Etiquette is the set of polite rules and customs that people follow in social situations. It guides how you speak, behave, and treat others so everyone feels respected.
The word comes from French 'étiquette', meaning a label or ticket, which later came to mean prescribed rules of behavior at court. Over time, it shifted from literal labels to the 'rules' that label what is proper or improper behavior.
Etiquette started as actual little cards telling people how to behave at royal courts—like printed instructions for manners. So when you learn etiquette today, you’re really learning the modern version of those royal rule cards.
Etiquette rules historically encoded gendered expectations, prescribing different behaviors, speech patterns, and roles for men and women, often reinforcing women’s subordination in public and private spaces. Manuals and social norms frequently framed ‘ladylike’ behavior as more constrained and deferential than ‘gentlemanly’ behavior.
When discussing etiquette, distinguish between respectful behavior and outdated gendered norms, and avoid prescribing different standards based solely on gender.
["social norms","courtesy","professional conduct"]
Women have been both subjects and authors of etiquette norms, and many have actively challenged restrictive codes by redefining professional and social conduct in more egalitarian ways.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.