Why Don’t Americans Take Off Their Shoes at Home?

As Turks, we are very sensitive about this issue, it is not possible to enter the house with shoes. even his thinking is bad; It’s a behavior that can hurt mothers.

Even after we put on our shoes when we leave the house. that we forgot something inside we do notice. At such moments, we are too lazy to take off the shoes and either crawl inside or try to walk so that the sole of the shoe touches the floor the least and without stepping on the carpets.

Well, an action that is so dirty for us, especially in America Why is it not considered unclean in many cultures of the world?

Let’s examine this map first. As you can see, in some parts of the world it is possible to enter the house with shoes, while in others it is not.

• Blue: Places where shoes are worn at home
• Green: Places where shoes are not worn at home

We are in the green part and We are by no means alone in this. The number of people entering the house with shoes is also quite high.

Why is it still possible to enter the house with shoes when there is a high probability of walking on dirty things such as mud, dust, dog poop outside?

This is simply a cultural difference. In these cultures, the bottom of the shoes the amount of dirt, microbes is not cared. In a culture, walking into the house with shoes on may be disgusting, but in this culture, eating with your hands may be considered disgusting by Americans. In other words, the thoughts we live and “accustomed to” shape people like play dough.

Taking off shoes at someone else’s house can make people in this culture even more nervous.

Because being in someone else’s house with socks or bare feet feels uncomfortable. Just as there are reproaches “don’t set foot on this site anymore” on social media, so in another house. Nobody wants to see a foot. Moreover, if it is neglected and smells, it will cause even more discomfort.

The appearance of stains on the socks that remain in the shoes all day will also cause uneasiness. If you are in the house of someone you are not very intimate with, take off your shoes. like staying frozen It will cause a situation because it is seen as something very private.

The style of floors in homes may have shaped this culture.

You can’t easily see a carpet in American homes, if any, like ours. It does not cover most of the floor. The floor is often hardwood. Carpet has an important place in our culture, it should not be polluted. Naturally, this may have led to keeping shoes out of the house.

It may also be the opposite, because the shoes are worn at home, the carpet culture may never have settled. Obviously, the dirt on the soles of the shoes is not given much importance due to the rapid cleaning of the parquets. Even mosque and church floors It clearly reflects this culture.

An American, from the person who will enter his house if he asks her to take off her shoes this may be perceived as rude behavior. Because it is implied that the guest is unclean. Still, the number of Americans who do not wear shoes at home is substantial.

Let’s look at the subject objectively: Is it more logical to wear shoes at home or not?

Judging by what reflexologists say; walking around the house barefoot it increases our blood circulation and thus our sleep quality improves. As reflexes on the soles of the feet are stimulated, inflammation, pain and tension are reduced.

“Reflexologist what?” if you say; They are specialists who apply the complementary medicine method, which provides supportive treatment for various ailments by applying pressure to the nerve endings in the hands and feet. Various disorders are tried to be cured by massaging certain points.

Environmental chemists are also on our side; When you enter the house with shoes, one third of the dirt accumulated in the house comes from outside. In fact, bacteria entering from the outside can strengthen the immunity of children, but some of these bacteria and microbes can become resistant to drugs, causing diseases that are difficult to treat. Especially asphalt road ruins, endocrine disrupting lawn chemicals can cause serious dangers.

How can we find the middle way?

Giving slippers to guests It must be the most logical solution, which is in our culture. There are even slippers that are only removed when guests arrive.

Frankly, although there are some logical aspects to the idea of ​​being at home with shoes on, his feet, which remain in shoes and socks all day, are returned from work/school. the feeling of freshness given by the ventilation nothing like it.

Already an old African proverb He says, “When you leave your shoes on the doorstep, you leave your troubles behind”.