Prior to the 1960's, bare
Prior to the 1960's, bare feet were a "boy" thing in the U.S.
In the 60's and 70's going barefoot in public became a "girl" thing to do.
Now that bare feet in public have become so rare, it seems to have become gender neutral.
Because I recall so many barefoot girls and so few barefoot guys from my high school and university years, I always thought that my going barefoot might be viewed by others as a feminine trait.
Surprisingly, most see it more as a "tough guy" thing, and very masculine.
Through my years of SBL membership I have made many barefoot friends, including several that have a same sex preference. A few have told me that it is harder for them to be accepted going barefoot in town by other gay men than by women or straight men, partially due to a fairly common "neat & clean" attitude many gays harbor.
Of course it makes no sense to stereotype, but in general I don't believe barefoot guys will be thought of as gay when barefoot out and about, but if wearing foot jewery all bets are off.
After yesterday's race we walked around the associated festival for a while, and I left my red velcro ankle strap used for the D Tag in place even though I had taken the chip off by then.
I noticed a difference in the looks and double-takes than without it, but being with my wife nobody called me anything other than tough.
I have had gay men try to pick me up while shopping barefoot before, but in each case they had a special interest in dirty guy feet.
Since that type of fetish is far more common in men than women, odds are if someone is interested in a guy BECAUSE he is barefoot, it's gonna be another guy, which could make it seem like bare feet are a gay thing even though in reality they are not.
Prior to the 1960's, bare feet were a "boy" thing in the U.S.
In the 60's and 70's going barefoot in public became a "girl" thing to do.
Now that bare feet in public have become so rare, it seems to have become gender neutral.
Because I recall so many barefoot girls and so few barefoot guys from my high school and university years, I always thought that my going barefoot might be viewed by others as a feminine trait.
Surprisingly, most see it more as a "tough guy" thing, and very masculine.
Through my years of SBL membership I have made many barefoot friends, including several that have a same sex preference. A few have told me that it is harder for them to be accepted going barefoot in town by other gay men than by women or straight men, partially due to a fairly common "neat & clean" attitude many gays harbor.
Of course it makes no sense to stereotype, but in general I don't believe barefoot guys will be thought of as gay when barefoot out and about, but if wearing foot jewery all bets are off.
After yesterday's race we walked around the associated festival for a while, and I left my red velcro ankle strap used for the D Tag in place even though I had taken the chip off by then.
I noticed a difference in the looks and double-takes than without it, but being with my wife nobody called me anything other than tough.
I have had gay men try to pick me up while shopping barefoot before, but in each case they had a special interest in dirty guy feet.
Since that type of fetish is far more common in men than women, odds are if someone is interested in a guy BECAUSE he is barefoot, it's gonna be another guy, which could make it seem like bare feet are a gay thing even though in reality they are not.
