Sexual harassment: educating about cultural differences

When I teach my course on American business etiquette to multicultural audiences, I get a lot of questions about appropriate and inappropriate behavior in the American workplace. Because norms vary between cultures, norms of behavior between cultures can be inappropriate, sometimes shocking, or even legally unacceptable and subject to judgment.

Despite the increasing focus on cultural understanding over the past decades, managing the cultural differences of international professionals and their families is often at the bottom of priorities. HR professionals should keep in mind that although many cultures have the same values ​​and concepts (eg, punctuality, business etiquette, romantic love, and revenge), the real difference is in how they are interpreted. For example, there is no doubt that romantic love in France will be different from romantic love in Iceland or Egypt. Therefore, we must bear in mind that socially acceptable behavior varies from culture to culture. What is correct in one society will not be correct in the other.

Consider this passage by Laura Klos-Sokol, quoted in R. Nolan’s excellent book “Communicating and Adapting Across Cultures”: “Imagine a professional meeting that begins like this: a woman walks into an office and introduces herself, holding out her hand to shake just to have him kiss her. He then helps her take off her coat and takes her arm to lead her to a chair a meter away. This is how the Poles do it: I could sue her in America. “

I have encountered similar behavior many times in my native country, Armenia and Russia. This was part of good manners and was considered “elegant” behavior. In some cultures, males are expected to be dominant and gallant. On the other hand, when I first experienced the American “bear hug”[1] In Armenia with a man from the United States, I felt very uncomfortable and relieved that my compatriots were not there to witness such a “frivolous” gesture.

Professionals moving to the United States should be aware of the unspoken rules of gender interaction accepted in this country. Not knowing the rules can become traumatic and even dangerous from a legal perspective – the employer can be sued for sexual harassment. On the other hand, a student of mine from northern Brazil once told me that she missed that whistle of admiration (or joke, I thought) that men would produce when she passed by.

It may be normal in some workplaces in northern Brazil to whistle when an attractive woman passes by. Whistle: Not something you’d expect a man to do on American streets or workplaces, even if you’re a Sophia Loren or Miss America. Men in Italy are known to whistle at attractive women in a way that would make most American construction workers blush. … Italian, Brazilian and Armenian women cannot be offended by such behavior and even take it as an expression of gratitude. As a general rule, US professional women would not appreciate it. This can be very upsetting and threatening to American women and they may find it humiliating and discriminatory. As a nation, Americans are committed to equal rights for women. For this reason, women are expected to be treated as equals to men.

Many countries around the world have laws on sexual harassment. However, different nations have different interpretations of them. That is why I define sexual harassment as “inappropriate behavior (from the American point of view) when interacting with the opposite sex.” (Ameri $ peak, Succeed in America Books, 2006, p. 66).

In the business world, lack of information about etiquette and unspoken rules about interaction and gender norms can lead to misunderstandings that are crucial to a person’s success.

To help your foreign-born employees understand US workplace standards of behavior.

Consider the possibility that you actually have a problem. Never assume that your employees know the intricacies of gender interaction in the US or you will have a problem or even … they will sue you!

Consider hiring a professional to conduct a training program and set expectations about the American workplace culture.

[1] The bear hug is a rigorous, emotional hug that signifies a greeting (people’s hands embrace and upper body parts come into close contact for a second or two) -NV, see Ameri $ peak update on SucceedinAmerica .com.