Social Conventions & Etiquette

Though formal etiquette may seem outdated, we still follow many older social customs.

Though social conventions and traditional etiquette may appear to become increasingly more outdated as we move through the 21st century, it's worth noting that etiquette and social traditions still make up an important part of our existence as an international community. Without the rules of social etiquette, many facets of our society would simply break down and become unmanageable, and life would become a lot more difficult to navigate.

History

According to ProEtiquette.com, sometime between 3580 and 3536 BC, an Egyptian philosopher named Ptah-Hotep wrote the first book on etiquette, "The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep." The first form of "modern" etiquette began in France under King Louis XIV during the 17th and 18th centuries. The French king posted a "placard" with a set of rules for the members of his society to read and follow. George Washington's "Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation" was the first written recording of American etiquette.

Pioneers

The most well-known pioneer of the social convention movement was Emily Post, a wealthy woman who wrote a simple guide to etiquette in 1922, "Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage." Post's writings and influence have spawned an industry dedicated to etiquette and manners, the Emily Post Institute. Several other women made their mark on the etiquette industry following Post: Letitia Baldridge in the 1940s, Amy Vanderbilt in the 1950s and Judith Martin ("Miss Manners") in the late 1970s.

Types

The kinds of social rules we follow have changed dramatically over the years. During the Victorian Era, etiquette was very much gender-based: men opened doors for women, walked on the sidewalk closest to the street, removed their hats when entering a residence or before dining, and stood up from the table when a lady stood. According to the article "Etiquette: Origins, Misconceptions, and Modern Forms," different rules of etiquette formed in the later half of the 20th century: sexual harassment rules evolved in the workplace, new forms of address developed for divorcees, and smoking at indoor gatherings became rude and intolerable.

Misconceptions

Many of us believe we live in so modern and casual a society that manners, social conventions and etiquette no longer play an important role in our everyday lives. According to "Etiquette: Origins, Misconceptions, and Modern Forms," however, "good manners are always relevant." Though many forms of etiquette are outdated, we still adhere to new sets of societal rules as times change: We don't talk on our cell pones during a movie, we know not to use capital letters in an email as it's considered screaming and we wait our turn at a four-way stop sign.

Significance

As hard as modern society might try to dispose of social conventions, certain forms of etiquette really do make life easier. We still greet friends, acquaintances and co-workers with a handshake or a kiss on the cheek, help the host or hostess clear the table after a dinner party and send a new couple a wedding gift. If you weren't familiar with such simple social customs, you would have quite a difficult time navigating societal waters.

References

• Pro-Etiquette: History of Etiquette
• Hubpages: Etiquette: Origins, Misconceptions, and Modern Forms

Resources

• Foundations: George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation