My mother has a sign at the house that says "unless you are God or George Strait, remove your shoes" and that has been ingrained in me from birth. No shoes ever in the house.
It seems so incredibly rude. To invite people into your home and then you assume they are dirty fools too stupid to avoid stepping in mud, s h!t, and filth.
It’s interesting that people are “astonished” and “disgusted” by people wearing shoes at home. Not everyone has the same upbringing. The least of my concerns as a kid was whether I had shoes on at home.
I don't find it emasculating but it is somewhat personal or casual.
Recently I was dressed in business casual clothes and went to a booster meeting. I didn't love walking around in a button-up shirt, slacks and socks. It is weird look and a bunch of men and women debating various issues in our socks? Several of the women were barefoot. It is winter and it felt and looked weird.
p.s Personally, I would never, ever wear shoes in my house. My wife is from Europe and we have house-shoes (Birkenstocks or slippers) that we all wear. That is one of the best things about coming home each day. Kicking off the shoes and putting on the Birks.
The cultural tide is changing! It's bizarre that Americans often wear (outdoor) shoes in their own home -- obviously dirty and impractical! But this is getting less common among younger people.
Note to OP: No reason to feel emasculated. You're just not used to it.
Sidenote from Germany: People generally either wear just socks or socks and slippers indoors. But with guests, they'll often make an exception. As a rule -- unless you're a plumber or other service person -- you take your shoes off when you arrive at someone else's house. That is, unless explicitly invited not to. However, many people have extra slippers for guests.
Yours is the correct answer.
In the 1970s and 1980s in America I had never, ever heard of someone taking off their shoes just because they went in a house. That would have been seen as insane. Your grandpa goes to your cousin's house and kicks off his shoes on the way in? No chance. A party of grown people in bare feet? No way.
But now, I usually bring a pair of birks with me when I go to a party. I like having comfortable (house) shoes on and my feet hurt (from running). But I would never wear my street shoes in someone's house if they weren't doing the same.
Only the guests jumping into the sack with me must remove their shoes. If gymnastics are promised that require good traction, or for a nice pair of stilettos I will make an exception.
There was another thread about this here not all that long ago. Until that thread I had never heard of such a thing happening anywhere other than in Japan. I've never been asked to do it anywhere unless my shoes were muddy. I've been in people's houses in something like seven countries. No one took their shoes off when they went into a house and even one of my best friends who is Japanese doesn't do it. So no, we don't require people to take their shoes off when they come into our house. I'd have no problem doing it at someone else's house if they asked but if that ever happens it will be a first for me.
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