Curtsying

It's been a while since I had a run-in with my contention with curtsying but yesterday brought another battle.

I was at the department of education (where I've gone almost every week for the past few months) to organize some Junior Achievement classes. There's usually a group of men (teachers or administrators) sitting under a tree past the door so, like usual, I greeted them as I was walking into the building. They asked me to come back to them and this was the conversation we had:
"In our culture when a woman like you sees a group of men like us, you walk over and greet us personally and curtsy."
"I'll greet you all personally (then I did) and I'll ask you about your day (and I did) but I won't curtsy."
"You have to curtsy."
"I'll curtsy when you curtsy for me."
(some of the men laughed)
"Men are always the chief. They are always in of a family so that is why you must curtsy to me."
"This isn't a family, this is a place of business - a government organization."
"It doesn't matter. Men are always superior to women."
(At this point I was using all of my self-control) "Well, those may be your beliefs but I think they're wrong."
"No, men are always superior. And you're not being culturally respectful."
"I've lived here a year, I've made an effort to learn Wolof, I wear respectful clothing, and I participate in your culture but I won't curtsy unless you show me the same respect."
From there the conversation became about Senegalese food and whether or not I could cook any until I got away to go to my meeting.

I completely understand, and try very hard, to be culturally respectful - to a point. I will not start a meeting 2 hours late because that's a cultural norm. I will not pay people to attend a training I'm giving because they expect it. I won't curtsy to anyone because it is meant to put women in their "inferior" place.

In other news, I'm off for the All Volunteer Conference! Have a good (early) weekend!