Marshallese Cultural Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s / Don’ts
Knock on a door lightly: considered polite / Knock loudly on a door: considered aggressive and rude
Take your shoes off when entering a home: considered respect / Leave your shoes on when entering a home: considered disrespectful
Whistling at night: some believe this welcomes demons
Click with your tongue: some versions may be considered a mating call while others are used to simply get others attention
Ask where to sit: the culture holds visitors in high honor, but be aware If you sit on the mat where they might sleep, it may be viewed as offensive
Apologize if you step over legs: certain cultural rules exist for first born male and females / Step over their legs: offensive ( certain cultural rules exist for first born male and females)
Joke: they like to tease and have fun / Marshallese culture is traditionally matrilineal so it is said that joking about one’s mother could be viewed as highly offensive
Show you are thankful when you are given something: Gratitude is important
Talk about food to create a casual and friendly atmosphere / Never reject food: considered disrespectful
Marshallese proverb: “Don’t break the foot of the bird that feeds you”
*Don't discard uneaten food if attending an event and given a plate; take it home as leftovers
Motion to come over with your hand motion with the palm of the hand pointing down / Motion to come over with your hand motion with a hand pointing up: considered provocative
If you have to walk up to two people talking crouch down and apologize for walking between then / When 2 people are talking, do not walk in between them. Walking straight up to them is viewed arrogant
Touch children on the heads: belief that the head is the closest thing to God. The head is sacred.
Mix genders in classroom seating, during group work, recess because school is considered an informal setting / Mix genders in formal settings such as church, weddings, meetings, graduations, etc. Men will sit on one side and women the other. Children will play together, but around age 14 they will “know” to start sitting with their parents on separate sides
If men are gathered near the entrance to a bathroom, women usually will not enter the bathroom