Is it right to make a woman feel unclean?

[camel1]

I was saying 'thank you' to a male colleague and touched his upper arm as a reinforcement of that thanks. He recoiled in disgust, his body language, his facial expression and his yelp surprised me so much that I apologised profusely. The incident happened in front of many children, as I am a teacher at a school. And within a minute he had shook hands with a male colleague. Whether it was his intention or not, I felt that he felt I was unclean. I was/am greatly upset by this. I understand that his cultural or religious beliefs does not permit him to touch women, or vice versa. However, I have lived in many different countries and cultures, and I adhered to their cultural rules and would never have reacted in such an offensive way. What do you think?

[larrygrylls]

She didn't. Read the thread.

[yamsareyammy]

Have you read the op?

[merrymouse]

Has anybody considered that they might have been standing on nylon carpet and perhaps the OP gave her colleague an electric shock???

[Moominsarehippos]

He did yelp. I have never made a grown man yelp!

I don't think we know where the OP is. If she's in the UK Mr Yelp would know full well that culturally, touching an arm is ok. I wonder what the kids thought.

If she's in somewhere like Saudi, ok not such a good idea but it's the other side of the coin for those saying 'give his culture a break'.

Electric shock theory is funny though! Unless she crept up behind him and jumped on him. That's the only thing that makes DS yelp.

[defuse]

Love the electric shock theory.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

It's always sad when people dress up bigotry as feminism.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

Even sadder when they attach it to a fairy in the sky.

[Crumbledwalnuts]

Plain wrong to defend bigotry with religion. Any woman should be embarrassed and ashamed to do so.

[Moominsarehippos]

Especially religions that profess to treat women equally (which does imply that they are 'other') all brother/sisterhood etc.

Jesus touched lepers and prostitutes!