# Why do humans cross legs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 26, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995 "2012-04-26T05:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/1 "2012-04-26T05:51:19Z")
Is there any evolutionary reason? Also, do any other animals sit cross-legged? ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/2 "2012-04-26T05:59:46Z")
Of course silly… 😃 > **[Grey Italian greyhound puppy dog sitting cross legged on blanket in...](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/italian-greyhound-puppy-dog-sitting-cross-legged-royalty-free-image/87365803)** > > Grey Italian greyhound puppy dog sitting cross legged on blanket in front of red wall looking down relaxed [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4054/4452439548_5b406cf5f9_z.jpg "BLaCk CAt crossed legs") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/nereis01/4452439548/) ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/3 "2012-04-26T10:18:40Z")
I cross one of mine under me when sitting down because it alleviates pressure on my tailbone. Otherwise, sitting is a heinous pain in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/4 "2012-04-26T10:27:17Z")
i think cats [sitting down](http://www.google.com/search?q=cat+sitting+on+glass+table&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=BiKZT5unGs7yrQeMu-DQAQ&biw=1024&bih=676&sei=CSKZT7_nKs_KrAeo27y4AQ) with their legs folded under them is, though not exactly crossing their legs, equivalent to us sitting down and trying to be comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/5 "2012-04-26T10:35:16Z")
> [@indian](#): > > Also, do any other animals sit cross-legged? Sit? Heck, [they even stand cross-legged!](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YjG6Nu4Vtu8/TzsggQXUNbI/AAAAAAAAA14/NC5dPThmGqM/s1600/cat_ballou.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/6 "2012-04-26T10:48:28Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I cross one of mine under me when sitting down because it alleviates pressure on my tailbone. Otherwise, sitting is a heinous pain in the ass. While this would be a bit of an exaggeration for me, it is true that I often change how I sit in order to remain more comfortable, and crossing legs, especially at the knee, is one way to do this. Also, ladies wearing dresses tend to cross legs as it makes them easier to hold together and not accidentally show something. Many ladies carry this pattern even when not wearing dresses, as it’s become automatic. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/7 "2012-04-26T15:43:46Z")
My dog crosses her front paws when she’s lying down (but upright). It’s SOOO cute. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/8 "2012-04-26T16:14:55Z")
Here is an article about the related question: “Why do humans cross their legs” [National Survey: Leg Crossing Is Taboo But Women Indulge Anyway](http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/1999/A/199900724.html). The source is a bit chancy and the name of the author of the article seems a bit too absurd to be real (said the guy whose name is Gagundathar The Inexplicable). I mean, Creamer Dickson Basford? Really? ---
**Author:** ![allonga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90ced4/32.png) [@allonga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/allonga)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/9 "2017-05-30T13:06:55Z")
I have so far not come across any sensible reason why people cross their legs whilst sitting (unless it is entirely voluntary and purposeful). One interesting answer was that it is easier to get up to a standing position if you are sitting with your legs crossed than if you have both feet flat to the ground. I don’t accept that. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/10 "2017-05-30T13:25:52Z")
WAG: humans are the only species who regularly sit. Other animals either stand or lie down, but we’re the only ones who need our hands free to use tools when we’re not standing. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/11 "2017-05-30T13:37:20Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > WAG: humans are the only species who regularly sit. Other animals either stand or lie down, but we’re the only ones who need our hands free to use tools when we’re not standing. Arguably apes but an image search shows that they almost always sit on their haunches in a crouch or else just splay a leg in front of them. Of course they don’t have chairs and sitting cross-legged (aka ‘Indian’ style) is an ungainly position to move from when a leopard attacks. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/12 "2017-05-30T14:11:44Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Arguably apes but an image search shows that they almost always sit on their haunches in a crouch or else just splay a leg in front of them. Of course they don’t have chairs and sitting cross-legged (aka ‘Indian’ style) is an ungainly position to move from when a leopard attacks. Or a cougar… ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/13 "2017-05-30T14:20:34Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Arguably apes but an image search shows that they almost always sit on their haunches in a crouch or else just splay a leg in front of them. Of course they don’t have chairs and sitting cross-legged (aka ‘Indian’ style) is an ungainly position to move from when a leopard attacks. But apes have no real need to sit for extended periods of time, whereas ancient humans were forced to learn a method for sitting straight and leaning forward in order to grind grain, weave ropes, cure leather, chip flint or any other tasks we evolved to perform. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/14 "2017-05-30T14:54:01Z")
I know this won’t be a satisfactory answer, but humans are quite unusual in being bipedal. There really aren’t that many other animals to which we can even be compared in regards to sitting and crossing our legs. (Birds, for example, have some quite significant differences in leg structure.) Therefore, the question is pretty much moot. We are (perhaps) unique in our bipedal anatomy and we sit the way we sit…crossed legs and all. You can look at quadrupeds and see great similarities in the way that different species lie down with their forelimbs folded under them. I’m guessing that another truly bipedal species might also cross their legs. ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/15 "2017-05-31T09:51:43Z")
Men frequently sit with their knees wide apart, while women are taught to keep their knees together. This is easier to keep up if you cross your legs. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/16 "2017-05-31T11:57:24Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Or a cougar… Most of the time you can just hope off the bar stool. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/17 "2017-06-01T08:13:40Z")
Dogs will sit upright with their hind legs crossed. I’ve seen a picture of this. The dog was sitting upright in a chair, smoking a cigar and . . . playing poker with other dogs. One of the dogs was cheating! ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-humans-cross-legs/619995/18 "2017-06-02T12:58:29Z")
The human body did not evolve to sit down. So when it does, it is an unnatural posture, and one keeps shifting to relieve the pressure points.