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!

No eating or drinking in the street (although walking along the prom with an ice cream was, for some reason, perfectly fine).

Brushing hair or putting on make up in public was deemed to be common, as well as eating in the street. I still feel uncomfortable when seeing people out on make up on the train for example. Times have changed, , but I would still never do my make up in public unless in a loo perhaps.

Of my God, I was told very similar too. That eating/drinking in the street was 'common' and 'sluttish'. As were lying on the grass in the park, spaghetti strap tops, red nail polish on anyone under 21 and having more than one piercing per ear.

Luckily my mum has calmed down since then and laughs when reminded of these crazy 'rules'.

Eating/drinking/chewing gum in the street was classed as common. As was going out with wet hair, wearing make up or brushing hair in public. Strange that not feeding your child enough so that they had to steal food was completely acceptable however.

Drinking from a can was basically putting rat wee over your mouth ( according to my DM who insists rats run all over the top of cans while in transit) She still washes every can lid before opening it.
And yes to no eating or drinking on the street, that also came from my all girls school rules. I recently walked my little GS to school and as a treat bought him a doughnut from the bakery ( I know, I know!) I did have to stop myself glancing around to ensure no one saw him eating it!

I was told this too.

Me too.

Eating and drinking in public was tolerated ( mum I think resented her school rules about it being common and therefore banned).
Pierced ears was common. Also being in a pub at last orders definitely made you a prostitute. Dad always insisted on picking me up at 10.30 when I was in 6th form. When I turned 18 I was an adult without restrictions so could prostitute myself as much as I liked!

I was told eating and drinking in the street was common. I still don't do it at 60.

I was told that only tramps ate in the street. Wearing an ankle bracelet was the sign of a prostitute. Weirdly wearing red and black together was also a definite sign that you were a prostitute.

Eating and drinking in the street = common , not prostitution

I still don’t eat in the street , I have to sit down on , and use a plate !
I wouldn’t drink straight from a can , even now , I think the can is dirty , maybe something creepy crawly has walked over it ! ( or a rat would have weed on it ) 🤢
Going out with wet hair would just give you the death of a cold !

It was certainly seen as 'very common' in my family. It still is TBF

This is so true. Also told that eating in the street was common. My mother also never drank in pubs. Yep common.

I don't and won't eat food on the go, I cannot remember the last time I bought a can a drank it in the street either.
I just feel that eating and drinking is a pleasure, should be relaxing and done in the proper environment.
A colleague I used to work with ate his food whilst we were driving to work, really used to piss me off.😂😁

I wasn’t told this (born early 70s) and I have always enjoyed eating as I walk along!
H won’t eat and walk though I have never asked him why.
I had a friend who was told ‘girls don’t normally go out with boys from the wrong side of town’
But my dad celebrated women swearing, so I was never told that : )

ankle chains were worn by prostitutes. Smoking outside was common as was eating . Only last week I was rushing to meet someone after work. I didn’t have time for lunch so I grabbed a Greg’s pasty. I couldn’t bring myself to walk eating it so I just stood by the bin outside ( with a few other people!). I actually told my friend I had been really chavvy and eaten a pasty in the street ! The conditioning never goes away .

I’m similar age to you OP and my dad was mid 40s when I was born so yes I had all this stuff imparted to me too. Constant eating is definitely a modern phenomenon and it’s certainly not doing our waistlines any good 😬.

I was told a woman smoking while walking was common, but it was ok for a man!

Yes, my mum told me it is common to eat in the street, as is swearing, smoking outside, fishnet tights, red lipstick and nail polish, leopard print, white shoes, bleached blonde hair, fighting in the street, getting drunk etc.

Oh, and ankle bracelets are a sign of prostitution.

Slightly older than you OP and told the same things as you. Wearing jeans outside of the house/garden was "common" and not allowed as was (even at home) chewing gum, drinking from a bottle, drinking coke (which contains cocaine) or listening to music that wasn't classical. Also nail varnish on toes, ankle bracelets, friendship bands etc etc.

all the replies make so much sense to me! I’d forgotten about the longing to wear a toe ring or anklet 😂😂might buy one right now for the summer!!

yes being seen as common was probably my DMs biggest fear, even though we were on a (very nice) council estate she was and still is disappointed and ashamed of where she ended up in life (DF violence alcohol and debt issues) so I guess she was projecting along with the societal norms of the times

surprised this was so well spread what a shame!

Yes, eating/drinking in the street/walking along = common. Tbh I actually agree with this, I would never do it, I think it looks horrible.

The normalisation of eating all the time/snacking has contributed to the massive obesity problem in this country.

I was born early 70s and my grandma used to collect me from school and always bring me a piece of fruit depending on what was around that time of year a a cold drink in a Tupperware cup with lid if it was hot.
My grandma used to smoke walking us home.
Never any mention if anything being common and we lived in a very modern, wealthy area full of young families.

We weren't allowed to whistle as that's what prostitutes did. This comment was mostly ignored as the old posh lady next door could regularly be heard merrily whistling (whilst shooting at birds with her BB gun)

My other had a whole list of things that were common like eating in the street, drinking from a can, patent shoes, red shoes, ladies drinking from a pint glass.