I don't know if it would apply here, but Captain Awkward explained something similar between "insiders" and "outsiders". People who are "insiders" (and white people usually are), expect that their social norms and cues are known by everyone and react badly when some of them is broken. They won't explain why, because "you should already know" and basically assume that whatever you did, you did to piss them off, not because you didn't know.

Now, without being there, I can't tell you if it was that, racism, a mix of both or something completelly different. But for me this explanation opened my eyes. Because I'm one of those people who prefer that people verbaly tell me their boundaries, likes and dislikes. I might know some things that I should/shouldn't do, but I'm aware that some things might slipping me by.

So if those white women were in their countries, there is a chance something like this is involved. But your guess is a good as mine.

Byt the way, Captain Awkward explained far better than me, so you might want to check from the source. ;)