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Body language: Difference between revisions
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'''Body language''' is a kind of talk without words (nonverbal communication), in which a human or other animal shows their thoughts, intentions, and feelings by the way they position and move their body. It doesn't have a grammar, and much of it is instinctive. Because of this, it's not a true language, like sign language. Nonetheless, it's the biggest part of how people give messages about themselves and how they relate to others. Some things about body language are the same in every culture, such as natural facial expressions. Other things about it can be different in each [[culture]], group, and time period, such as hand gestures, and some things regulated by etiquette. Some things about body language are intentional, and others are not. The study of body language is called kinesics. Some parts of [[voice and speech]] can be thought of as body language. | r'''Body language''' is a kind of talk without words (nonverbal communication), in which a human or other animal shows their thoughts, intentions, and feelings by the way they position and move their body. It doesn't have a grammar, and much of it is instinctive. Because of this, it's not a true language, like sign language. Nonetheless, it's the biggest part of how people give messages about themselves and how they relate to others. Some things about body language are the same in every culture, such as natural facial expressions. Other things about it can be different in each [[culture]], group, and time period, such as hand gestures, and some things regulated by etiquette. Some things about body language are intentional, and others are not. The study of body language is called kinesics. Some parts of [[voice and speech]] can be thought of as body language. | ||
Some parts of body language is gendered, meaning that it is seen as having to do with gender. Body language is a part of [[gender expression]], how people show their [[gender]] to others. When a person acts in a way that is seen as [[feminine]], [[masculine]], both, or neither, they influence whether people are likely to see them as a [[woman]], [[man]], or [[androgynous]]. A person whose [[gender identity]] is [[nonbinary]] may want to be seen as any of these, depending on how that one person feels. (Gender identity is how a person feels about their gender.) They can use body language to help others see and understand their gender in the way they want it to be seen and understood. As with any part of gender expression, though, it isn't the same as gender identity. For example, having feminine body language doesn't necessarily mean that someone identifies as a woman. They may just prefer using body language that happens to be seen as feminine. For transgender people of all kinds, body language is part of [[passing]], being seen as the gender that they identify as. As such, it can be a matter of personal safety: some people decide they have to change some things about their body language just so it will be likely that they could be victims of [[Cissexism|transphobic]] harassment or violence. Sometimes this means they decide to use different body language than they would like. | Some parts of body language is gendered, meaning that it is seen as having to do with gender. Body language is a part of [[gender expression]], how people show their [[gender]] to others. When a person acts in a way that is seen as [[feminine]], [[masculine]], both, or neither, they influence whether people are likely to see them as a [[woman]], [[man]], or [[androgynous]]. A person whose [[gender identity]] is [[nonbinary]] may want to be seen as any of these, depending on how that one person feels. (Gender identity is how a person feels about their gender.) They can use body language to help others see and understand their gender in the way they want it to be seen and understood. As with any part of gender expression, though, it isn't the same as gender identity. For example, having feminine body language doesn't necessarily mean that someone identifies as a woman. They may just prefer using body language that happens to be seen as feminine. For transgender people of all kinds, body language is part of [[passing]], being seen as the gender that they identify as. As such, it can be a matter of personal safety: some people decide they have to change some things about their body language just so it will be likely that they could be victims of [[Cissexism|transphobic]] harassment or violence. Sometimes this means they decide to use different body language than they would like. | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Practical | * [[Practical resources]] | ||
* [[Voice and speech]] | * [[Voice and speech]] | ||
* [[Gender neutral language]] | * [[Gender neutral language]] | ||