Women in Ivory Coast ethnic background and historical circumstance. It has been argued that Ivorian cultures largely had a cultural bias against equality between the sexes, embodied in customary law and codified in the colonial period. But this view has been challenged by Ivorian writers, who argue that in many pre-colonial societies, women held political and /or economic power equal to many men. Looking specifically at the "N'Gongbo" Baoulé people, one writer contrasts Ivorian women's roles the traditional Western tradition where the public and the private spheres are separated, with the superior public sphere reserved for men, and argues that Western intellectuals transpose this
Cheek kissing (Southern), elderly women may be cheek kissed by younger men as a gesture of affection and respect. In Québec, cheek kissing is referred to in the vernacular (Québécois) as "un bec" (""donner un bec"") or "la bise" (""faire la bise""). Whether francophone or other, people of the opposite sex often kiss once on each cheek. Cheek kissing between women is also very common, although men will often refrain. Two people introduced by a mutual friend may also give each other "un bec". Immigrant groups tend to have their own norms for cheek kissing, usually carried over from their native country.