Manspreading: Power pose or health myth?

Whether you’re on the bus or taking a train, the chances are that something about the public will annoy you at some point. It could be loud talkers, smelly food, or even smellier people, but one such behaviour that always raises a massive debate is manspreading.

Although there’s not much data on how many are doing it, a 2017 study of the London Underground found that 71% of commuters found it fairly or very annoying [1]. So, let’s go into everything you need to know about manspreading, why people do it, and whether it’s more than just a male power pose.

What is manspreading?

Manspreading, or man-sitting, is the practice of sitting with your legs spread wide and taking up more personal space than you’d otherwise need to on public transport [2]. Unsurprisingly, taller blokes are likelier to do this than shorter ones when trying to squeeze into a tiny seat on public transport. It's only natural that without your ankles crossed and your legs wide apart, you'd be moving into the adjacent seat.

When seating comes at a premium on the morning run to work or school, it’s not difficult to see how taking up as much space as possible could get on some people’s wick.

How did the term ‘manspreading’ come about? 

Taking up so much space isn’t exactly new, but the term first came up in early 2013 on Tumblr and Twitter. Popular pages like “Men Taking Up Too Much Space on the Train” started using the term, and it spread like wildfire at a time when women’s rights were front and centre of global discourse [3].

What really made it a global thing, though, was when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City officially acknowledged it. It was followed by MTA campaigns encouraging men to display better manners, making “manspreading” a mainstream term in this social setting [4].

By August 2015, the Oxford Dictionary had added manspreading as an official word. While the term might have dropped off since then, it’s firmly a part of the debate about courtesy on public transport.

Why do men take up so much space on public transport?

Let’s get one thing straight. Yes, some blokes just aren’t paying much attention to their fellow commuters. There are those people, but there’s also a scientific reason behind it, making it an inherently gendered issue. And, no, it’s not purely because your balls need more space to breathe.

Mark Skinner, writing for Roubini Global Economics, said that it’s actually due to the physical gender differences between men and women, and not sitting with your legs crossed or straight is actually the least-stressed sitting position. For example, the average man’s shoulders are 28% wider than their hips, compared to just 3% wider for women. Furthermore, a man’s knees tend to protrude more than a woman’s, so sitting at an angle can prevent collisions with other passengers [5].

In other words, if a male tried to sit with their legs together, their torso probably wouldn’t fit in the top half of the seat. Plus, the male wouldn’t be able to use their legs for stability, which automatically triggers resistance, thus creating tension. Some even say it could cause issues like hip impingement or hip dysplasia. And, let’s be honest, seats on public transport just aren’t designed for larger individuals to cram into. 

Aside from the physical side, there’s also a sociological side to this stress-free position. The so-called power pose is supposedly a form of flirtation or a way to increase romantic desirability. But what does the science say?

As it turns out, this is actually true for men. According to a UC Berkeley study, expansive postures, such as spreading your legs, increased romantic desirability by 87% [6]. With that in mind, there is something to the idea of the male power pose.

Can manspreading help with ED or PE?

Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are just some of the issues affecting Aussie blokes in the bedroom. If you’re suffering from one of these conditions, or even both, you’re not alone.

Approximately 20-40% of men globally are estimated to have some form of premature ejaculation problem [7]. In contrast, around 322 million men around the world have erectile dysfunction [8].

You’ve probably heard a lot about blood flow and the pelvic floor for dealing with these conditions. However, there’s no medical evidence to show that manspreading helps either of these problems. How you sit for short commutes on public transport simply doesn’t have any impact whatsoever, based on the evidence we have.

But there is proof that encompassing pelvic floor muscle training can improve erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and other sex-related disorders [8]. In short, if you’re focused on manspreading as a cure-all, you’re looking in the wrong place.

The science behind posture and blood flow

Now, why are we talking about the pelvic floor?

Firstly, your pelvic floor is a group of ligaments, muscles, and connective tissue that support the bowel, bladder, and prostate. When these muscles aren’t contracting and relaxing correctly, you’re going to have some form of dysfunction [9].

Specifically, here’s how it affects your sexual ability:

• Erectile Dysfunction – A weak or tight pelvic floor affects blood flow and nerve signals, which can make it a battle to get and maintain an erection.
• Premature Ejaculation – Any changes to the tone of the pelvic muscles can alter ejaculation control and timing. It can also result in the opposite problem of delayed ejaculation.

Your posture directly impacts your pelvic floor muscles. And it’s not just sexual dysfunction you have to worry about. A weak or misfiring pelvic floor can lead to problems like constipation, incontinence, slow digestion, and heartburn [10].

So, how you sit and carry yourself really does affect how your body functions.

Could posture really affect pelvic health?

Posture has an enormous impact on your pelvic health. If you’ve been spending years not paying attention to your posture, you’re inviting problems by disrupting the alignment of the abdominal wall, pelvic floor muscles, and diaphragm. 

You’re also increasing the pressure on the pelvic floor, resulting in muscle weakness and chronic pain, alongside sexual dysfunction [11]. In short, the pelvic muscles eventually become able to contract or relax like they’re supposed to do.

And it’s not just how you sit, either. According to one study, prolonged standing with poor posture can still cause the same muscle weakness and chronic pelvic pain [12].

Is manspreading socially accepted?

Manspreading has never been an acceptable practice on busy public transport. It’s considered rude because you’re invading someone else’s space by doing it. Of course, if it’s quiet, there’s no issue, but doing it during peak hours is likely to lead to some glares coming your way.

Some cities have taken it even further, with Madrid, Spain, banning it on all city buses in June 2017. New York City in the U.S. have had an active campaign against it since 2014, alongside other cities like Philadelphia and Seattle. Interestingly, Japan has been putting up signs against manspreading since the 1970s.

Better alternatives to improve circulation and confidence

Spreading yourself out on your way to the daily grind isn’t a miracle cure. Luckily, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction aren’t incurable problems. Focusing on improving circulation and confidence could result in changes to your sexual outlook.

The answer isn’t straightforward, but it does involve a combination of lifestyle changes. According to Harvard Health, here are the top five ways to gradually improve circulation over time and renew your confidence in the bedroom [13]:

• Take Up Exercise – Getting your heart pumping through consistent, moderate-intensity exercise can be as simple as a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day. Try getting off the bus a stop or two early and walking the rest of the way. This strengthens your heart and pumps blood through the pelvic region, potentially reducing ED risk by up to 41%.
• Try Pelvic Floor Exercises – Known as Kegels, these exercises strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor. They’re easy enough to perform and have shown to be effective at improving ejaculation control and maintaining erections.
• Improve Your Diet – Like so many problems in life, changing your diet is a great way of tackling this problem. Instead of greasy burgers and kebabs, add more antioxidant and nitrate-rich foods to your diet to boost blood flow. Examples include kale, berries, spinach, and citrus fruits.
• Manage Your Stress Levels – Life’s tough, and that’s not good for your private life. You can reduce many ED and PE symptoms and stave off problems like performance anxiety by becoming a calmer you. Whether it’s deep breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation, take up a new habit to keep those stress levels down.
• Cut Those Vices – Smoking and alcohol are two vices that will always make it difficult to maintain blood flow. If you can quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake, you might see an improvement in your performance.
• When to see a doctor about ED or PE

ED and PE can be managed through lifestyle changes and becoming a healthier version of yourself, but if you’re concerned or not seeing results, it might be time to speak to your GP.

Your next steps depend on the specific problems you’re having. With a medical professional on your side, they can lay out your options and help you decide whether a medically-backed program like Pilot’s ED treatment or speaking to a sex therapist might help.

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