There is an increase of late the number of women willing to shake your hand. To me it feels wrong and somewhat confronting. Then I feel vaguely sexist for thinking that way.

However, what I think is happening is that as the status of women in society rises to that of equality, women are beginning to shake hands with the mindset of, "Men shake hands with men, Men and women are equal, therefore men should shake hands with women". I think this is a little misguided. You can have equality while still retaining sex-specific practices.

The whole situation confuses me though.

Any thoughts?

kiss their ring ??? (too Catholic ???)

I always look for their approach first. If they start to extend hand then I shake it or if they lean cheek forward its a pretty good indication they want to do the cheek/air kiss thing. Doesnt bother me either way really. It sure beats them recoiling in horror

It's all too confusing.. Just stare at the ground, shuffle your feet and appear uncomfortable. They'll eventually go away.

One of my friends at Uni would refuse to walk through a door if it was opened and held for her. If the person opening it walked through first, that was okay, but if they did the 'gentlemanly' thing, and opened it to allow her to walk through first....

Quite funny to watch the standoff at times! Her theory was that it demeaned women to have the door opened for them - they're quite able to do it for themselves.

Ha ha - I have no probs shaking a lasses hand (and usually do) but at a BBQ the other night I copped a hand crusher from a chicky! You know the one where you don't stand a chance cause they (unfairly) grab your fingers - not your hand as such..

Was ok in the end though - she opened the door for me later.

The "Mwahh mwahhh darling" has definately gone from strength to strength of recent times. All good with the stunners but my sis in-law likes to plant em nice n juicy on the lips!! Bit much for me, and if there is ever any tongues I am tellin wifey for sure!

To me it feels wrong and somewhat confronting. Then I feel vaguely sexist for thinking that way.

As for feeling vaguely sexist. Nothing is ever done well by halves - go the grope while your at it and really make a day of it!

The women handshake when done is generally loose and well not satisfying, however when a woman gives a firm handshake followed by direct eye contact, well thats just un-nerving.

What would be a correct woman handshake?

Relli:

Use your middle finger to tickle the inside of their wrist and make lots of eye contact with a big smile. Might get a few less handshakes then

theres only 1 thing weomen should shake and not stop till it erupts.

I think everybody should bow.

I also think shaking women's hands is only for a business context.

me, well i'm far more disturbed by the number of flaccid, limp male handshakes that occur these days.

a firm womans handshake with strong eye contact.......hmmmm, woof woof baby.

not that i could handle such a woman.

Liz, I can just see you loading your handbag with lead.

I have no problems shakin hands. I just offer the shake as if they were a guy. Noone has freaked out or anything.
It's the weak handshakes that get me. Im not a large person, and have small hands, but some people put no effort into it. As soon as that happens i just think "loser cant even handshake properly".

When you shake hands with a women you should give a firm grip (but not quite as firm as you would another male) and only one shake.Thats only if she offers her hand.

As mentioned before what is with the dead fish handshakes from many blokes these days It makes me wanna vomit peanuts and corn.Immediatly i go the crush on these limpo's.What does it mean ? are they submitting to you? like a dog when it meets a fearcer male and rolls onto its back?
Harden up you blokes if ya wanna shake my hand make it a good one.
I'm not talking about a hand crushing competition just an equal pressure manly handshake geeeeeze...Didn't your father teach you anything?

Dawn Patrol said...

I have no problems shakin hands. I just offer the shake as if they were a guy. Noone has freaked out or anything.
It's the weak handshakes that get me. Im not a large person, and have small hands, but some people put no effort into it. As soon as that happens i just think "loser cant even handshake properly".

True

On the flipside is those 'short men trapped in normal sized boddies' who overcompensate in the handshake and attempt to crush your hand. No - i am not a limp fish but neither am i attempting to excert my dominance over anyone via a hand cruncher. Without doubt each tosser that I have met that tries the crusher has turned out to be a totally insecure k-nob.

Firm = ok

Crusher = get a life (or penis extension)

The subtlety of the handshake..
It goes beyond the crush/dead fish, there's another dimension that I'm surprised nobody has mentioned yet.

There's the rotation aspect - without crushing, if you rotate your hand so it is on top, then you signify that you think you're superior. If you're soft and let your hand go under, then they're probably right.

If, instead, you rotate purposefully so that your hand is on the bottom (leaving no doubt that YOU did it, not them) then everyone wins. Your initiation of the turn gives you decisiveness and strength, and the fact that you have placed the other person above yourself is very respectful.

If the other person matches you in trying to rotate so your hand is above theirs, then you have a pretty reasonable measure of each other.

Of course, the speed, control and degree of the rotation leave plenty of room for personal expression. And, as a bonus, if it's a lady who's hand you're shaking, you're then in the perfect position to go for that lingering and soulful finger kiss (if appropriate)

Nothing worse than the crash shake though - you know the one where the other person is so keen that they smash the webbing of their thumb into yours. I can usually pick the crushers before the event, and match them. I'd never initiate a crush shake though - it's a bit too red-neck for my liking.

Anyone figured out the Masonic secret handshake yet?

and never do what this guy does.
not cool