Our culture greatly influences how we interpret – and negotiate – personal space. But will Covid-19 create a universal standard?
Close encounters
In Mongolia, when two people bump into each other, it’s customary for them to then shake hands. In a sense, this ingrained social convention helps to reset the distance between the two parties. But should a man from Ulaanbaatar tread on the toes of a stranger in New York his offer of a handshake might not be well-received (especially in these days of social distancing).
Instinctive gestures
Indeed, holding back on handshakes and hugs – and keeping one’s distance – is more challenging for some cultures. A 2018 study of proxemics, which polled 8,943 people across 42 countries, identified Argentina as a land of tactile, close-talkers (interestingly, warmer climates tend to produce closer interactions). In Buenos Aires, an acceptable amount of space between strangers is 76.2 cm whereas in the US it’s 94.5 cm. Romanians stand 140.2 cm apart from strangers though they zoom into 48.8 cm with close friends.
Can’t stand it
Of course, within our own culture, we don’t have to think twice but it’s a little trickier when we enter a new one. At a bus stop in Oslo, you might sit down and notice a local person shift away (incidentally Norwegians like to cosy up to friends). But in parts of India, you might be the one to feel uncomfortable with zero elbow room on a train.
New global standard
But will Covid-19 create a new universal standard? That depends, perhaps, on how well a country has managed the pandemic. In New Zealand, where they have been playing rugby since June, players of Māori heritage have been freely greeting each other with the hongi – they press their noses together while touching foreheads. So countries may very well return to their ‘old normal’, if everyone believes the virus is no longer a threat.
The mask slips
In the meantime, upon relocating, expats must try to get a sense of personal space while also clarifying what is expected of them to curb the pandemic. Interestingly, one Chinese expat from Shanghai, where wearing masks is mandatory in public, revealed to us that she and her husband didn’t wear masks in Seattle. Why? “When we wore the masks, people thought that we were sick,” she said. “We realised that it was better just to keep our distance.”
