For years, feet have been stigmatized, demonized, and wrongfully shunned. What happened to the good ole’ days, where one could wear flip flops and jean shorts to school on a hot August day without shame? I applaud the people who are brave enough to choose their own comfort and style over social norms—the people who will proudly step out in a Birkenstock with no socks.

“If you style it correctly, it can be really cute…[and] if you get a mani-pedi, why wouldn’t you want to show it off?” said Addy Mooradian (‘26). The concept of being a girl and wanting to wear a cute sandal with your outfit, because your toes are done, is not that far out. We understand that if someone is trying to sport unkept toes and a questionable outfit, they will receive some possibly deserved judgement, but even then, what’s the harm? Let people do their thing.

At some point along the way, it seems that feet either became inherently evil or sexualized, with no in between.

“When you have your toes out, [people] are like ‘oh… having the toes out is crazy,’ but that’s literally normal.” Said Sabrina Teeters (‘26), agreeing that wearing open toed footwear is seen as some performative or objectifying act. In reality, feet are no more obscene than a shoulder or a knee cap. I mean truly, are we reverting back to the Victorian era with this random form of censorship?

Additionally, the early 2000s and Y2K aesthetic have had a resurgence in recent years. To this I say, include the toes. The teens everyone idolizes from those years never thought to care about something as simple as their feet, and you shouldn’t either. Deep down, If you think the flip flops and sandals were cute on them, know that they will be just as cute on you, given the chance.

Chayce Morris (‘27) stated, “I don’t really see the problem around them. [And] I don’t understand why people made it weird in the first place.” The problem was never the feet—it has always been the people. The choice to radicalize such a normal body part was made, and suddenly it has changed the young population’s comfort within their own bodies. Toes do not qualify as public indecency and should not be treated as such.

As a society, we need to rid ourselves of the toe-guilt. Personal expression and liberation for all genders starts with the question, “Why?”

Why does anyone care what we wear, and why do we care what they think?

Feet. We all have them, but they do not need to be seen.

Picture this: you are sitting in class, minding your own business, and, suddenly, your eyes are assaulted by someone’s foot. They wore flip-flops, but their feet have now wandered from their choice of shoe. Now, their toes are curling and clenching the ground. The foot continues to wander until their toes are now curled around the desk. Disgusted, you look away in disbelief.

Now imagine this cycle repeating everyday.

In a school setting, I believe that feet should not be out and about. Everyone has closed-toed shoes, so why not wear them? I would much prefer to see someone wear socks and sandals than have to see their toes.

While this is a personal preference, I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way. I would also be lying if I said that this hatred for feet didn’t stem from the media becoming so weird around feet. However, regardless of where this disgust stems from, it’s still there. I feel like while being in a building I’m required to, I should not be subjected to seeing them.

Even when feet are well-taken care of, even if they are freshly painted and not painful to look at, I’d rather not see them. I also think that discriminating against feet is immoral; simply only being okay with feet that look nice isn’t fair. So, instead, I think all feet should be locked up, even if you’re wearing cute open-toed shoes. There are other places you can wear them.

I think the only acceptable times to have your feet out would be in the privacy of your home, at a beach/pool, or when dressing up and wearing heels or cute sandals. At school, however, is not the time.

Truthfully, I’m tired of looking down and seeing people’s piggies wiggling at me while trying to pass a math test.