A body practice from everyday life that I have observed especially with my brothers; is females crossing her legs, sitting upright, and males sitting with their legs spread and bodies in a sloched position, not everybody fits this criteria but for the most part a large majority of people follow it. It is a body practive and a cultural practice for females to sit with their legs crosses and in a "proper" position because it is what is expected in a way and personally being a girl what I find most comfortable. And as Susan Bordo states; "the body and the reproduction of femininity.", the body is one that is continualy absorbed and expressed. Crossing of legs or sitting with your legs spread and body sloched is something that will often times seperate men from women. I is a way to show your femininity or nom-femininity it is another practice of distinguishing yourself or trying to get closer to the intelligible body ideal.
I find this very interesting because I actually considered doing my blog on this. I also think crossing your legs or leaving them open gets at deeper things in culture such as the fact that men have something between their legs and women lack something therefore they can cross there legs. I also wanted to point out the connotation given to having your legs open as a woman. I think that many people associate sitting with your legs open as being open to sexual activity and is somewhat considered slutty. This is something that is completely culturally constructed because obviously sitting with your legs open does not overtly make you a more sexual being.
ReplyDeleteAs I was riding the campus connector the other day, there was a male wearing super baggy sweatpants sitting across from me. The whole time he was on the bus he had he legs spread and body slouched. I know almost all young males sit like this but his legs were going into other peoples space. I found it completely unnecessary and rude. I know it isn't considered 'manly' to keep your legs together, but the way he was sitting was very unattractive.
ReplyDeleteWomen are brought up to be 'ladylike.' I believe sitting with legs crossed is seen as proper. I am constantly crossing me legs. It is just an unconscious behavior that I have learned and continue to act out.
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