Why do males and females sit differently?

And what about cross-legged cultures? Photograph: Simon Marcus/Corbis

While recently invigilating public examinations, I noticed that in almost all cases the young women sat with one leg crossed over the other, while the young men sat legs akimbo. Given that they were all in the same age group, and the desks and chairs were identical, is this an instinctive action – ie girls protecting their “bits” by hiding them away, and boys by avoiding crushing theirs? If so, what about cultures where people sit cross-legged on the ground? Nature or nurture? Has there been any research?

Jane Ghosh, Bristol

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