To ask if anyone else’s family had this belief growing up?

[Latenightthoughts111]

NC for this as it seems like all my threads lately have been about my family and don’t want them linked

late night thought tonight is about when I was growing up (late 80s born to a mid 40s born DM) I was told that drinking from a can and eating in the street was like being a prostitute

im not exaggerating I can clearly remember being about 10 and told that walking home from swimming with my hair down and wet and drinking from a can made me look like a prostitute! What was this about?? Where did it come from?? Even now I struggle to drink from a can and I don’t think I ever eat whilst walking!

I am in my 60s, I wasn't given the prostitute analogy, but even now, I find it almost impossible to eat or drink whilst walking. DH finds it really wierd.

My mum held strong views about those things and said it was rude, unecessary and disgusting but she never quite went that far. 🤣

'Prostitute' is going a bit overboard but my stern and terrifying headteacher said it was 'common' to chew gum or eat and drink in the street. All these years later I can't bring myself to do those things.

Anyhow, isn't it better for your digestion to sit comfortably at a table whilst eating/drinking instead of walking along the street?

Yes, as a teen I was told off by an 'auntie' who saw me eating in the street. My parents never came out with that sort of rubbish, though perhaps they never caught me eating in the street :-)

I often go out and about with wet hair. (I have quite long thick hair, but I don't like to use heat on it too often, and unless I have about an hour spare to dry and straighten it (which I rarely do) it looks just as good dried naturally. I didn't realise it had any special significance ... other than I had clearly washed it that day!

In all honesty, if I see someone out with wet hair I assume they are under immense stress and have had a chaotic day and are maybe struggling to cope. Sorry! I have really thick hair which takes ages to dry but I'd rather go out with greasy hair and put it in a bun than go out with wet hair!

Never told that but was told only sailors and prostitutes had tattoos. I think that is where the 'tramp stamp' for tats came about.

I was told eating in the streets was something only the scum of society did from a complete stranger.

I can’t think of a single member of my family who didn’t eat in the streets.

I grew up on market stalls and it was either eating in the streets or going hungry.
It was the 60s and we were never made to forget that we were immigrants and trade and scum

" In Ancient Greece, prostitutes were required by law to sport red lip pigment, lest they be confused for a respectable woman of the upper class"

thank you Wikipedia

Never told that but was told only sailors and prostitutes had tattoos. I think that is where the 'tramp stamp' for tats came about

Yet many kings of England where covered in tattoos were there skin was not on public show

Ha yes I had a few teenage fights with my DF about wearing a choker, toe rings and anklets - god forbid I resemble a "lady of the night"

I always go out with wet hair

I don’t own a hair dryer.

I did get one once but I have ADHD (didn’t know it at the time) and blow drying my hair for 10 minutes is just boring.

How to people do it?

My mother went to a very conservative convent school in the 60s where they would be given a severe punishment if caught eating on the street or on a bus in uniform. It’s not that old a practice.

Ah and my 80-something father is still of the opinion that any kind of piercing, including single holes in earlobes, is the preserve of gypsies 🤦🏻‍♀️

I want to create and maintain a pleasant environment for people around me by not filling public spaces with smell, crumbs, greasy fingers, and the sound of rustling and chewing.

Which doesn’t happen when people walk in the street eating a sandwich 🙄

My mother went to a very conservative convent school in the 60s where they would be given a severe punishment if caught eating on the street or on a bus in uniform. It’s not that old a practice.

That was 60 years ago…

I went to boarding school and we were never ever allowed to eat in the street. I’ve stuck with it… old habits die hard 😊

However, no one ever told me it would’ve made me look like a prostitute 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes we were told eating in the street was common too. Does anyone know the origins of this perception? It’s all one sees these days - people eating and drinking in the street. I do often wonder if they have a home to go home to eat in !

I don’t have a hairdryer. I have long hair and it dries naturally. I am not a loose woman!

It’s all one sees these days - people eating and drinking in the street. I do often wonder if they have a home to go home to eat in !

I’m shopping in town, my home is an hour away, you think I should go home?

Yes, and therefore of a similar generation to the dates given by the OP. I am early 80s born and my mother was in her late thirties when she had me. Pretty much bang on the age OP was asking for.

I’m 45, never been told that in my life

I think smoking is tbh (sorry to the smokers). It's the lighting up anyway in the most I don't give AF place! Although I know it's banned in a lot of places now whilst out!

Eating in street ( Having a “Bad hand “as Dad called it) was considered naff, Wet hair in street ditto,
Pierced ears - definitely a mark of low morals.

Tea in bottles for babies- “Unspeakably squalid”
as was pierced ears for babies.

Ankle chains definitely the mark of loose women according to parents.

Milk bottles on the table- Definitely beyond the pale as well.
Decant into a milk jug. 🙂

Yes! I was told only prostitutes wore ankle bracelets!!