Gender Norms Etiquette in Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, men are generally expected to take the lead in public interactions, while women often handle household and market responsibilities, so travelers should avoid assuming very informal gender mixing in conservative settings. In cities the norm is more flexible, but in rural areas and among older generations it is still common to see more traditional expectations around dress, greetings, and who speaks first in mixed-gender situations.