[georgeecollins]

I don't think it is a fear of bare feet exactly, its more like Americans often wear shoes in their houses. Taking off your shoes is a bit more casual so it implies a sort of familiarity.

Americans also don't typically (you can't completely generalize) have rooms where you sit on the floor or a mat. In cultures where you do that it makes even more sense to take off your shoes. They also typically have really big houses compared to a lot of other places, with bigger lots that contain indoor or outdoor spaces. In my own house, you could walk in the front door, walk through the living room or dining room and just continue the conversation in the patio furniture in the back yard. I think its cleaner to take off your shoes, and people sometimes do when they come to visit, or ask if they should.

[crooked-v]

Wearing shoes in houses really depends on region. Do that in New England and somebody's going to (possibly literally) scream at you for tracking in the snow or mud.