BL of the sexes Flashcards
(10 cards)
Men typically take up more space than women, spreading out their limbs, work items, and so on, which can cause confusion and misunderstanding between the sexes.
Men tend to take up more space when gesturing, which may incorrectly convey aggression. And in general, men make larger and more sweeping gestures away from, rather than toward, their body.
Women tend to do the opposite, using smaller gestures and employing a more curved hand movement.
When men are seated and listening to someone, they tend to:
- lean back in a reclining position,
- interlock their fingers behind their neck,
- and fidget.
- it is simply a typical male sitting and listening body language position.
A woman may misconstrue these behaviors to mean the man isn’t taking what she has to say seriously, is being inattentive, or doesn’t care or think what she has to say is important. Inattention, on the other hand, is when someone doesn’t look at you or ignores you.
Women tend to lean directly forward when listening, which makes them appear more attentive.
Whether because of the culture of men engaged in team sports where bodily contact is the norm or male bonding, in which back slapping, patting, and touching are signs of camaraderie, men tend to touch other men and women more when speaking. Studies show that they touch women more when guiding them through a door or assisting them with their coats.
Men make less eye contact than women during conversations, which can be misinterpreted as boredom or lack of interest.
When listening:
- women tend to smile, nod their head “yes,” and appear more agreeable than men.
- Men often exhibit the opposite facial expression, frowning and squinting, when listening to others.
During a negative interaction, men will usually stare and maintain eye contact, visually focusing on the person with whom they are in conflict.
During an argument, women often lower their eyes and avert their gaze.
In general, women are more likely than men to avoid confrontation and anger.
