opened to a lot of things not right lately, this just happens to be one of the subjects. The only way to make a change in a society is for people to stand up for what they believe in and to try to educate those around them. I'm not advocating going and getting yourself thrown in jail or anything like that. I'm trying to bring up the point that we shouldn't be discriminated against and get an intelligent conversation going about it.

 

[barefoot kean]

Nick, I agree with you, ive been kicked out of dozens of establishments for being barefoot, and I used to get really pissed off about it. What ive noticed happens is you get a reputation for being barefoot and people ask questions, which then opens up an avenue to educate. So yes, we do need to stand up for what we believe in and educate those around, and I always will walk into establishments barefoot until someone of authority tells me I cant.