Utility

Going Barefoot, A Way Of Lifestyle In Australia-New Zealand

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.”

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).

Also Read: Moody’s Expects India To Grow 6.6% In Fiscal Year 2024-25

Shivanshi Srivastava

Recent Posts

SC Seeks Responses In Mathura Krishna Janmabhoomi-Idgah Dispute, Grants Two Weeks To All Parties

The Supreme Court has also paused the Allahabad High Court’s order for a survey of…

9 mins ago

Yogi Government Launches Massive Green Initiative For Maha Kumbh 2025

The Yogi Adityanath administration has launched a tree-planting campaign to make Prayagraj environmentally sustainable for…

26 mins ago

BJP MLA Rajeshwar Singh Calls On Akhilesh Yadav To Act As Positive Opposition In UP DGP Debate

Singh noted that, over seven years, police encounters have killed 197 criminals and injured 6,329.…

37 mins ago

Election Commission Appoints Sanjay Kumar Verma As New DGP For Maharashtra

The Election Commission of India endorsed the appointment of Sanjay Kumar Verma as the new…

1 hour ago

Devotees Mistakenly Collect AC Condensation As ‘Charan Amrit’ At Mathura Temple

Devotees at Mathura's Banke Bihari temple gathered to collect water dripping from a sculpted elephant,…

2 hours ago

State Cannot Claim Private Property Under Article 39(b): Supreme Court

A nine-judge SC bench ruled that the State cannot indiscriminately seize private property for redistribution…

2 hours ago