We could argue that there's no such thing as a cultural taboo for Gen Z-ers. However, it would be very egocentric to think that. Although humanity as a whole is slowly steering towards being more open-minded and liberal, cultural taboos are here to stay. They might change and evolve in the future, yet it's unlikely that social taboos will cease to exist entirely since there rarely is a subject that the majority would agree on.
Even in a country as open and welcoming as the United States, there are still several taboo subjects to be aware of. Interestingly, in contrast to other nations, cultural taboos in America are seldom directly related to religion or tradition. Instead, taboos in America are often connected to public manners and social conduct, such as wolf whistling or talking about politics or business at the dinner table. And although particular, though very few, taboo things are exclusive to the US (e.g., not leaving a tip at a restaurant), many of them are universal, suggesting that in many countries around the world, the same things and behaviors are deemed socially inappropriate and might get one the side-eye.
However, it's interesting (and sometimes disturbing) that in some places, engaging in certain social taboos may not only result in receiving dirty looks from strangers but may also be punished by law. This is often the case in countries with strong religious grounds. Thus, it's interesting to note that sometimes, cultural taboos are not only enforced by society but also by laws, both federal and religious.
Curious to learn more about fellow Earth inhabitants, we scoured the internet to compile a list of taboos prevalent in certain parts of the world. Although we did our best to gather factually correct and up-to-date examples of taboos in different cultures, if you notice any discrepancies, we kindly ask you to point those out in the comments or send the writer an email so we can improve our content.
Also, we want to stress that the countries or cultures mentioned in brackets don't imply that everyone in that social group holds the same views. Are there any other cultural taboo examples that we forgot to mention? If so, share those in the comments.
#1
Being late (Japan, South Korea, Germany & Switzerland) — Several cultures highly value punctuality, so call ahead if you see that you will be late.
unknown
Report32points
#2
Wearing shoes indoors (Worldwide) — Although Ireland, the UK, the USA, and Australia tend to be less stringent about this practice, the rest of the globe prefers to take off shoes before entering the home.
unknown
Report29points
#3
Standing too close (Western world) — Personal space is held in high regard in many Western countries. It can be perceived as overly intimate or an invasion of personal space when people stand too close while conversing.
unknown
Report28points
#4
Chewing with your mouth open (Western world) - In Western culture, it's considered inappropriate to chew with one's mouth open, and is seen as gross and ignorant.
unknown
Report28points
#5
Not leaving any food on the plate (Paraguay & China) — To indicate that you are full and satisfied, it’s recommended to leave some food on the plate in certain countries.
unknown
Report22points
#6
Direct eye contact (Traditional Owners of land in Australia) — While making eye contact is advised in the West as a sign of active listening, in Aboriginal Australian cultures, direct eye contact can be considered rude or even aggressive. The appropriate response in conversation would be to avert or lower your eyes to show proper respect.
unknown
Report21points
#7
Taking photos of strangers (Worldwide) — Taking a picture of a stranger without their consent is considered a violation of their privacy. In some instances, it may even be unlawful. Before sharing the photos, it's polite to blur the faces of any people whose faces can be made out in the background.
unknown
Report20points
#8
Leaving food on the plate (some European countries & Turkey) — If you leave food on the plate, the host might think you didn't like the meal. For Turks, leaving a portion on the plate is considered a sin.
unknown
Report20points
#9
Starting to eat before everyone is at the table and has their food (Worldwide) — It’s standard practice to wait until everyone is seated at the table before digging into your food. If the host is serving the food, you should hold off on eating until after he or she has finished and is seated at the table.
unknown
Report20points
#10
Showing someone the soles of your feet (Asia & Middle East) — Many countries in Asia and the Middle East find exposing the soles of your feet to another person or tapping somebody with your feet highly offensive.
unknown
Report17points
#11
Haggling (Japan & Sweden) — While it is less common in more developed economies, bartering for a price is part of the culture in some countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and India).
unknown
Report17points
#12
Eating pork (Jewish, Muslim, and some Christian countries) — Muslims don't eat pork primarily because the Holy Quran specifies that some foods are permitted while others are expressly listed as haram or forbidden. And one of those off-limits foods is pork. However, the Holy Quran also makes an exception, stating that you may eat it if you need food and have no other options but pork. This also aligns with Jewish beliefs, which follow kosher meat-eating customs and restrictions.
unknown
Report16points
#13
Men wearing a dress (Western world) — Although this is swiftly changing as gender norms start to blur, in the West, a man wearing a dress or a skirt may still get a lot of dirty looks, yet in certain other cultures, wearing traditional apparel that resembles a dress is acceptable. Scotland is one Western exception, where men are expected to wear traditional kilts.
unknown
Report15points
#14
Spitting in public places (Worldwide) — Spitting in public sites is prohibited in numerous cities. However, it's interesting to note that police seldom enforce this. Still, spitting in public is generally frowned upon, so it's more strictly enforced culturally than legally.
unknown
Report15points
#15
Adultery (Worldwide) — A restriction against adultery is either written down or is considered taboo in almost every society's marital law. In reality, it seems adultery is as prevalent and, in some instances, as common as marriage. In Judaism and Christianity, one of the ten commandments is the prohibition of adultery.
unknown
Report15points
#16
Discussing business at dinner (Worldwide) — In some places, discussing business during a casual supper is considered impolite.
unknown
Report15points
#17
Wearing shorts (Morocco) — Even at the height of summer, males are typically expected to wear long pants. Young men or boys may be seen wearing shorts, but long pants are often the most common.
unknown
Report14points
#18
Polygamy (Western world) — While polygamy, or having multiple spouses at once, is still taboo in Western culture, it's relatively common worldwide. Of 200 sovereign states, 58 allow polygamy, including most African and Middle Eastern countries.
unknown
Report14points
#19
Menstruation (Worldwide) — Many cultures still view a woman as "unclean" when she has her period. In parts of Indonesia, India, western Nepal, and among tribes of Nigeria, menstruating women are still shunned from social and religious events and occasionally even their own kitchens. According to Unicef, 70% of Afghani females avoid taking a bath or shower during their periods out of concern about infertility.
Report
14points
#20
Swearing (Worldwide) — Foul words can be found in most languages. However, swearing is frowned upon, especially in professional and formal settings.
unknown
Report13points