This was very true, and has been for most of my life... I can imagine the amount of times that my mum also told me to look at people in the eyes (including a neurotypical teacher assistant I no longer have care and empathy for over her existence as I don't ever talk to her anymore)... and I still cannot look at people in the eyes.

I feel that the lack of eye contact equating to disrespect is more of a thing in Western European and Christian white cultures like Canadian, British and American cultures, because eye contact is perceived differently from culture to culture (in some East Asian cultures, having eye contact with random strangers is considered to be rude unless you truly know them [also, please let me know if I seem to be providing misinformation that is xenophobic and racist and I'll change accordingly]).

It feels like Western-European, Christian cultures make eye contact a huge deal when it shouldn't be.