Folklore Form/Genre: Chinse gesture/mannerism                  Informant: Shelly Wang

Name: Crossing Legs/ublointing Feet is a negative gesture    Place of Discovery: Hanover, NH

Informant Data: Shelly Wang is a Chinese-American girl from Princeton, NJ. She was brought up in a strict Chinese household. Her mother is from Shanghai and her father is from Wuhan. Shelly cannot remember the exact setting in which she learned that crossing your legs and pointing your feet toward someone is a rude gesture. However, she does recall that she learned this negative gesture when she was a child. Currently, she is a sophomore at Dartmouth College and plans on majoring in Economics.

Contextual Data:

Social Context: I collected this piece of folklore from Shelly while visiting her in North Massachusetts Hall. I met with her in the building’s common room, where I asked her to discuss a variety of rude Chinese gestures. One gesture she mentioned regarded the way in which individuals sit. She claimed that individuals are not supposed to sit cross-legged and align or point their feet at other individuals, especially if they are lying back or are in direct line with someone. Shelly does not remember exactly where she learned this gesture. However, she remembers learning a variety of cultural Chinese mannerisms as a child. No individual should ever point his or her feet at another individual in the presence of anyone in any circumstance. However, she insisted that it was particularly bad to do so in the presence of elders.

Cultural Context: There are a variety of mannerisms and gestures in Chinese culture that are inappropriate, ranging from dining habits to posture. Shelly later explained to me that gesturing toward someone with your feet (especially while lying back or crossing legs) is seen as disrespectful because it is far too lazy and nonchalant of a movement.

 Item: The items presented here are an audio tape and photo of an individual discussing a variety of rude mannerisms/gestures in Chinese culture. I recorded this interview and took the photo on an iPhone. All of the information provided is an accurate depiction of the knowledge I gained while speaking with Shelly.

Transcript: 

“You technically shouldn’t cross your legs if you’re in direct line with someone else, especially if it’s like an older person or someone who’s superior to you. You definitely wouldn’t want to be leaning back with your feet pointed toward someone who’s superior to you.

Informant’s Comments:

This isn’t really a cultural manner that applies to the U.S., but it sort of reinforces the importance of posture and respect in Chinese society.

Collector’s Comments: 

I find it very interesting that it is impolite to cross your legs and point your feet in Chinese culture. Personally, I cross my legs fairly frequently so this would have to be a manner I change if I ever travel to China. It is not seen as a rude gesture to Americans (at least in Michigan, where I grew up)

Tags/Keywords:

• Gestures
• China
• Insulting
• Legs
• Cross
• Feet