How to Learn Cultural Etiquette and Overcome Differences

If you're a woman on the road, you'll need to learn cultural etiquette, if you haven't already.

Not all cultures think solo travel for women is normal - so those of us who travel on our own have learned to adjust.

In some societies, going solo makes women objects of pity - they're seen as women who haven't been able to find a man. In other societies, solo women travelers are considered 'fair game' - if you're traveling alone, you must be 'easy'. Understanding cultural differences can help unravel these travel conundrums.

Remember, some people only know Western women from television - the ones that think all American women are like those on Desperate Housewives! Being culturally sensitive isn't just a matter of courtesy, but also a matter of safe travel.

Whether you're heading around the world or simply visiting a new country for the first time, coping with culture shock is bound to be part of your experience.

Cultural etiquette dictates what you should or not do in a given country so please, do your research first - if you then decide to break the rules, at least you'll know what rules you're breaking.

Your guidebook should have long lists of dos and don'ts for each country but here are just a few examples of the advice you might find during your research:

• In Buddhist countries, a woman should never touch a monk - on a bus or in a vehicle, try to sit in the row in front or behind him

• In many Latin American countries and still in certain parts of Spain, be prepared for unwanted male attention - it shows appreciation of your beauty (or simply of your being female). Get ready to cope with wolf whistles, catcalls, lewd noises... but you don't have to stand for it.

• Don't chew gum in public (parts of Europe, Asia)

• Don't show anger (most Asian countries) or yell at people (much of Africa)

• Many cultures don't like saying No - so people will say they'll try (India) or maybe (Japan) - don't be misled: this means No

Cultural etiquette may deal with serious issues, such as gender equality or stereotypes, but often centers around meals or social and work lives, whose rules may leave you perplexed.

What if...

• each person that walks into or out of a room shakes hands with everyone every time (Colombia) or kisses every single person (Spain)

• strangers call you by your first name, including in business settings (South Africa)

• people think you're rude if you point with a finger (almost everywhere)

• closed shoes (even men's shoes) are more acceptable than open-toed sandals, however elegant (don't show your toes to officialdom in Bali!)

• you're invited to a sauna but first asked that you take all your clothes off - in front of men and women you've never met before (Finland)

• people stare if you cut your salad with a knife (Switzerland and France)...

This is just a sample, but see how easy it is go to wrong?

Additional Travel Etiquette Resources

Cultural Etiquette - plenty of good information by country
Another country-by-country site with culturally appropriate behaviour
Yang Liu - graphic designs on East/West cultural differences
Where to draw the line on cultural norms - a thoughtful feminist perspective on the issue

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