Manspreading is the act of infringing on another person’s personal space with body parts
Credit:Flickr
Brenda, a Nebraska traveller, recently took to Facebook to vent about an inconsiderate fellow passenger on a flight. His crime? Manspreading.
Manspreading is the act of sitting with legs wide apart, often infringing on the personal space of those seated next to you. It is a social misstep that can be commited by any gender.
Brenda’s frustration resonated with many. The post ignited a firestorm of comments condemning the man s behaviour. Commenters slammed him as gross, selfish, and lacking in cabin etiquette. The sentiment was clear: a stranger s leg in your personal space is unacceptable.
Strategies to re-claim personal space
The discussion quickly pivoted to a broader issue: why do some feel entitled to take up more than their share of airplane seating?
Some particpants advocated for pushing back, literally and figuratively, against such behaviour. Several women shared strategies for claiming their rightful space, from pre-emptively placing a leg at the boundary to booking aisle seats.
Janet Lucas Lintala, author of The Un-Prescription for Autism, recently said on Facebook – “As a female traveller, I’m used to taking up less space and I really needed that skill today. I saw this “space invader” coming and as he got seated next to me, I turned to him with my best southern smile and brightly said, “I bet you want one of these!” as I pulled the armrest down between us. That got his left arm and the bulk of his upper body off of me. Only had to deal with the manspreading after that! At one point he straightened his left leg and extended it into my foot well! Are they REALLY that oblivious to it????
A challenge for tall passengers
Many blamed airlines for shrinking seat sizes, contributing to the discomfort. Greedy airlines and ridiculously small seating were recurring themes. The challenge for tall passengers was also acknowledged, with some suggesting airlines offer improved seating options.
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