Comments on: Gender Differences: Male Body Language http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/ tools, systems and strategies to help you write your novel Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Learn to Write Fiction » Blog Archive » Winner of Day 1 Giveaway Book http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Learn to Write Fiction » Blog Archive » Winner of Day 1 Giveaway Book Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:23:09 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-178 [...] the lucky winner of the Day 1 Giveaway book Lessons From a Lifetime of Writing by David Morrell is…. [...] [...] the lucky winner of the Day 1 Giveaway book Lessons From a Lifetime of Writing by David Morrell is…. [...]

]]> By: Cheryl http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Cheryl Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:11:26 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-163 Lavern - that is interesting. I've never noticed how people hold coffee cups... something to watch for at work today! Soleil - I agree.. I'm going to be watching people more now, too. Kaitlin - I think you're exactly right on that Handshake/Hug maneuver. Holding the hand is probably done as a defensive move being so close to another man. Rachel - Thanks for stopping by! Anna - You mention some very good points for how a writer can use these to create tension in a story--by giving one gender the characteristics of the opposite sex. Would make for an interesting tale! Margay - Glad to hear this was helpful. Another tool for the writer's toolbox! Thanks again to everyone who has stopped by and thrown their name in the hat. I'm closing the comments now and will draw the winner when I get home from work this afternoon. Have a great day everyone! Lavern – that is interesting. I’ve never noticed how people hold coffee cups… something to watch for at work today!

Soleil – I agree.. I’m going to be watching people more now, too.

Kaitlin – I think you’re exactly right on that Handshake/Hug maneuver. Holding the hand is probably done as a defensive move being so close to another man.

Rachel – Thanks for stopping by!

Anna – You mention some very good points for how a writer can use these to create tension in a story–by giving one gender the characteristics of the opposite sex. Would make for an interesting tale!

Margay – Glad to hear this was helpful. Another tool for the writer’s toolbox!

Thanks again to everyone who has stopped by and thrown their name in the hat. I’m closing the comments now and will draw the winner when I get home from work this afternoon. Have a great day everyone!

]]> By: Margay http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Margay Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:35:32 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-162 Well, this is a post I'm going to bookmark and refer back to often! Thanks for helping to decode male behavior! Well, this is a post I’m going to bookmark and refer back to often! Thanks for helping to decode male behavior!

]]> By: Anna Feruglio Dal Dan http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Anna Feruglio Dal Dan Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:34:12 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-161 Actually, I have most of these body language tics, especially the dominant posturings. I realize that since I started working in a formal setting I have had to tone them down, but when not at work, I still put my thumbs in my pockets, put my hands behind my head with elbows wide, and so on. The only thing I never do is sitting astraddle a chair. But then, in many non obvious ways I am very much a lad, despite being very feminine in appearence (I can fix things, I do DIY, I carry heavy stuff by myself, I walk alone at night, things like that.) And I watch porn. :-) I don't know what this means, but I will point out that if - like me - you are writing science fiction, and if you are writing about societies where gender differences are much attenuated, one way of showing it subliminally is to give women this kind of body language. Or it might just mean that men are typically more self-confident than women in this society and therefore use self-confident body language. Actually, I have most of these body language tics, especially the dominant posturings. I realize that since I started working in a formal setting I have had to tone them down, but when not at work, I still put my thumbs in my pockets, put my hands behind my head with elbows wide, and so on. The only thing I never do is sitting astraddle a chair. But then, in many non obvious ways I am very much a lad, despite being very feminine in appearence (I can fix things, I do DIY, I carry heavy stuff by myself, I walk alone at night, things like that.)
And I watch porn. :-)

I don’t know what this means, but I will point out that if – like me – you are writing science fiction, and if you are writing about societies where gender differences are much attenuated, one way of showing it subliminally is to give women this kind of body language.

Or it might just mean that men are typically more self-confident than women in this society and therefore use self-confident body language.

]]> By: Rachel Green http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Rachel Green Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:45:14 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-159 That was fascinating. I recognised each one as I read them, picturing men doing exactly that. Thanks. That was fascinating. I recognised each one as I read them, picturing men doing exactly that. Thanks.

]]> By: Kaitlin http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Kaitlin Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:38:55 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-158 The one aspect of male bonding I've always found interesting was the man clasp. The guys grab hands like they're going to shake and hold that grasp as they lean in and hug (kind of). Hard to describe, but I'm sure you all know what I mean. I find it interesting that even though the men are hugging, they're still holding the other's hand as if to keep them from stabbing them in the back (so to speak). Great topic! Saving this in my favorites while working on my hero. :) The one aspect of male bonding I’ve always found interesting was the man clasp. The guys grab hands like they’re going to shake and hold that grasp as they lean in and hug (kind of). Hard to describe, but I’m sure you all know what I mean. I find it interesting that even though the men are hugging, they’re still holding the other’s hand as if to keep them from stabbing them in the back (so to speak). Great topic! Saving this in my favorites while working on my hero. :)

]]> By: Soleil Noir http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Soleil Noir Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:48:52 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-156 ok, I knew some of these but not most. Such as the mirroring gestures when courting. Makes me want to do some people watching the next time I'm in a public place. *g* Fascinating stuff and very helpful, thanks! ok, I knew some of these but not most. Such as the mirroring gestures when courting. Makes me want to do some people watching the next time I’m in a public place. *g*

Fascinating stuff and very helpful, thanks!

]]> By: Lavern http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Lavern Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:59:27 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-155 I think this is an interesting topic. I read about a potter who studied how people hold cups so he could design better handles for his cups. Men usually hold cups/mugs with their thumbs on top of the handle and grasp it so they have to raise their elbow as they drink. Women and elderly or sick men tend to hold cups/mugs with their thumbs toward them and lift only their forearms while holding their elbows close to their bodies. Please throw my name in the hat. I think this is an interesting topic. I read about a potter who studied how people hold cups so he could design better handles for his cups. Men usually hold cups/mugs with their thumbs on top of the handle and grasp it so they have to raise their elbow as they drink. Women and elderly or sick men tend to hold cups/mugs with their thumbs toward them and lift only their forearms while holding their elbows close to their bodies.

Please throw my name in the hat.

]]> By: Cheryl http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Cheryl Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:21:47 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-154 That's a good point, Page. I think that boys or young men might use more pronounced behaviors, with age perhaps mellowing some of the blatant displays. That's my guess. Personality probably influences it as well. If a man is more of a beta male with a laid-back manner, he might still use some of the postures, but less obviously. That’s a good point, Page. I think that boys or young men might use more pronounced behaviors, with age perhaps mellowing some of the blatant displays. That’s my guess.

Personality probably influences it as well. If a man is more of a beta male with a laid-back manner, he might still use some of the postures, but less obviously.

]]> By: Page Traynor http://www.learntowritefiction.com/gender-differences-male-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-153 Page Traynor Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:55:02 +0000 http://www.learntowritefiction.com/?p=50#comment-153 Do you think that an age different affects any of this? Wonderful information. Page T. Do you think that an age different affects any of this? Wonderful information.

Page T.

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