Indian Social Rules
Body Language
Most Indians make eye contact when they are having a conversation with their peers. However, if they are talking to someone older or more powerful, eye contact is sometimes perceived to be too forward or disrespectful. Indians don't touch the person they are talking to unless they know that person well. Pointing to someone or at something is considered rude.
Age
In general, Indians show great deference to their elders. In some places in India, the child-to-grandparent relationship is different. Children are supposed to touch the feet of their grandparents to show respect. Elders are the source of family history, and they teach Indian culture to young people. In certain situations, children have more freedom. Because of a lack of law enforcement, children do things like drive as soon as they are able to handle a car! Some children even smoke or chew tobacco without punishment.
Gender
Throughout Indian history, males and females have been treated differently. Boys have much more freedom than girls. If a boy wants to meet his friends and hang out, he usually is allowed to do so. However, a girl must get permission from her parents, who are much stricter with her than with her brothers. In general, parents do not allow their children to socialize with the opposite gender in unsupervised settings. At parties, men and women often don't mix with each other. They are more comfortable with those of their own gender. Even married couples don't show a lot of physical displays of affection in public.
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