I'm not complaining or anything, but it has been my observation that men are more willing to hug each other instead of just shaking hands. When did this happen? I don't think men were hugging 5-10 years ago. Has anyone else noticed this cultural shift, or has it always been common for men to hug each other in informal situations, or is it just among me and my friends?
your observation is correct. It has to do with an increased
feminization of the society.
It's most likely a reflection of the environment in which you were raised. Maybe you didn't see males express a lot of physical affection when you're were growing up. Thus, it seems odd to you.
On the flipside, a person who grew up in a family of males who hugged a lot might grow up, see more of the world, and be surprised by how many people are content with a handshake or fear touching another man at all.
So, my theory is things aren't all that different now. People just compare it to what they remember when they were younger and had a more provincial web of experiences.
I don't hug my male friends.
White and Asian men opt for the handshake, while black, Arab, and Hispanic men usually hug. It's cultural and the more our cultures blend together the more hugging there is. For cross-cultural greetings the handshake is always used.
Nero wrote:
White and Asian men opt for the handshake, while black, Arab, and Hispanic men usually hug. It's cultural and the more our cultures blend together the more hugging there is. For cross-cultural greetings the handshake is always used.
Just for clarity, what sort of greetings are we talking about? Two friends meeting up to go for a run, meeting a new colleague at work, meeting someone at a cocktail party, seeing your brother who you haven't seen in a year, etc.? I would think that, even within "cultures" (subcultures? something else?), different situations would call for different greetings.
this is probably correct. i thought it was strange when my father gave me a hug this year after being away from home for 9 months and that that might be the first time he has ever done that.
feminization of society might also have something to do with it.
It has?
TCB wrote:
this is probably correct. i thought it was strange when my father gave me a hug this year after being away from home for 9 months and that that might be the first time he has ever done that.
feminization of society might also have something to do with it.
how did your father catch that 'feminization of society' bug? I hope it is not fatal!
i believe George Carlin called it the pussification of society
I hug my Dad everytime I come home to visit which is about 3x a year.
Festizio wrote:
i believe George Carlin called it the pussification of society
I believe George Carlin took drugs, so I would be careful citing him as some kind of 'authority' He was an entertainer, and he is also dead.
Nero wrote:
White and Asian men opt for the handshake, while black, Arab, and Hispanic men usually hug. It's cultural and the more our cultures blend together the more hugging there is. For cross-cultural greetings the handshake is always used.
Actually, Arab men sometimes kiss each other on the cheek.
Probably 6000 years ago? The better question is why men are so scared of touching each other now. A hug is hardly gay.
What I have seen is the right hand shake with the left hand back pat kind of half hug.
That has really picked up.
Friendo wrote:
Probably 6000 years ago? The better question is why men are so scared of touching each other now. A hug is hardly gay.
It's not that they think it's gay, it's just a cultural thing. It's not like men go around hugging casual acquaintances who are women (at least not where I am from).
Greet people however you want to!
Where I currently live (Belgium) it's not uncommon for men (including boys and teenagers) to kiss cheeks as a greeting.
Every culture is a little different. Yours is a wee bit more uptight and puritanical than some others...