Why Do Trends Like ‘Womanspreading’ Make People Uncomfortable?

Many people, particularly those who subscribe to conservative or traditionalist views, tend to find many modern trends extremely uncomfortable-making. Whether it is women demanding rights for themselves, trying to reclaim public spaces or gain an equal footing in the workplace, there is significant anger and rejection of this bucking of the trend. Women are no longer content to do as they are told – women are unwilling to be pigeonholed and trends such as manspreading womanspreading are quite simply bewildering a lot of people.

What is manspreading?

This is a term used to describe how men typically take up space in public: an easy lounging posture, spread out limbs and a generally little awareness of impinging upon the personal space of others. The male of the species is not taught how to sit or ‘conduct’ himself in public; neither is this expected of him.

For women, it is completely different. “Sit like a girl/woman” we are taught early in life. This means that we are to sit with legs close together or crossed, arms close to one's body, take up as little space as possible and generally be as unobtrusive and invisible as possible. This, we are taught is about decorous, modest behaviour suited to a ‘good’ woman; a ‘lady-like’ demeanour that is expected at all times. 

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