Why do people cross their legs?

[bobcat]

I think we do it far more often than we realize, but not sure why.
Also, guys often cross their legs in the figure 4 position, while women most often do knee over knee, and both do ankle over ankle when reclining or lounging.

Maybe it's just something we learn from a young age, and each of us has a default position.

We do it when we're lounging at home, or in public situations. Maybe it's just somehow comforting, but it could also be the way we are taught and cultural expectations. Maybe there are social stigmas tied to the way we sit, and it's just solidified in our brain. IDK

 

[Dr.Colosso]

If I sit too long with one leg over the other one I have to switch. Women do it because they used to wear skirts I think. You can't manspread with a skirt on. I used to put my left leg over my right one at home all the time and way too long. Got pain in my right heel from it. You have to switch, just like with sleeping.

 

[Aunt Bea]

You can't manspread with a skirt on.

 

[bobcat]

If I sit too long with one leg over the other one I have to switch. Women do it because they used to wear skirts I think. You can't manspread with a skirt on. I used to put my left leg over my right one at home all the time and way too long. Got pain in my right heel from it. You have to switch, just like with sleeping.

True, but I suppose they could just sit with knees together without compromising anything, but crossing legs seems more common I think. As for manspreading in a skirt, we would need input from the Scottish. I have no idea.

 

[horseless carriage]

For a lady, there is a void between the legs and so it comes natural to close the empty space crossing the legs.
Whereas for the fellow, it's definitely a case of crushed nuts.

 

[MarciKS]

Since I never wear dresses and doing knee over knee is uncomfy for me, I do the figure 4 that the guys do. LOL! Sometimes I just need to change positions for a bit.

 

[IrishEyes]

Everytime I have my BP taken at the Dr, they have to remind me to uncross my legs.
As a kid I sat on the floor with legs crossed as kids do. My one hip screams NOOO
if I try that now. Just a habit of dress wearing yes.

 

[MarciKS]

Everytime I have my BP taken at the Dr, they have to remind me to uncross my legs.
As a kid I sat on the floor with legs crossed as kids do. My one hip screams NOOO
if I try that now. Just a habit of dress wearing yes.

Same when they check your O2 sat. It doesn't cooperate well with crossed legs.

 

[Flarbalard]

Sitting with my legs crossed in the figure four pattern often helps reduce the strain I feel on my lower back or correct the position of my spine which I feel in my neck.

Crossing my legs at the ankle is usually because the one knee is acting up, but I have to be careful as that alone if done too long will result in hip pain severe enough to prevent me from driving for several days.

I guess I don't have to mention that being me is a whole lot of fun sometimes.

 

[hollydolly]

I never cross my legs at the knee...it's too uncomfortable... I almost always cross my legs at the ankle.... these are my legs

 

[MACKTEXAS]

It's a good question. I find it uncomfortable to my lower back, so I very seldom cross my legs. When I have, I'm in the reclinder with the right ankle resting on top of the left knee.

 

[bobcat]

It seems that everyone does it in one fashion or another, whether at home or in public. I'm still not sure why. Maybe it is somehow tied to reasons why we cross our arms. Just guessing.

 

[Sunkist]

I just always thought it was nothing more than a habit.. didn't know there was any actual reason for it.

 

[debodun]

I'm an ankle crosser.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

Maybe it is somehow tied to reasons why we cross our arms. Just guessing.

I've heard that when I'm speaking to someone, if their arms are crossed, it could be a sign they're shutting me out, especially if they're avoiding eye contact, but I don't know if that's reliable.

 

[Been There]

I do it got comfort.

When I was in the Marines, it was not a good idea to cross legs while in a meeting with a General or any other senior officer.
While in a mess hall, it was also not appropriate to eat with legs crossed, but not disciplined for doing such.

 

[hollydolly]

I've heard that when I'm speaking to someone, if their arms are crossed, it could be a sign they're shutting me out, especially if they're avoiding eye contact, but I don't know if that's reliable.

yes I've heard the same about crossed arms... it;s also classed as a defensive action..

I never cross my arms either

 

[OldFeller]

Here's a search result:

"Many people cross their legs because the position offers a distinct physical advantage in terms of stability and comfort.
Crossing one leg over the other helps to lower the body's center of gravity, providing a more stable base when sitting, particularly in chairs without armrests."

I only cross my legs when the front of me is exposed. Like in a waiting room or on a stage in front of people. I think its a nervous, defensive habit.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

I've heard that when I'm speaking to someone, if their arms are crossed, it could be a sign they're shutting me out, especially if they're avoiding eye contact, but I don't know if that's reliable.

I used to cross my arms just because you have to stand and listen so long and it's comfortable, but then I learned that it was not welcoming, so I stopped doing that, but I never did it to shut anyone out, although.. maybe the boring speech.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I think the idea of women crossing their legs stemmed from a way of not showing off Their nickers while wearing skirts or dresses.
Courtesy of Aunt Beas post. You ‘can’ manspread with a skirt or dress on but this is the end result . Pressing knees together and crossing ankles also works.
Crossing legs prevents that.

 

[Ronni]

From a purely practical point of view, at least for women, sitting with knees pressed together requires thought and effort. Because of our physiology, knees will naturally separate when relaxed.

Crossed legs require no additional thought once they’re crossed.

In my modeling days, which were also the days of micro mini skirts, we were taught that the most comfortable and least revealing position was sitting with knees together and ankles crossed.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

Part of this is learned behavior. In our culture, we simply consider it more polite for someone to sit with their knees and feet together, or with their legs crossed. Especially for women wearing a skirt or dress, of course. But crossing legs is primarily a comforting habit. According to Chris Snijders, emeritus professor of medical technology, your body automatically seeks a position in which the muscles are most relaxed when sitting. His research shows that when you cross your legs, you automatically tense the muscles at the back of your hips. This provides greater stability in the pelvis, allowing you to sit upright without overly straining your abdominal and lower back muscles. Nice and relaxing, in other words.

https://www.kijkmagazine.nl/kijk-antwoordt/benen-gekruist/

 

[Jules]

I just looked at my husband. He has feet flat on the floor or crossed at the ankles sometimes. Sometimes crossed at the knee, if in a stiff chair while in public. He just said he doesn’t sit in the number 4 position because it hurts his lower back. Probably the most comfortable position is determined by our body shape.

 

[hollydolly]

The queen and the female members of the royal family all sit/sat with ankle crossed and not knees..at offical engagements

 

[oscash]

I usually sit like the elegant lady in the above photo (although I don't wear miniskirts,) We had a friend long ago who crossed his legs, and the cross-over leg actually touched the floor, with this foot flat on the floor?.