Here’s how body language experts break them down.
Can body language be gendered?
There are certainly some body language cues that might be more common among women than men and vice versa.
Though whether body language is inherently gendered is more complex.
One of the most common myths is thatonlywomen are fidgeting, playing with hair, or adjusting their outfits.
“When we look at body language, it’s about human body language,” Oud says.
Physical signs a woman might be interested:
Exposing their neck.
Because the neck contains the jugular vein, it’s a vulnerable part of the body.
In an attempt to protect themselves, a person may be inclined to reach for their neck in discomfort.
When they’re feeling comfortable and safe though, they might expose their necks.
Playing with jewelry.
Fidgeting with rings, however, could be a sign of discomfort and nervousness.
Moving objects.
This tends to be a sign of affection among all genders.
Showing facial expressions.
The feedback loop in conversation tends to be more visible in women than men.
Nodding of the head, arching the eyebrows,smiling, or saying things like oh, really?
may be signs of flirtation or interest, Oud explains.
While men do this too, women may be generally more obvious in theirflirty facial expressions.
Playing with hair.
Biting or licking the lips.
Biting the lip can be a sign of nervousness and flirtationsometimes both at the same time, Cobb explains.
“Some women might lick their lips,” she adds.
In some cases, this is done to draw attention to the lips or to moisten them before kissing.
Turning their palms upward.
When interested in someone, a woman might engage in some kind ofphysical touch.
“Men do the same in reverse,” Cobb says.
Changing their voice pitch.
When a woman is excited or interested, her voice may become faster and slightly higher.
Tilting their head.
On a more sensual note, a woman might tilt her chin down slightly, then slowly look up.
The bottom line.
That’s very fair," Cobb says.
Still, avoid making assumptions and always keep the context in mind.
“Just because someone smiles at you doesn’t necessarily mean they like you,” she adds.
Even if some women demonstrate flirting in a specific way, there are always outliers, Cobb adds.
When we stop taking into account people’s unique tendencies, that’s where stereotypes come into play.
