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Author Topic:   Ladies...why walk with your arms folded?
Jumped Up Chimpanzee
Member (Idle past 4941 days)
Posts: 572
From: UK
Joined: 10-22-2009


Message 61 of 72 (570186)
07-26-2010 5:11 AM
Reply to: Message 52 by Hyroglyphx
07-24-2010 10:23 AM


Literally walking around with arms crossed? I'm not sure I've ever seen that, except when it is cold outside and people are trying to preserve body heat.
Strange... This might be an uniquely cultural thing that women do in the UK.
Well it is always cold in the UK!
Someone else previously suggested it could be a cultural thing, as British women love to walk around in cold weather wearing next to nothing. Perhaps they just get in the habit of adopting this posture even when they're not cold.
But I don't think it is uniquely British. If you consider Ringo's point below, I'm sure you'll find it easier to recall having seen this before. (And it kind of re-inforces my suspicion that this could be linked to a cradling instinct.)
Ringo writes:
When I was in high school, back in the Neolithic Age, girls used to carry their books cradled in both arms like a baby and boys carried theirs in one hand at their sides like a spear. (Not my imagery. I read about it somewhere.)

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 Message 52 by Hyroglyphx, posted 07-24-2010 10:23 AM Hyroglyphx has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 62 by aiki, posted 07-26-2010 6:44 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied

  
aiki
Member (Idle past 4292 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-28-2010


Message 62 of 72 (570190)
07-26-2010 6:44 AM
Reply to: Message 61 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee
07-26-2010 5:11 AM


Hmmm
I'm a young UK woman and I never walk about with my arms folded. I like having my arms free, don't care if anyone looks at my chest, and I'm not in the habit of wearing so few clothes that I'd need to self-hug to be warm enough.
Can't say I've noticed other women doing it either round here but I am incredibly unobservant when it comes to humans I shall observe the arm-folding behaviour of the local female population when I go out later.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 61 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-26-2010 5:11 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 63 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-26-2010 7:31 AM aiki has replied

  
Jumped Up Chimpanzee
Member (Idle past 4941 days)
Posts: 572
From: UK
Joined: 10-22-2009


Message 63 of 72 (570196)
07-26-2010 7:31 AM
Reply to: Message 62 by aiki
07-26-2010 6:44 AM


Re: Hmmm
I like having my arms free, don't care if anyone looks at my chest
Good for you! And if I were a typical male I'd say: "good for the rest of us, too!"
Good for the rest of us, too!
Can't say I've noticed other women doing it either round here but I am incredibly unobservant when it comes to humans I shall observe the arm-folding behaviour of the local female population when I go out later.
Make sure you record some statistics. I think there's definitely a Nobel Prize in this somewhere. I'm willing to share the glory with all participants at EVC.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 62 by aiki, posted 07-26-2010 6:44 AM aiki has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 64 by aiki, posted 07-26-2010 9:12 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied
 Message 68 by Larni, posted 07-27-2010 5:43 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has not replied

  
aiki
Member (Idle past 4292 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-28-2010


Message 64 of 72 (570208)
07-26-2010 9:12 AM
Reply to: Message 63 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee
07-26-2010 7:31 AM


Re: Hmmm
OK, I've just spent 45 minutes wandering around the busy little market town where I live, carrying out covert arm-monitoring under the guise of undertaking various chores. I'm afraid I missed your post about stats, Chimp, so my figures are estimates only
I saw about 150 women walking about, ranging in age from late teens to 70s, and I would estimate the same number of men. About 60% of both sexes were carrying something in one or both hands (eg a shopping bag, a takeaway drink or a mobile phone). For this subset of people, in both sexes the occupied hands (whether one or both) were held low and relaxed, as were the free hands if they had one.
Of the women who had both hands free (that would be about 60 women in total), one had her arms folded across her chest. She was in her thirties, slim, average height, dressed appropriately for the temperature and weather conditions (dry but cool with a moderate north-easterly breeze). I think I looked at her a bit too carefully - there was a noticeable tightening of the arms.
I also observed one woman carrying a small parcel rather awkwardly in both hands against her chest, when she could easily have managed it in one hand at her side. She was in her fifties, average build and height, again dressed appropriately for the weather.
I also observed one man walking with his arms folded across his chest. He was in his fifties, stockily built, dressed appropriately etc etc.
If I remember, I'll look again when I go to the cinema tonight. Perhaps there will be different folding behaviour among people who are going out for the evening, compared to people shopping or going out to get their lunch.
Edited by aiki, : No reason given.
Edited by aiki, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 63 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-26-2010 7:31 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 65 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-26-2010 12:45 PM aiki has replied

  
Jumped Up Chimpanzee
Member (Idle past 4941 days)
Posts: 572
From: UK
Joined: 10-22-2009


Message 65 of 72 (570235)
07-26-2010 12:45 PM
Reply to: Message 64 by aiki
07-26-2010 9:12 AM


Re: Hmmm
OK, I've just spent 45 minutes wandering around the busy little market town where I live, carrying out covert arm-monitoring under the guise of undertaking various chores.
Good work!
I also observed one man walking with his arms folded across his chest. He was in his fifties, stockily built, dressed appropriately etc etc.
Obviously an alien trying to impersonate a male of our species and making an amateur mistake!
Of the women who had both hands free (that would be about 60 women in total), one had her arms folded across her chest.
Of course, I didn't mean to claim it was a high percentage of women who adopt this pose, or that they do it a high percentage of the time. From your observations so far we obviously can't conclude yet that it is a particularly female characteristic.
Look forward to hearing what you observe tonight. Enjoy the movie.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 64 by aiki, posted 07-26-2010 9:12 AM aiki has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 66 by aiki, posted 07-26-2010 5:35 PM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied

  
aiki
Member (Idle past 4292 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-28-2010


Message 66 of 72 (570244)
07-26-2010 5:35 PM
Reply to: Message 65 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee
07-26-2010 12:45 PM


Re: Hmmm
I'm afraid tonight's results were rubbish. No arm-folding was noted, but it was raining both on the way to and from the cinema so very few people were about, and most of those that we did see were carrying umbrellas This anthropological research malarkey is more difficult than I'd realised.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 65 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-26-2010 12:45 PM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 67 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-27-2010 5:07 AM aiki has not replied

  
Jumped Up Chimpanzee
Member (Idle past 4941 days)
Posts: 572
From: UK
Joined: 10-22-2009


Message 67 of 72 (570337)
07-27-2010 5:07 AM
Reply to: Message 66 by aiki
07-26-2010 5:35 PM


Re: Hmmm
This anthropological research malarkey is more difficult than I'd realised.
I agree. Maybe we should cut our losses.
I went to the supermarket last night.
Out of maybe around 200 people, I saw 1 woman walking with her arms crossed (while holding a shopping basket).
I also saw another of those aliens making the mistake of walking with his arms crossed while impersonating a human male. It was in the chiller section, so it seems likely that the aliens come from a warm planet.
I think my original theory may be falling apart. And I can't really get excited about this new evidence of alien imposters.

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 Message 66 by aiki, posted 07-26-2010 5:35 PM aiki has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 71 by Huntard, posted 07-27-2010 7:58 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied

  
Larni
Member (Idle past 163 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 68 of 72 (570340)
07-27-2010 5:43 AM
Reply to: Message 63 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee
07-26-2010 7:31 AM


Re: Hmmm
My memories of girls doing this walk seems to bring up images of uni where most girls were 18-21 (great days!).
Maybe there is a very narrow age range for this. I know my wife does not do it: she's 31 (or something).
I think I may do some research: when I finish work I'm going to go to the uni and stare at slim girls in the 18-21 age range. As this should be at least partially scientific I shall take some photos as well.
But as I don't want to have my wife's (inevitable) opion bias my qualitative analysis I will look at the pictures in private, in the toilet.
I'll keep you informed as to the results of my hard work.

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 Message 63 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-26-2010 7:31 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 69 by aiki, posted 07-27-2010 7:00 AM Larni has replied

  
aiki
Member (Idle past 4292 days)
Posts: 43
Joined: 04-28-2010


Message 69 of 72 (570348)
07-27-2010 7:00 AM
Reply to: Message 68 by Larni
07-27-2010 5:43 AM


Re: Hmmm
Good idea, Larni.
Based on other interesting observations I made while out looking for arm-folders, I have been inspired to pursue a new direction in my research on human postural behaviour. I'll be conducting a study on whether the wearing of lycra influences the riding stance of young male cyclists.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 68 by Larni, posted 07-27-2010 5:43 AM Larni has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 70 by Larni, posted 07-27-2010 7:36 AM aiki has not replied

  
Larni
Member (Idle past 163 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 70 of 72 (570354)
07-27-2010 7:36 AM
Reply to: Message 69 by aiki
07-27-2010 7:00 AM


Re: Hmmm
As a young *ahem* male cyclist myself I have to say that I'm appalled that you have not identified a control group for your otherwise worthy investigation.
I suggest that for a comparison of lycra vs non lycra and it's effect on performance (I would not use stance as it is had to measure) one would need to observer both fine young men in lycra and fine young men not wearing lycra (getting these fine young men not to wear lycra and cycle is the challenge to the researcher!).
With some clutching of straws you could call wearidge of lycra the independent variable and performance the dependent variable.
Your research could inform my decision to wear lycra or not.
Think about that, eh?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 69 by aiki, posted 07-27-2010 7:00 AM aiki has not replied

  
Huntard
Member (Idle past 2295 days)
Posts: 2870
From: Limburg, The Netherlands
Joined: 09-02-2008


(1)
Message 71 of 72 (570360)
07-27-2010 7:58 AM
Reply to: Message 67 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee
07-27-2010 5:07 AM


I've got a word for you!
Well, two actually.
Confirmation bias.
You see, when you first noticed this, you probably thought to yourself "Hey, that's weird!". And from then on everytime you'd see a woman walking like that, it reinforced your idea that "most women walk like that" because you subconciously ignored the women that walked "normal", since you are used to seeing that everyday.
It's like whne you buy a new car, suddenly you start noticing it alot more around your neigbourhood. Does this mean everybody suddenly bought your car? No, of course not, it's just more promiment to you becuase you "want" to see it.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 67 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-27-2010 5:07 AM Jumped Up Chimpanzee has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 72 by Jumped Up Chimpanzee, posted 07-27-2010 9:37 AM Huntard has not replied

  
Jumped Up Chimpanzee
Member (Idle past 4941 days)
Posts: 572
From: UK
Joined: 10-22-2009


Message 72 of 72 (570382)
07-27-2010 9:37 AM
Reply to: Message 71 by Huntard
07-27-2010 7:58 AM


Re: I've got a word for you!
Confirmation bias.
You see, when you first noticed this, you probably thought to yourself "Hey, that's weird!". And from then on everytime you'd see a woman walking like that, it reinforced your idea that "most women walk like that" because you subconciously ignored the women that walked "normal", since you are used to seeing that everyday.
I'm sure you are right.
The problem is now all I can see is men walking in this manner - I just saw another one at lunchtime!
The beautifully balanced view of the universe that I once held where women walked around clutching imaginary babies and men walked around clutching imaginary spears has collapsed.
Chaos rules.

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 Message 71 by Huntard, posted 07-27-2010 7:58 AM Huntard has not replied

  
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