Hard disagree. This article reminds me of the hygiene hypothesis. Hand sanitizer is the opposite of comforting, it has an unpleasant sensation and is actually too sanitizing (not all bacteria is bad, as we know), and various brands have been found to have benzene and other carcinogens in them. Indulging germophobia can actually lower the immune system by engaging stress and anxiety. I don’t wonder about the cleanliness of the hand I just shook, I don’t practice any of these hygiene excesses, and I rarely get a cold, cough, flu, etc.
The brief nod to us all needing human touch - it can’t be emphasized enough, as all kinds of socially normal touching have been decreasing for decades now. Discontinuing the handshake is the wrong direction to go, for the sake of everyone’s oxytocin levels.
(I do of course support the work of Semmelweis and engage in normal hand washing behavior.)
Thanks for this fascinating comment! I just learned so much from it. I also very much grew up with the idea that exposure to germs was a healthy way to build immunity. It was also a lot cheaper and easier than trying to maintain a germ-free household and lifestyle. So I still do everything the germy way and brought my daughter up the same.
I wish I had had you around to tell me that the couple of times when foods that had expired a decade earlier did not work out well for my digestive system. But most of the time, I've been fine!
I agree 100%. I am not germophobic, but I see no need to shake someone's hand, particularly if I don't know them. As you said, if I know you, I'll hug you and if I don't, I will be warm and/or polite (depending on the person) - no unnecessary touch required.
And, people are just gross! I recall an old colleague of mine (who was a pediatric infectious diseases specialist) reiterating the importance of hand washing to medical students by telling them about some study that essentially showed that when the lights are on, people behave, but when the lights are off, people do all sorts of gross things (nose picking, etc.). I don't trust people to not be disgusting, and I don't need to come in contact with someone else's bodily fluids/secretions!
I love the fact that they studied people's grossness and the findings are telling. I'm going to refer to that study now as though I know about it myself, it's so good.
By the way, did you see my post about getting a massage (by a professional!) who it turns out was licking his hands for lubrication rather than using lotion? What would you have done? and if you'd rather not even think about it, that's cool too!
Oh god, I did see it and while I like to think I would indignantly told him how gross it was and that I needed to leave, I *probably* would have just frozen and let him finish while telling myself how disgusting he was because I am a non-confrontational person who hates conflict (unless I'm driving and you piss me off, in which case I will swear at you and call you names in the comfort of my own vehicle).
Thank you for sharing this. Great essay! I had never thought much about this before, but I also think it has to do with the issue of consent. I have taught my daughters that, if they don't want someone to touch them, they can absolutely say: “No thank you! I SAID, NO THANK YOU!”. No one has a right to touch anyone else. That being said, my young gentlemen (high school students from the Caribbean and Latin American) do shake my hand at the beginning of each class as a sign of respect; this is something they started not something I expect. But I always do have nice hand sanitizer that I buy myself. The school gives us horrible industrial sanitizer that dries out our hands and makes our skin crack. Who wants to use that? Waste of money. On a lighter note, I have used hand sanitizer since the 90's. In high school, my friends and I love a scent called "Silly Fruits" from Bath and Body Works, especially during Biology 2 dissections. I can't believe this, but we had to dissect a pig fetus. So cruel.
That’s a great point about it also being a matter of consent. I only begrudgingly shake hands with people; I certainly don’t give enthusiastic consent.
I think kids today are taught so much more about consent. In Boston Pubic Schools, where I work, middle schoolers have a curriculum piece about consent that is usually mandated. It definitely wasn’t a message in my youth. My parents always expected me to shake hands with the priest after Catholic mass, and I never wanted to. I found them intimidating.
I had to shake hands with someone today - happened to be a doctor. I actually felt okay with this because I know how frequently doctors sanitize their hands (but I still sanitized mine as soon as possible following the handshake).
I just thought of this, but I can only imagine your reaction to it: there were certain instructors at SoulCycle who demanded that the class members all high five each other at various intervals during the class, which I swear led to Covid spread.
Hard disagree. This article reminds me of the hygiene hypothesis. Hand sanitizer is the opposite of comforting, it has an unpleasant sensation and is actually too sanitizing (not all bacteria is bad, as we know), and various brands have been found to have benzene and other carcinogens in them. Indulging germophobia can actually lower the immune system by engaging stress and anxiety. I don’t wonder about the cleanliness of the hand I just shook, I don’t practice any of these hygiene excesses, and I rarely get a cold, cough, flu, etc.
The brief nod to us all needing human touch - it can’t be emphasized enough, as all kinds of socially normal touching have been decreasing for decades now. Discontinuing the handshake is the wrong direction to go, for the sake of everyone’s oxytocin levels.
(I do of course support the work of Semmelweis and engage in normal hand washing behavior.)
Thanks for this fascinating comment! I just learned so much from it. I also very much grew up with the idea that exposure to germs was a healthy way to build immunity. It was also a lot cheaper and easier than trying to maintain a germ-free household and lifestyle. So I still do everything the germy way and brought my daughter up the same.
As I was writing my comment I was having a strong xoJane memory that you’d be with me on this! 😂❤️
Hello, I eat mold!
https://www.anotherjaneprattthing.com/p/janes-phone-click-here-for-an-invitation
It may not surprise you that I'm also on team "When in doubt, throw it out" when it comes to questionable food and whether or not it's expired!
I wish I had had you around to tell me that the couple of times when foods that had expired a decade earlier did not work out well for my digestive system. But most of the time, I've been fine!
Now that’s a testimony 😂😂 I think it makes us stronger!
I agree 100%. I am not germophobic, but I see no need to shake someone's hand, particularly if I don't know them. As you said, if I know you, I'll hug you and if I don't, I will be warm and/or polite (depending on the person) - no unnecessary touch required.
And, people are just gross! I recall an old colleague of mine (who was a pediatric infectious diseases specialist) reiterating the importance of hand washing to medical students by telling them about some study that essentially showed that when the lights are on, people behave, but when the lights are off, people do all sorts of gross things (nose picking, etc.). I don't trust people to not be disgusting, and I don't need to come in contact with someone else's bodily fluids/secretions!
I love the fact that they studied people's grossness and the findings are telling. I'm going to refer to that study now as though I know about it myself, it's so good.
By the way, did you see my post about getting a massage (by a professional!) who it turns out was licking his hands for lubrication rather than using lotion? What would you have done? and if you'd rather not even think about it, that's cool too!
Oh god, I did see it and while I like to think I would indignantly told him how gross it was and that I needed to leave, I *probably* would have just frozen and let him finish while telling myself how disgusting he was because I am a non-confrontational person who hates conflict (unless I'm driving and you piss me off, in which case I will swear at you and call you names in the comfort of my own vehicle).
Thank you for sharing this. Great essay! I had never thought much about this before, but I also think it has to do with the issue of consent. I have taught my daughters that, if they don't want someone to touch them, they can absolutely say: “No thank you! I SAID, NO THANK YOU!”. No one has a right to touch anyone else. That being said, my young gentlemen (high school students from the Caribbean and Latin American) do shake my hand at the beginning of each class as a sign of respect; this is something they started not something I expect. But I always do have nice hand sanitizer that I buy myself. The school gives us horrible industrial sanitizer that dries out our hands and makes our skin crack. Who wants to use that? Waste of money. On a lighter note, I have used hand sanitizer since the 90's. In high school, my friends and I love a scent called "Silly Fruits" from Bath and Body Works, especially during Biology 2 dissections. I can't believe this, but we had to dissect a pig fetus. So cruel.
That’s a great point about it also being a matter of consent. I only begrudgingly shake hands with people; I certainly don’t give enthusiastic consent.
I think kids today are taught so much more about consent. In Boston Pubic Schools, where I work, middle schoolers have a curriculum piece about consent that is usually mandated. It definitely wasn’t a message in my youth. My parents always expected me to shake hands with the priest after Catholic mass, and I never wanted to. I found them intimidating.
I had to shake hands with someone today - happened to be a doctor. I actually felt okay with this because I know how frequently doctors sanitize their hands (but I still sanitized mine as soon as possible following the handshake).
I'm not surprised! And thank you for this excellent piece.
I just thought of this, but I can only imagine your reaction to it: there were certain instructors at SoulCycle who demanded that the class members all high five each other at various intervals during the class, which I swear led to Covid spread.