The importance of the handshake, and what could replace it.

This article inspired the creation of this video: https://youtu.be/0pQh1B4VH9g

The handshake is a short-lived, but important part of the greeting procedure in many societies. It’s extremely common in greetings between men, but is also seen when the genders greet each other (as well as women greeting other women), particularly in business and politics where gender equality is centre stage.

A handshake can convey information about the possible intentions of the parties, such as the type of relationship that each party wishes to create or maintain; and the self-perceived or actual social status of each party relative to one another. Further, and perhaps contradictorily, it is also an extremely effective social leveler; often communicating a message of equality between the parties. It says, “a hierarchy may exist, and my position on it may be above yours, but in this current medium, and in this current moment, of exchange, we are effectively equals.”

Handshakes are also used when making agreements in business or social relationships. A handshake in this situation is like an unwritten signature on a contract; binding the parties in their agreement.

So, in this current climate of hyper-sensitivity to hand hygiene, and amidst the understandable (and WHO and CDC recommended) hesitancy to engage in handshaking, if the handshake does indeed go the way of the curtsy, what may replace it?

Queue; Hollywood. Enter, stage left, The Forearm Handshake. And.... Action!

The forearm handshake is a no-brainer.

This handshake, whilst apparently having never actually been used by any population in history - despite what Hollywood tells us - is actually the perfect replacement for the handshake.

Let me explain...

Firstly, and most relevant at the moment, the skin on skin contact made during this handshake is either completely non-existent, or minimal and non-problematic. There is zero hand on hand contact. Either the hand makes contact with the forearm (not generally seen as a hazardous part of the body, hygienically speaking), or the hand makes contact with the sleeve. Both of these options are wildly preferable to direct hand on hand contact.

Secondly, this type of handshake arguably maintains all of the important features of the standard handshake. Both involve extension of the hand with eye contact; communicating trust, good intentions and equality. Both involve clasping or squeezing, which is a common sign of assurance or comfort in non-verbal communication. And both can be altered by each party to change the message communicated, such as how much pressure is used when squeezing, the position of the hand (on top or bottom), how much pulling is used - if any. One can imagine how the current President may execute the forearm handshake - unfortunately, it may give him a little too much leverage, and end up toppling his handshake partner. Not great for international relations!

Thirdly, as handshaking is such an important ritual to express masculinity and dominance amongst, particularly, western males, it is important to have a replacement handshake that allows them to communicate their perceived position in this imagined social hierarchy. The forearm handshake, at least as it exists in Hollywood, has been held up as a symbol of rampant masculinity since it first bulged the armour-clad biceps of the very first warrior clan chief to bless our screens with the honourable handshake; striking our hearts with a sense of pride, self sacrifice, and the simple and pure beauty of the warrior code. Need I say more?

As you can see, the forearm handshake ticks all the boxes as the perfect replacement for the hand-on-hand, petri dish-on-petri dish, biological weapon-on-biological weapon handshake of the yester-millenia.

Let’s all save ourselves the fear of holding yet another sweaty palm, the anxiety of “oh sh*t my hand is still wet from having just washed it”, the pain of the knuckle-cruncher, and the disappointment of the dead fish.

Let’s live by the mighty warrior code; keep our forearms flexed, our hands clean, and our hygiene... healthy!

Let’s adopt the forearm handshake.