Tapping a colleague's shoulder: hierarchy denied
Friendly shoulder tap: informal equality/camaraderie (Anglophones).
Meaning
Target direction : Marker of equality and informal camaraderie between peers.
Interpreted meaning : Hierarchical cultures (Asia) see impertinence or excessive familiarity.
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- jp
- kr
- de
- fr
1. Military anthropology and informal shoulder-pat contact
Morris (1979) military anthropology: shoulder tap with colleague = gesture of encouragement, hierarchical trust, camaraderie. American business culture 1970s-1990s standardized shoulder contact as marker of professional familiarity. Codified gesture signals approval, support, reinforcement of informal team bond.
2. Post #MeToo complications and re-evaluation contact
Since 2017 #MeToo movements, physical shoulder contact re-evaluated: innocent intention may be read as unconsented familiarity or crossing boundary personal. Women in subordinate positions particularly ambivalent refusing shoulder contact supervisors. Ambiguous intention gesture vs. reception contact.
3. Geographical and contextual cultural variations
Scandinavia, Canada: hierarchically accepted shoulder contact, positive familiarity. Southern France, Spain, Italy: daily touching, not culturally challenging. Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa: shoulder contact = serious formal proximity violation, disapproval.
4 Documented incidents and HR policies
2018 Tech Company HR policy explicitly prohibits shoulder contact as possible harassment following #MeToo. 2017 Australian workplace culture tensions post #MeToo, shoulder contact supervisors reclassified as inappropriate. Universities USA revise harassment policies physical contact.
5. Recommended practices consent and context
Done: ask permission before contacting shoulder, pay attention to gendered hierarchical context, ask colleagues for preferences, observe cultural boundaries. Not done: assume contact accepted universal, impose shoulder on subordinates, ignore discomfort signal, disturb women.
Documented incidents
- — Tech Company interdiction explicite contact épaule comme possible harassment suite #MeToo mouvements, politiques strictes contact physique.
- — Tensions workplace culture post #MeToo, contact épaule supervisors reclassé comme inappropriate professionnellement.
Practical recommendations
To do
- - Observer avant agir - Adapter poliment au protocole local - Poser question clarification si doute - Montrer respect par silence plutôt que commentaire
Avoid
- - Ne pas rire ou moquer protocole local - Ne pas imposer norme occidentale - Ne pas poser questions intrusives - Ne pas filmer sans permission
Neutral alternatives
- Simple handshake
- Verbal greeting with distance
- Respectful nod
- Kind eye contact
Sources
- Heslin, R. & Patterson, M. (1982). Nonverbal Behavior and Social Psychology. Springer.
- Morris, D., Collett, P., Marsh, P. & O'Shaughnessy, M. (1979). Gestures: Their Origins and Distribution. Stein & Day.
- Field, T. (2014). Touch (2nd ed.). MIT Press.