Cultural terms of respect like 'auntie' reveal complex tensions between cultural identity and workplace boundaries
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/lola-okolosie. "Is calling a woman ‘auntie’ ageist harassment – or a mark of respect? It’s a trickier question than you think | Lola Okolosie | The Guardian." March 31, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that calling someone 'auntie' at work shows how tricky it gets when different cultures meet. While some cultures use 'auntie' to show respect for older people, if someone asks you to stop calling them that, you should respect their wishes regardless of your cultural background.
Conclusion
The workplace dispute over calling someone 'auntie' reveals deeper tensions between honoring cultural practices that respect age versus respecting individual preferences in multicultural societies
Premises
- What people want to be called should be respected, regardless of cultural intentions
- Terms like 'auntie' serve as honorifics showing respect for age and wisdom in many West African, Caribbean, and South Asian cultures
- Western culture flattens age hierarchies and treats aging as something to hide rather than celebrate
- People with multiple cultural identities experience conflicting assumptions about age and respect
- The workplace creates particular tension between home cultural practices and shared professional norms
- Continuing to use unwanted terms, regardless of cultural justification, constitutes disrespect
Assumptions
- Cultural practices have inherent value and meaning that should be understood
- Individual autonomy in self-identification takes precedence over cultural traditions
- Western attitudes toward aging are generally more negative than other cultures
- Multicultural societies require navigation between competing cultural frameworks