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AVoiceOfReason · 06-22-2005, 11:37 AM

I'll show my age here. When I was learning the rules of etiquette, I was told that a man does not shake hands with a woman unless she offers hers first.

I'm guessing that Emily Post or whoever writes "the rules" has modified them over the year to recognize the change that women in the workforce, especially in the management area, has brought on what it to be considered "polite" in society.

Here's the rules I go by, modified by ME and ME alone: If the woman is older than I am, then I assume she learned the same rules I did when I was young, and I don't offer on first meeting UNLESS I just met her husband at the same time and shook his hand, in which case I extend mine to her to demonstrate that she is not unworthy of the honor.

I do NOT squeeze hard, nor am I a wet noodle. I measure the pressure I'm getting and match it.

If the woman is younger than I am and is in a business position, then she gets the same greeting as a man. I assume she's used to it, and will not find it rude.

All that said, I'd appreicate if someone can tell me what "The rules of etiquette" are these days for men offering to shake the hand of a woman in a business setting (or socially, for that matter).

06-22-2005, 11:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
AVoiceOfReason Psycho Location: Greenwood, Arkansas	I'll show my age here. When I was learning the rules of etiquette, I was told that a man does not shake hands with a woman unless she offers hers first. I'm guessing that Emily Post or whoever writes "the rules" has modified them over the year to recognize the change that women in the workforce, especially in the management area, has brought on what it to be considered "polite" in society. Here's the rules I go by, modified by ME and ME alone: If the woman is older than I am, then I assume she learned the same rules I did when I was young, and I don't offer on first meeting UNLESS I just met her husband at the same time and shook his hand, in which case I extend mine to her to demonstrate that she is not unworthy of the honor. I do NOT squeeze hard, nor am I a wet noodle. I measure the pressure I'm getting and match it. If the woman is younger than I am and is in a business position, then she gets the same greeting as a man. I assume she's used to it, and will not find it rude. All that said, I'd appreicate if someone can tell me what "The rules of etiquette" are these days for men offering to shake the hand of a woman in a business setting (or socially, for that matter). __________________ AVOR A Voice Of Reason, not necessarily the ONLY one.