For women to wear hats in buildings and not for men? Also who decided that women should sit will shaking hands and men should stand and why?
“I think it speaks to the duality of man sir.”
(Private Joker in Full Metal Jacket)
Wherever did you get the idea that etiquette is predicated on logic?
Men stand & women sit when they pee, so the same when they shakehands.
Although it’s not polite to shake hands with someone while they are peeing.
That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.
I don’t know about shaking hands, but my guess about the hat thing is that, when women wore hats they were often attached with pins and things which made it inconvenient to take them off.
Women have more different kinds of hats. Some are for protection and would not be worn inside. Others are part of an outfit and would be worn inside. I think there is a rule, though, that a hostess can’t wear a hat in her own house.
cher:
Why would she want to?
Unk–if she had cancer or if she had really dirty hair and wanted to cover it up–think baseball cap here and how they now seem to be permanently attached to many people’s heads. Personally, I think most people who wear baseball caps all the time are probably suffering from baldness 
Ike:
I think this rule was from back in the days when women always wore a matching hat with any “party” outfit. So all her guests might still have their little beaded, feathered, veiled doo-dads on, but the hostess wasn’t supposed to wear one with her dress.
Okay, then, how about if she’s throwing a lawn party? Can she wear a hat in her backyard?
For that matter, should her HUSBAND wear a hat out there? Maybe a nice straw skimmer with a colorful band?
And what if they have to come into the house, to take a leak or spank the upstairs maid or something? Does HE have to take his hat off?
Does she? She IS a woman, but it’s HER party.
I think we need Miss Manners. My guess is that, yes, the hostess may wear her lovely picture hat at her garden party. I would also guess that, after briefly removing his skimmer when greeting the ladies, her husband may wear it outside. However, a gentleman never wears his hat inside, no matter what, um, activities he is engaged in.
Okay, that’s settled. Should we move on to gloves now?
My guess on the sitting while shakeing hands is that it is a holdover from the days of the cult of the female invalid. A woman couldn’t possibly be expected to stand up, especially when receiveing a large amount of guests, less she topple over or soemthing. Men, however, are expected to show their manly virility as often as possible.
“Never forget that you’re never more than 72 hours away from death by
dehydration. Drinking will only prolong that death.”
-Joe Dietz
::sadly:: I miss Flora McFlimsey – SHE would have had “The Straight Dope” on this question!
Eve? Could you channel her for us??
-Melin
When spanking the upstairs maid, a man should always remove his hat and set it where will not be damaged by an errant whack. Maids never wear hats on duty, so the question isn’t relevant for them, unless the maid is off-duty, in which case she must where a hat with her party outfit. Now, when spanking the downstairs maid…
–It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.
Men’s hats and gloves were for outdoor protection from the elements.
Women’s hats, gloves, and purses were part of the complete ensemble and were meant to be shown off. The hat was bought to match the dress, just as shoes were.
Women’s hats were for “going out in public”. The hostess was in her own home so she wasn’t going out. Therefore, she shouldn’t wear one.
The men standing women sitting is just a courtesy thing gone pretty much by the wayside now. Just like men standing up when a women approaches or leaves the table; or giving up a seat on the subway.
Princess of the Time and Space Continuum since 1969 (upgraded to Goddess 01/07/00)-
OK, we have enough youth. How about a fountain of smart. =^…^=
Damn! And it took me forever to get this natty little pillbox with the veil at just the right angle! And now I’ve got to remove it?
The Dave-Guy
“since my daughter’s only half-Jewish, can she go in up to her knees?” J.H. Marx
(SIGH) No one reads historical texts anymore.
Men standing and shaking hands is A: to make sure that no weapons are up their sleeves and B: to be ready to fight if there are.
Hats removed by men are a gesture of courtesy usually extended to a superior i.e.: the baring of ones head in humbleness.
Women do not have to stand to shake hands because they were not considered ‘smart’ enough to carry weapons up their sleeves. (BOY! Were they ever wrong!) They were allowed to wear hats because of the hats being ornate and often pinned to their hair by those portable skewers called hat pins.
What? Me worry?’
In elementary school, the very instant we walked in the doors, those damn “safeties” (hall moniters) had this uncontrolled fettish about hats worn indoors. I never understood this, and it was a damn nuisance to have to worry about my stupid hat when I’m going straight to my locker, anyway! I wore it out of spite until I got to my locker - so there!
The whole concept was particularly odd to me having transferred from a private school where hats were a none-issue and “safeties” were unknown.
Sometimes, you gotta question authority!
The scary thing is that 90% of the people think they’re above average! - unknown
“I miss Flora McFlimsey”
Umm, I’m still here, just under another name. Y’know, The Two Faces of Eve.
OK. I just sent Ike an 1898 etiquette book, so he may be able to look this up. But women did not remove hats indoors because the hats were lovely confections of netting, birdswings, feathers and such, held on with an assortment of hatpins. It would take a long time and a lapful of pins to remove them.
Ladies did not stand up when introduced just the same as the elderly, or any “more important” person, such as a President (insert joke about “sitting President” here).
—the artist formerly known as Flora
Shake a woman’s hand!?! How ghastly! You never shake a woman’s hand. She shakes yours. That is you never offer your hand to be shaken; if she wants to “press the flesh” she’ll offer hers to you, but never the other way around. At least, that’s the way I was taught.
Now, about that downstairs maid…