I often wear more conservative clothes when I travel but it is more for protection than out of respect. It reduces sexual harassment and is less shocking for the people of certain countries.
I guess maybe it's the difference between respecting a cultural tradition, and respecting the feelings of the people within that culture. I personally disagree with a lot of cultural traditions, including the fact that it is perceived to be disrespectful to do a whole range of things: not covering up in certain countries; enter a temple with uncovered shoulders/knees or with shoes on; pointing feet at a shrine; turning your back to a shrine, etc etc ... a lot of these traditions stem from either the oppression and disrespect of women, or from superstition, or both. when I was working in England, with a lot of different ethnic minorities, a real PC buzzword was 'tolerance'. I always resented this, as I was not willing to say I was 'tolerant' of certain customs that kept some members of certain groups/religions (mainly women) subservient and submissive. When I was in India, I often felt distressed at some of the customs there, and the way women are kept down, as lesser people. Regarding religion, I also feel that most religious customs and rituals have arisen from superstition, and also control. I don't believe spirituality, true spirituality, is about that. I don't believe that if you point your feet at a shrine, or wear shoes, that gods and deities will be angry and it must mean you're not pure enough, or have enough humility, etc etc etc.
So, no - there are a lot of things I have difficulty 'respecting'. BUT - when I was in these countries, I went along with all these norms - not because I think they're right, or that I should force my mind and heart into a spirit of 'respect'. Just because the people of that culture (including women) have those customs and traditions so deeply, deeply ingrained, that it was actually painful for them to see these customs not being adhered to.
I guess it's the same when I'm staying in someone else's house - I just follow what they do, even when I don't agree with it - eg, I would never bother to dry dishes once they're washed, I just leave them on the drainer - why dry something that dries itself???!!! But if I'm staying with someone who does dry the dishes and likes to keep a clear draining board, well, I do that too - just out of respect for them and that it's their house. It doesn't mean I respect the fact that they dry dishes.
Of course it's the same but not the same - as drying the dishes isn't causing harm and oppression to members of society. (although on the other hand, maybe it is....) :D But single handedly, I can't crusade around the world, trying to get people to see differently.
Also, at the end of the day - travelling would be so much more boring if all cultures did things in the same way - whether we see it as good, bad or whatever, at least it's different.
BTW - does anyone know the answer to this? I always wondered, and wondered more when I was in India. Why is it that it's acceptable to have lots of belly showing beneath the folds of saris, but not acceptable to have shoulders/knees showing? I would have thought your belly is a real display of your womanhood - yet it's more important that your shoulders don't show???
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