A Queensland woman has caused massive debate online after claiming she was asked to leave a shopping centre because she'd chosen to go barefoot.

The woman took to Facebook to share her experience at Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, writing that she'd 'been told to leave' because she wasn't wearing any shoes.

The woman wrote, 'Was at Sunshine Plaza today and was asked to leave as I wasn't wearing any shoes.'

She added, 'Since when has being barefoot been illegal? Has anyone else been told this?'

A woman claimed she was asked to leave a shopping centre for being barefoot. Image: Instagram

The woman further responded to some of the hundreds of comments on the page questioning why she would go shopping without shoes.

'I find it more comfortable with bare feet. (I) only wear shoes at work or where I really have to. Dust and soot just washes off,' she said.

She said that she had been wearing no shoes at ‘shopping centres and walking on city streets for over 30 years’ and had never had any issues.

‘I do it all the time, even in Brisbane city, never had a problem before,’ she said.

‘I couldn’t believe it...I’ve never had a problem before, even in the big Brisbane shopping centres.’

The woman further rebutted a commenter’s claims that some diseases can be spread via bare feet saying, 'Can’t be that easy. I’ve been going barefoot into shopping centres and walking on city streets for just over 30 years and never got anything.'

A lot of people in the comment thread had mixed opinions, with others critical of her shoeless habit, while a handful of others lamented anti-barefoot policies as restrictions imposed on personal freedoms.

To that effect, one person said, 'Why go barefoot? Because it’s natural. Why make the choice? Because it’s mine to make.'

The woman also claims she has been walking barefoot in shopping centres and city streets without a problem. Image: Pexels

Sunshine Plaza’s manager, Michael Manwaring, issued a statement, saying, 'In line with our centre policy, all visitors to Sunshine Plaza are required to wear suitable attire and footwear at all times. As always, maintaining essential standards to support the health, safety and well-being for all our customers, retailers and staff is our number one priority.'

Walking barefoot in public is a trait some Aussies practice fearlessly, even at times leading to curiosity—and criticism—from those unfamiliar with the cultural quirk.

It's great being out in the sun, breathing the fresh air and feeling the warm grass or sand between one’s toes. Not to mention that biomechanists and physical therapists argue that going barefoot is good for health and posture.

But with this recent incident, it would seem that some places on home soil have taken a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to footwear.

Key Takeaways

• A woman from Queensland has claimed that she was asked to leave Sunshine Plaza shopping centre in Maroochydore because she was not wearing any shoes.
• She expressed disbelief, claiming that she has been going barefoot in shopping centres and on city streets for over 30 years without issue.
• While some in the comment thread on a community group in social media questioned her shoeless habit, others criticised the enforcement of anti-barefoot policies as being a restriction on personal freedoms.
• Sunshine Plaza’s manager, Michael Manwaring, said in a statement that all visitors to Sunshine Plaza are required to wear suitable attire and footwear, emphasising that maintaining standards to support the health, safety and well-being of all customers, retailers and staff is their top priority.

Should we have the right to go out barefoot in certain places, or should businesses continue to require us to wear shoes and other clothing? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Knell]

Barefooters - stop arguing and put shoes, stilettos or sandals on. Period! Footwear makes your feet look neater, graceful and proper. A person's character is always (without any doubt) identified through the shoes they wear, if they keep their shoes clean, the way they walk and God forbid, not wearing any, tells me everything I need to know about the person *waves*

"graceful and proper" - so if I sashay across the room with my manicured toenails will that make me proper? Oh, ok, I will put on my pair of Lois Vuitton shoes, my red Lois Vuitton handbag and Christian Dior dress if I must! Dadah!

 

[DLHM]

Haha...'Those were the Days" my friend! A bit americanised but the sentiment is the same.

Sung by Welsh singer Mary Hopkin in 1968. But yes….those were the days!

 

[Knell]

Sung by Welsh singer Mary Hopkin in 1968. But yes….those were the days!

The Americanised bit was about the flowers in the hair lol never did that!

 

[magpie1]

Barefooters - stop arguing and put shoes, stilettos or sandals on. Period! Footwear makes your feet look neater, graceful and proper. A person's character is always (without any doubt) identified through the shoes they wear, if they keep their shoes clean, the way they walk and God forbid, not wearing any, tells me everything I need to know about the person *waves*

Agree with your comments, however at my age and with my ankles and knees.....I'm going to have to pass with the 'Stilettos' and I'll just stick with my shoes.

 

[Knell]

Agree with your comments, however at my age and with my ankles and knees.....I'm going to have to pass with the 'Stilettos' and I'll just stick with my shoes.

I am quite sure the arthritis in my toes is due to those stilettos haha Loved them...but now I love my Birkenstocks...sad but true!

 

[mylittletibbies]

I'm in two minds, one, I think it's up to her to go barefoot anywhere she likes, as long as she doesn't sue if she cuts herself on broken glass etc. I've gone barefoot most of my life, but now I'm old I tend not to. Her feet, her choice.

Their shopping centre, their choice.
It works both ways.
Do these people who go barefoot everywhere even go barefoot to other people's homes?? That would be totally unacceptable and rude. There's a time and a place for everything and obviously this shopping centre has the right to expect people to wear shoes if they
require them to
If you don't like it you can protest with your bare feet and shop elsewhere.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Dandenong is the ice and heroin capital of Melbourne. If you click on my profile, it says Well-known member · From Iceland, Victoria. There you go!

Sounds like Mandurah WA. The junkies call it Methdurah, and Rockingham they call Crackingham

 

[Knell]

Their shopping centre, their choice.
It works both ways.
Do these people who go barefoot everywhere even go barefoot to other people's homes?? That would be totally unacceptable and rude. There's a time and a place for everything and obviously this shopping centre has the right to expect people to wear shoes if they
require them to
If you don't like it you can protest with your bare feet and shop elsewhere.

I think it is young people mostly. Not sure the age of this lady but certainly much younger than us I assume. Of course most people wear shoes going out except perhaps the beach. The shopping centre at Maroochydore is only a short walk from the beach and back in the day it was not unusual to see people come up from the beach and straight into a shop for a drink or whatever barefoot. Shoes, even thongs and sand don't go well together.

 

[Knell]

I think it is young people mostly. Not sure the age of this lady but certainly much younger than us I assume. Of course most people wear shoes going out except perhaps the beach. The shopping centre at Maroochydore is only a short walk from the beach and back in the day it was not unusual to see people come up from the beach and straight into a shop for a drink or whatever barefoot. Shoes, even thongs and sand don't go well together.

Surfers etc are often walking around barefooted but mostly younger generation. Geez how often do you see old people walking around the shops barefoot? Drop Bear?

 

[Knell]

I can honestly say I have never seen a syringe laying around anywhere I have been...never. I have heard people speak of it but never seen one.

 

[katdragon2010]

They never mentioned whether there was signage at the shopping centre's entrances stating that footwear must be worn. If there was, then she doesn't have a leg to stand on (pardon the pun). If you want to enforce rules, then they must be displayed.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I agree with management 100%. Heaven knows what she could walk on or slip & then sue the centre. Why would you want to go without shoes is beyond understanding. So much disgusting stuff dropped on floors.

Nobody has ever slipped on a shopping centre floor while wearing shoes? There is a multitude of shoes that are way more slippery than the soles of one's feet.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Barefooters - stop arguing and put shoes, stilettos or sandals on. Period! Footwear makes your feet look neater, graceful and proper. A person's character is always (without any doubt) identified through the shoes they wear, if they keep their shoes clean, the way they walk and God forbid, not wearing any, tells me everything I need to know about the person *waves*

Stilettos and foot/ankle safety do not exist in the same universe.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I am quite sure the arthritis in my toes is due to those stilettos haha Loved them...but now I love my Birkenstocks...sad but true!

So that's where the saying "Your mother wears army boots" comes from.

 

[Lizzylou]

I have to wear something on my feet, I have osteoarthritis without wearing shoes or slippers I am in more pain, I guess I need the support. I do however feel that when you go out you should wear something on your feet to protect yourself. I don't believe that in the 30 years this woman has never had any issues. What this is actually about is personal choice. However having said that being sensible and keeping you and others safe is important. I would assume correctly or incorrectly that the shopping centre would be liable for anyone harming themselves so they are covering all their basis's.

 

[gdatta]

A Queensland woman has caused massive debate online after claiming she was asked to leave a shopping centre because she'd chosen to go barefoot.

The woman took to Facebook to share her experience at Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, writing that she'd 'been told to leave' because she wasn't wearing any shoes.

The woman wrote, 'Was at Sunshine Plaza today and was asked to leave as I wasn't wearing any shoes.'

She added, 'Since when has being barefoot been illegal? Has anyone else been told this?'

View attachment 36235

A woman claimed she was asked to leave a shopping centre for being barefoot. Image: Instagram

The woman further responded to some of the hundreds of comments on the page questioning why she would go shopping without shoes.

'I find it more comfortable with bare feet. (I) only wear shoes at work or where I really have to. Dust and soot just washes off,' she said.

She said that she had been wearing no shoes at ‘shopping centres and walking on city streets for over 30 years’ and had never had any issues.

‘I do it all the time, even in Brisbane city, never had a problem before,’ she said.

‘I couldn’t believe it...I’ve never had a problem before, even in the big Brisbane shopping centres.’

The woman further rebutted a commenter’s claims that some diseases can be spread via bare feet saying, 'Can’t be that easy. I’ve been going barefoot into shopping centres and walking on city streets for just over 30 years and never got anything.'

A lot of people in the comment thread had mixed opinions, with others critical of her shoeless habit, while a handful of others lamented anti-barefoot policies as restrictions imposed on personal freedoms.

To that effect, one person said, 'Why go barefoot? Because it’s natural. Why make the choice? Because it’s mine to make.'

View attachment 36237

The woman also claims she has been walking barefoot in shopping centres and city streets without a problem. Image: Pexels

Sunshine Plaza’s manager, Michael Manwaring, issued a statement, saying, 'In line with our centre policy, all visitors to Sunshine Plaza are required to wear suitable attire and footwear at all times. As always, maintaining essential standards to support the health, safety and well-being for all our customers, retailers and staff is our number one priority.'

Walking barefoot in public is a trait some Aussies practice fearlessly, even at times leading to curiosity—and criticism—from those unfamiliar with the cultural quirk.

It's great being out in the sun, breathing the fresh air and feeling the warm grass or sand between one’s toes. Not to mention that biomechanists and physical therapists argue that going barefoot is good for health and posture.

But with this recent incident, it would seem that some places on home soil have taken a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to footwear.

Key Takeaways

• A woman from Queensland has claimed that she was asked to leave Sunshine Plaza shopping centre in Maroochydore because she was not wearing any shoes.
• She expressed disbelief, claiming that she has been going barefoot in shopping centres and on city streets for over 30 years without issue.
• While some in the comment thread on a community group in social media questioned her shoeless habit, others criticised the enforcement of anti-barefoot policies as being a restriction on personal freedoms.
• Sunshine Plaza’s manager, Michael Manwaring, said in a statement that all visitors to Sunshine Plaza are required to wear suitable attire and footwear, emphasising that maintaining standards to support the health, safety and well-being of all customers, retailers and staff is their top priority.

Should we have the right to go out barefoot in certain places, or should businesses continue to require us to wear shoes and other clothing? Let u⁸s know in the comments below!

I LOVE being barefoot, although I usually conform to social norms and, begrudgingly, wear them when I go out anywhere. I think it's a personal choice and adults should be able to be able to make that decision, and take the risk, for themselves.

 

[Granny*Deb]

I can honestly say I have never seen a syringe laying around anywhere I have been...never. I have heard people speak of it but never seen one.

I must say I also have not witnessed a syringe in those areas mentioned. I used to work in the old Myer Centre 20 yrs ago and the walkways and back corridors were littered with derelicts, syringes and needles. You had to keep your wit's about you. Shoes or foot cover of some description is necessary for your own hygiene.
Of piste here but would people please use a spell checker if they aren't sure of correct spelling or grammar. I find those two things far more offensive than bare feet.

 

[Granny*Deb]

I must say I also have not witnessed a syringe in those areas mentioned. I used to work in the old Myer Centre 20 yrs ago and the walkways and back corridors were littered with derelicts, syringes and needles. You had to keep your wit's about you. Shoes or foot cover of some description is necessary for your own hygiene.
Of piste here but would people please use a spell checker if they aren't sure of correct spelling or grammar. I find those two things far more offensive than bare feet.

Off piste is off subject, change in conversation

 

[oldchook58]

Much as I love going barefoot and do in and around my home I wouldn’t go to the shops or walk around the streets without shoes. There are various reasons for this including, hot concrete, roads etc, slippery surfaces, broken glass, all sorts of crap on shopping centre floors, dropping items on my foot, running over my foot with the trolley, or worse, someone else doing it. I also prefer to wear shoes when driving so would be a pain putting shoes on and off several times just to go shopping.

I wear shoes just about everywhere (except walking on the beach). I love shoes and always have. If people want to go barefoot - let them at their own risk. It's not a good look though at the shopping centre, but its out there.

 

[Littleboy8]

I wear shoes just about everywhere (except walking on the beach). I love shoes and always have. If people want to go barefoot - let them at their own risk. It's not a good look though at the shopping centre, but its out there.

I don’t care what people do each to thier own. If they stand on syringes or glass who cares not me.