Culture Clash Wednesday #15 Public Displays of Affection

This week on Culture Clash Wednesday, it's all about relationships. When two people care about each other, everyone knows. Their love for each other shows in the way they talk to each other, look at each other, and how they show their affection. Public displays of affection differ in every relationship. Some people are more comfortable with showing affection in public than others. 

 

PDA doesn't only occur in relationships. People show their affection for friends differently as well. There seems to be a lot more controversy around it than I thought. 

 

Typically, it's more acceptable for women to show each other affection. If you see women hugging each other or giving each other a kiss on the cheek goodbye, you wouldn’t think twice. What about men? Can the same be said for them? Is it acceptable for them to hold hands or are their bigger connotations with it? 

 

Over the holidays, I ended up talking with Uthuma about some of the differences she’s noticed from growing up in India verses living here. She said she doesn’t think about the cultural differences as much until she goes to visit Hyderabad.

 

The last time she visited, she was walking down the city streets to pick up vegetables for dinner. While she was walking, she noticed men holding hands. In India, it’s very common for male friends to hold hands with one another. They aren’t afraid to show each other affection by holding hands or kissing each other on the cheek. If the same thing were to happen here, people would assume they were romantically involved. 

 

The culture clash here is quite obvious. The reactions to public displays of affection between friends greatly differs based on your culture. This isn't just between different countries, but different families in the same place as well. 

 

What about you? Are you openly affectionate towards your friends? What does YOUR culture say about PDA?

 

**Remember culture isn't necessarily defined by where you live or your ethnicity. Your culture is influenced by your family, where you live, the society around you, what you think, your beliefs, etc.**