The Importance Of Proxemics

Decent Essays
Proxemics, “the study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain (as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to environmental and cultural factors” (merriam-webster), is a versatile tool applicable when analyzing daily interpersonal encounters. Mass transportation in New York City, namely the Subway, is a perfect location for this form of targeted observation as it exists as common denominator for every demographic and person who is a resident. By looking at proxemics, or the violation of rules associated with proxemics, two factors immediately come into play: gender and class, or more so the perceptions of each. Man spreading, a phenomenon deeply penetrated into our cultural zeitgeist, is a top offender for violation of proximity. It is commonly visible and an insight into the gendered relationship of space that shapes our social encounters. From the policing of behaviors from childhood to the effects of our cisheteropatriarchal culture, the molds of men and women have conversely differing modes of socialization that create ideal …show more content…
Non verbal cues, or lack there of, such as eye contact also help further this in instances when downtrodden people campaign for donations or emit an offensive odor. Most people either looked down or away, occupying themselves by appearing busy when those presumably homeless and visibly struggling kindly ask for assistance. In the case of passengers who either smelled, looked especially disheveled or perhaps excreted, commuters vehemently distanced themselves from the social offenders in mass, often non verbally acknowledging the burden on their commute. This separation due to artifacts significant of class show a nearly universal distain or uncomfortableness when people are faced with who would be deemed an

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