# Women: Sitting With Their Legs Crossed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2001, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088 "2001-08-13T19:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/1 "2001-08-13T19:30:47Z")
- - - The only guy I have ever known that did this casually was very tall and thin. I can do it of course, as can most any typical guy, but it’s not comfortable because I swing the _MONSTER SCHLONG!!!_ -Well okay, probably not really, but it does feel less-than-comfortable. - When did this start? Do women everywhere do it? I can understand somewhat the reasons for it when a woman (-or person, I guess-Scotland?) is wearing a dress, but many women tend to do it all the time, even when wearing pants. - MC ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/2 "2001-08-13T19:36:48Z")
It’s biological, not social. I remember watching a Desmond Morris “Urban Anthropolgy” documentary a few years ago on this aubject among others. The resaon women cross their legs one way and men another is due to differences in the shape of the pelvis. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/3 "2001-08-13T19:48:14Z")
“A lady will only cross her ankles. It is ill-bred to cross one’s legs.” —Miss Emily Vanderbilt-Manners ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/4 "2001-08-13T20:11:07Z")
indeed, but life would be much less fun without all those “Basic Instinct” moments. ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/5 "2001-08-13T22:19:29Z")
I cross my legs both ways. It depends mostly on what I’m wearing and to a lesser extent, how comfortable I am in the situation. If there isn’t much room, I’m wearing a skirt, especially a straight skirt, I cross my ankles, or cross my legs tightly at the knee. If I’m wearing jeans, I’ll frequently cross my legs by resting one foot by the other knee (sorry, that’s the best way I can describe the other way of crossing my legs - the “male” way). I expect that females crossing their legs one way probably grew up because of type of clothing worn and has persisted from mostly seeing other women cross their legs this way - positive reinforcement. I don’t recall seeing females cross their legs this way much when I was younger (& indeed some friends on a school trip in Russia were told by the ladies on the train to cross their legs properly), but it does seem to be becoming more common. Before this descends too much into IMHO territory, some cites: There is much discussion about how much impact biology (ie inheritance and physical structure) has on social traits - take this quote from [an MA Thesis on Evolution](http://www.users.bigpond.com/thewilkins/MA/Selectio.html): “However, that biological traits constrain our social behaviour, as Desmond Morris and some other sociobiologists claim, is a somewhat longer bow to draw, given that cultural fitness so often overrides the biological.” Other sociobiologists argue that it is both culturally and gender dependent, again placing less emphasis on the structure of the body as a cause of behaviour: [http://www.southernct.edu/departments/graduatestudies/cs/rescfell/telke\_k\_impactof.pdf](http://www.southernct.edu/departments/graduatestudies/cs/rescfell/telke_k_impactof.pdf) “Body language has has been described as being both culture- and gender-dependent (Forgas, 1985; Samovar & Porter 1995). […] Arm and leg positioning has been linked to gender-related differences in status (Samovar & Porter, 1995). Women often hold their arms closer to their bodies than men do, and keep their legs closer together during interactions, indicating a more reserved, less casual attitude than displayed by their male counterparts. […] However, leg crossing is also culturally sensitive; in Ghana, Turkey or Thailand, sitting with crossed legs is considered offensive to the conversational partner (Ruch, 1989).” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/6 "2001-08-13T22:35:55Z")
It can’t be as simple as male/female anatomy, because I’m a guy, and I have found that I can comfortably cross my legs knee-over-knee (notice my deft avoidance of the phrase “like a girl” :)) since I have lost a considerable amount of weight. Granted, underneath my not-quite-so-flabby exterior, I’m somewhat more flexible than the average guy. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/7 "2001-08-13T22:50:25Z")
“She crosses her legs at the knees. That’s the kind of girl she’s.” Dorothy Parker (?) ---
**Author:** ![Evno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Evno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evno)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/8 "2001-08-14T01:18:49Z")
well, I’ve realized that sitting in different ways is a learned thing, and something to get used to. When I tried sitting with one leg in the normal position and the other ankle rested on the opposite knee with my calf sideways, it was uncomfortable, since it stresses your femur-hip joint. But I got used to it, since I prefer to have a few ways to sit, and not be a stick-up-the-butt Posture Pete. I still can’t sit indian-style too comfortably. I think the reason so many women sit cross-legged is because they grew up mirroring their elders, friends and siblings. It’s probably uncomfortable in the beginning for 99% of all people, but like all awkward positions, you get used to them and they can begin to feel “right”. Yoga would teach some such things. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/9 "2001-08-14T02:20:15Z")
I’m comfortable right foot over left knee, but not the opposite. But I can cross my ankles either way. Is it the same for others? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Dani\_Filth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dani\_Filth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dani_Filth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/10 "2001-08-14T02:49:28Z")
Just thought i should mention, all you ultra-tight leg crossers out there have something fun to look forward to…spider veins. Enjoy 🙂 -Dani ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/11 "2001-08-14T14:33:43Z")
“A lady will only cross her ankles. It is ill-bred to cross one’s legs.” That’s before women wore pants. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/12 "2001-08-14T14:51:58Z")
Handy, dear. “Women” may wear pants. But “ladies?” I think not. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to mercilessly upbraid an uppity parlormaid . . . ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/13 "2001-08-14T15:03:59Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by MC \* > \*\* - - - The only guy I have ever known that did this casually was very tall and thin._\* Ooh, ooh, ooh, me, me, me. I’m 6’2", almost 6’3" and have bad hips and knees (well, ankles too). I cross my legs ‘like a girl’ (at the knee) because it is usually way too painful to cross my legs ‘like a guy’ (one ankle on the opposing knee). Several times people have commented on this, they guys just gave me a hard time but some understood after I told them about my hips/knees. The women either thought I was a sissy or that I was a really classy guy. Generally tall people tend to understand more because they are used to having to fit a large set of appendages in a small space. (try to sit ‘like a man’ in an aircraft when you are 6’2"!) NP: **Slayer** - _Reign in Blood_ ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/14 "2001-08-14T15:22:48Z")
you know what’s interesting is to read Story of O, where O’s lover instructs her that she must never ever cross her legs for the whole time she belongs to him. The effect is that the woman appears more open to anyone who wants her. She appears wanton and easy, even if her legs are together, but not crossed. And it’s an odd feeling for her to get used to, and in fact she finds herself faltering at her duty So I tried it for a little while: both the “never cross your legs (or ankles Eve)” and “never completly close your mouth” It’s hard! Polite leg or ankle crossing has been engrained in me since I was about four! It becomes a habit that we women must want our children to be victim to as well. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/15 "2001-08-14T16:04:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dani Filth \* > **Just thought i should mention, all you ultra-tight leg crossers out there have something fun to look forward to…spider veins.** You have a cite for this, right? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/16 "2001-08-14T16:32:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evno \* > [BYoga would teach some such things. \*\* Padmasana (the Lotus Pose) is when you place the right foot atop the left thigh and the left foot atop the right thigh. The secret to accomplishing this is in opening the hip joints and thrusting back the sit-bones. Careful not to torque your knees! Siddhasana (the Mastery Pose) is another crosslegged pose, easier than the Lotus: you tuck the sole of the right foot along the inside of the left thigh so that the heel presses on the perineum, and place the left foot on top of this assembly with the sole along the inner right thigh and the heel at the root of the _lingam_. The crossing is at the ankles. According to the great yoga guru, Swami Sivananda, the Lotus Pose is good for both men and women. But he recommended siddhasana for men only, saying it is not suitable for women (ladies, female persons, whatever). Because of the difference in plumbing, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![camanda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camanda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camanda)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/17 "2001-08-14T16:56:28Z")
Women usually do it because of wearing dresses. When wearing pants sometimes it is just out of habit. I usually don’t wear dresses but sometimes I cross my legs because it just comes naturally I guess. Btu I can not sit like that for too long or my leg falls asleep 😃 ---
**Author:** ![phartizan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@phartizan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phartizan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/18 "2001-08-14T23:44:42Z")
What is very thin? I’m a shade over 5’10" and about 160 lbs. I often cross my legs at the knees without crushing the eggs or the sausage. Maybe it’s the way they’re positioned in my briefs (not boxers) that keep them up out of harm’s way. That got a little personal, didn’t it? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/19 "2001-08-15T08:02:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Opengrave \* > I cross my legs ‘like a girl’ (at the knee) because it is usually way too painful to cross my legs ‘like a guy’ (one ankle on the opposing knee). Several times people have commented on this, they guys just gave me a hard time but some understood after I told them about my hips/knees. The women either thought I was a sissy or that I was a really classy guy. \*\* What world is it you people live in? Here in Australia, we men all cross our knees however we want and nobody says a word. This is a subject that has never come up in The Simpsons or Seinfeld (my trusty guides to life in the USA, as suggested by [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=81614)) No, here in The Outback we sling our patellas where the whim takes us. Tibia pressed together, ankles akimbo, whatever we like. And we laugh: ha ha ha ha, for we are in a land of true nether-limb freedom. Stone the crows. Redboss ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088/20 "2001-08-15T13:03:01Z")
In Sydney we have double deck trains. “What’s this got to do with the OP?”, I hear you ask? Well, the lower deck is where all us (I mean “those”) lecherous guys sit. When the train enters a station, the lower windows are just on platform level. Sydney girls waiting on station seats learn pretty fast to keep their legs crossed, or at least close together (well most of 'em do). 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-sitting-with-their-legs-crossed/76088.md?page=2)