This Famously Affectionate Country Has a Serious #MeToo Problem

The two men were in São Paulo on business from the United States and felt a bit apprehensive. Should they greet their female colleague with the hug and cheek-kiss that’s accepted—expected, in fact—in Brazil? Or would that cross a line?

Taking care to respect local customs is one thing, but worries that doing so might constitute sexual harassment are something new, says Nadir Moreno, the woman in question, who works as the United Parcel Service Inc. country manager for Brazil. “I don’t know if they can be at ease anymore,” Moreno says of her male co-workers, recalling how she tried to reassure them that the cheek kisses were fine. “For me it’s not a problem, but I don’t know for other people.”