To handshake or not......

Pappy

Pappy

Living the Dream
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Moved back to NY from Florida. 🤓 2025
I’ve always heard that a gentleman should not shake hands with a woman unless she offers her hand to shake. What are your thoughts on this?

Down here in Florida, we don’t shake a ladies hand but we sure hug a lot. :cheerful:
 

I agree, but depends a bit if you have already been introduced.

On the other hand I would never attempt to take the hand of a lady who wasn't wearing gloves, though as a very proper American lady (from Boston!) once told me, reprovingly, "Only one sort of female doesn't wear gloves in company, Laurie"!

And I thought we Brits were supposed to be pretty straight laced!
 
Depends on the situation. If it's a social gathering with friends yes I would probably extend my hand to shake a woman's hand if being introduced for the first time, say to a friend's new girlfriend or maybe a friend's sister. In a business setting I would not extend my hand unless the woman did first.
 
Laurie said:
I agree, but depends a bit if you have already been introduced.

On the other hand I would never attempt to take the hand of a lady who wasn't wearing gloves, though as a very proper American lady (from Boston!) once told me, reprovingly, "Only one sort of female doesn't wear gloves in company, Laurie"!

And I thought we Brits were supposed to be pretty straight laced!
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I've never seen anyone here wearing gloves unless it was bitterly cold. I think that custom is long gone most places.
 
I’m given to a slight hug with ladies I haven’t seen for awhile, but usually they’re the ones initiating it.

Intros? A soft handshake with the ladies, a firm one with the guys.

One exception
A bear of a man down the path
Ever time we meet, we end up wrestling
Not to the ground, but half nelsons can come into play, or just bone crushing hand shake contests

haven't done that with wimin yet

...but if they ever start it
 
For me, whether to offer or accept a handshake is highly situation-dependent. In most cases, however, the gender of the person I'm meeting is largely irrelevant in making that decision.
 
I have no problem with a man offering me his hand as an introduction or welcome gesture, in fact just a few days ago I spoke with a man who I see often in the dog park and have talked to now and then over the past few years. Hadn't seen him for awhile and after our short chat he extended his hand and told me his first name, I did the same. I have offered my hand also to men in the past to say hello or introduce myself. Same with women, I really don't overthink a friendly handshake.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I have no problem with a man offering me his hand as an introduction or welcome gesture, in fact just a few days ago I spoke with a man who I see often in the dog park and have talked to now and then over the past few years. Hadn't seen him for awhile and after our short chat he extended his hand and told me his first name, I did the same. I have offered my hand also to men in the past to say hello or introduce myself. Same with women, I really don't overthink a friendly handshake.
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I don't really think about this very much.
I'm not too comfortable with cheek kissing though.
 
Somehow, I don't remember that it has never occurred to me to offer my hand to men or women when first meeting them - but if they offer theirs I'll respond.
As for hugs - well I do have a couple of friends with whom a hug is always shared both when we meet and when we part. One of them who is married (and I've known the couple for many, many, years) - when we part, I always give her an extra hug to pass on to her hubby :)

Another friend who is single like me - we don't hug when we meet up, but we always do when we part. :)
 
Capt Lightning said:
Oh dear, what a straight laced lot. A hand shake, a hug or a peck on the cheek depending on the country. All fine by me.
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You said Captain, it is not a problem here,
must be in another country though or the
question wouldn't have been asked.

Mike.
 
From Google:

What’s proper is for the woman to offer her hand first. If she does, then you shake it just as you’d shake a man’s. If this seems strange, maybe you’re shaking hands with men all wrong. You’re not supposed to squeeze. You don’t go limp, dead fish. You just grip lightly, the way you’d pick up a baby. A limp handshake is repulsive. A too strong handshake is ridiculously macho.
 
Well Laurie, that's your opinion. Even if not strictly "straight laced", failure to go along with the accepted behaviour in any situation could be interpreted unsociable. So, in my world, I have shaken hands, hugged or exchanged a kiss on the cheek when appropriate. Personally, I think we Brits are too reserved - or is that down to breeding?
 
Back when I was working, I shook hands with lots of people. It was customary when meeting people and not to do so would have been rude. I never gave it any thought one way or the other.

Hugging, on the other hand, I think should be reserved for dear friends or family.
 
When I meet a person for the first time,I always extend my hand no matter if the person is male or female
I give hugs to my friends and family.
 

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