Girls and women close their legs for a variety of reasons, often intertwined with societal expectations, comfort, and personal preference. It's not a singular action with one definitive cause.
Societal Expectations and Modesty
- Maintaining modesty: Historically, and in some cultures still today, women are taught to keep their legs closed as a display of modesty and to avoid drawing unwanted attention. This is linked to the idea of maintaining a "ladylike" image. As noted in a Reddit discussion (https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/chqtjv/why_do_girls_frequently_cross_their_legs_when/), leg-crossing was taught to foster gender conformity.
- Clothing: The type of clothing worn significantly influences leg positioning. Shorter skirts or dresses often necessitate leg crossing for comfort and modesty. A Quora user mentioned this (https://www.quora.com/Why-do-women-always-close-their-legs-while-sitting), explaining that leg-closing became a habit from wearing skirts in school to prevent undergarments from being visible.
- Polite behavior: In some contexts, closing legs is associated with politeness and taking up less space. A source notes that young girls are more often reprimanded for not adhering to this perceived social etiquette ([Reference 1: 01-Aug-2019]).
Comfort and Physical Reasons
- Comfort and posture: Crossing legs can be a comfortable and stable sitting position for many people, regardless of gender. It can improve balance and support the body's weight.
- Habit: Like any repeated action, closing legs can become a subconscious habit.
- Medical Conditions: While not always the case, underlying medical conditions such as knock knees (genu valgum), which are slightly more common in girls (https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/knock-knees), might influence leg positioning.
Other Factors
- Personal preference: Ultimately, some women may simply prefer to sit with their legs closed due to personal comfort or preference.
- Contextual factors: The situation itself plays a role. Leg positioning might change based on the environment, who is present, and the level of formality.
It is important to remember that the reasons for leg closing are diverse and multifaceted, influenced by both cultural norms and individual circumstances.
