The Ties That Bind Us: Do Shoes Reveal What We Value?

Shoes, whether you think of them as a fashion statement or a utilitarian necessity, our foot covering can remind us of our similarities across cultures and history.

Source: Wikimedia

Today we will be talking about the humble shoe on Ever Widening Circles (EWC). Or maybe it’s not so humble? Turns out we tend to broadcast what we value through our footwear.

Shoes are much more fascinating than they appear.

Okay, okay, how are shoes going to prove it’s still an amazing world?

Well, shoes say a lot about an Achilles Heel (sorry for the pun) that seems to run through almost all cultures: the need to demonstrate status. Humans will do some pretty crazy things when it comes to footwear. And yet, when we are innovative and practical with our footwear, it allows us to do some amazing things that have brought civilization forward.

See what you think:

So next time you are people-watching, take a look at the shoes you are seeing, and pay attention to the assumptions you make about individuals after seeing their shoes.

It’s an almost irresistible train of thought.

There are so many narratives one could investigate related to shoes! In doing the research for this article, I came across some well-cited articles about how shoes affect our health, about the economics of charitable shoe giving by TOMS, the environmental implications of shoes and much more.

Once again, the world is so much more complex and curious than we might imagine; all of it can remind us to stay open and optimistic. It definitely is still an amazing world!

~ Dr. Lynda