TIME AND ITS ROLE IN CHANGING OUR GESTURES

Time plays a major role in the way we absorb our gestures from our social groups, and the recent explosion of television sales around the world, is having a major impact on our gestures.

A young Victorian girl was taught never to cross her legs. It wasn't considered ladylike. Crossing of the legs is an absorbed action. We imitate our social groups.

In England, men cross one leg over the other, so that all the leg is touching the other. In the USA, this is considered effeminate for men. Men from the USA have a tendency to cross one ankle over the opposite knee in what's commonly called a figure 4 position.

Although the Victorian way of femininity was not to cross legs at all, a more subtle version evolved: ankle crossing.

Even today, with leg crossing much more acceptable, British Royalty is rarely seen in public with legs crossed, and restricts them selves to a more modest ankle cross. Yet, conversely, with the advent of more women wearing trousers (pants); it's becoming more noticeable that women are sitting with their legs wide open, in full view of people; not realising this is still a primeval sexual invite to males.

The American media is influencing people all over the world. At one time the raised middle finger was an expression mainly in the USA; meaning 'up yours', or, 'stick it up your a^se'.

Today that gesture is growing around the world.

At one time, in Hispanic and Latino countries, a clenched fist with the little finger and thumb outword stretched, pointing forward; indicated that someone was being 'cuckolded': a man's wife was being 'serviced' by another man. Today in the USA and spreading around the world, a similar gesture is being used by the 'cool kids' as a show of respect; usually accompanied by the word 'WORD'.

WORD meaning, "I have respect for what you just said. I respect your word."

Glenn Harrison

Author/Coach/Trainer/Motivational Speaker
Certified Accredited Behavioural Analyst

Glenn Harrison is available as a world-wide, international motivational speaker to give a hilarious, educational speech on Body Language.

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