Going bare feet in public is a strange practice among Australians and New Zealanders. In many places, including playgrounds, pubs, and quick errands, shoes are not required. Seth Kugel, a journalist for the New York Times, observed that this cultural trend can come as a shock to outsiders.
People are seen going about barefoot on road, in grocery stores etc Kugel noted. While it doesn’t happen to everyone, it happens frequently enough to be startling and unpleasant. Although city sidewalks are kept clean but still they are city sidewalks.”
🇦🇺 Is this a normal thing in Australia? pic.twitter.com/hxFVL0ufiP
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) May 13, 2024
Even schools share this fondness for bare feet. In Perth, a primary school has allowed its kids to attend school completely shoeless, citing benefits such as better posture, increased sensory awareness, and stronger feet and bodies but podiatrists are still not convinced.
The reasons for this widespread preference is unclear. Some see it as influence of Indigenous cultures in both countries. Others see it as reflection of more relaxed and casual way of life. David Rowe, a cultural research professor, offered a unique perspective to BBC in 2021. He suggests that going shoeless might be a way for migrants from colder climates to celebrate their new life in a warmer environment. “It’s a way to shed the formality of their northern hemisphere origins and embrace the sun and fun of their new home,” he explained.
Jordana Gray, a British expat living in Australia, found going barefoot a complete change. She initially thought it was illegal to drive without shoes! However, she has embraced the custom. “I love the feeling of freedom,” she says, even venturing barefoot while driving (though she advises a “toe test” before hot pavement).
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