I can add some ideas in regard to the dress code, although these observations are now rather "dated," and may now be obsolete.
About three decades ago, I spent a year in France. I lived in Grenoble, France from June 1976 until August, 1977. While there, I actively associated with two congregations of Les Temoins de Jehovah [The Jehovah's Witnesses, as they are called in France]. In regard to the "sisters" dress code, it was very different from the one in most American congregations in that it was the custom of the younger women in the congregation to wear blue jeans - very tight, "form-fitting" - blue jeans to the meetings.
I should point out the "dichotomy" that existed between the younger sisters and the older sisters. As for the older sisters [those older than forty], it was the custom to wear dresses or blouse/skirt combinations. However, the younger sisters [those in their teens or twenties] would often attend meetings and go out in service wearing tight blue jeans. In the late 70's, this was the custom in much of France, so, in that respect, the sisters in question did not stand out at all. In fact, they fit in well with, and followed, the dominant cultural trend.
But in many American congregation, such behavior would have seemed scandalous.
On a different point, I wonder how much Witnesses in Asian cultures - such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea - adhere to the "anti-higher education" policy of the Witnesses, the one that greatly discourages college/university education. In Asian cultures, higher education has traditionally been valued to the point where it is virtually revered. I wonder to what extent Witnesses living in these cultures adhere to the official Witness "party line," as it were. I wonder to what extent are allowances made for local cultural norms in the area of higher education.
Another point is that of so-called "ancestor worship." Having lived in Taiwan for twenty years [as a non-witness who had absolutely no contact whatsoever with the Witnesses], I know for a fact, that, in the minds of Taiwanese, it is not a question of worship at all. It does not form part of the religious realm, but rather it is a matter of culture. It is a question of respect for one's ancestors. It's a matter of tradition, as opposed to worship. I wonder how Witnesses in these cultures view these matters. In Taiwan, virtually every home has a family shrine. I wonder if Witnesses follow the local societal mores, or rebel against them. I can say that there are only a very few Witnesses in Taiwan. In my twenty yeards there, I did not encounter a single Witness. So I have no idea about their perspective on the matter.
