Walk like a man!

[Papillon]

I was out in role with friends over the weekend and entertained myself by trying out male walks.  I can not learn sequences of dance steps if my life depended on it, but I am not a bad mimic.  So, what I did was spot a man in the crowd (it was a BUSY day) and walk behind him, mimicking his walk.  I did it discretely so he didn't notice (although it did cause my friends untold hilarity).  Anyway, I thought I would share my observations of what this was like and see if anyone else has noticed the same.

Firstly, I woke up the next morning with muscles aching in places I never expected them to ache, notably the thighs and abdomen.  This made me realise that the process of a male walk is based on a different muscle pattern to mine.

What I noticed was that most men walked with their pelvises thrust forwards (I tend to tip mine back, arse out), their central areas (the lower abdomen and pelvic areas) held fairly rigid (mine move freely in a rather femmy, hip-swingy way), legs are slightly futher apart than mine would normally be (wearing a packer helped me realise the reason for this), toes pointed out further than mine would normally do, chest thrust out and up, but shoulders slumped down and forwards (not easy to do, I tell you!).

If I were to characterise the male walk as compared with my usual walk, it would be like comparing a dog with a cat, if that makes sense.

And I don't know if you do this, but when I am trying to mimic a voice, I start with a certain catch phrase that sort of kicks it off.  I have decided that my male walk "catch phrase" is walking downstairs.  It seems to involve an exaggeration of all the above.  Hold body in straight line, leaning back slightly.  Raise knees with them pointing slightly outwards.  Step down stairs with toes pointing slightly outwards.  Oh, and don't hold onto the handrail.  It must be a clear sign of masculine weakness to do so

Anyone have any other observations on walking like a man?

[Shang]

A lot of men seem to have this "cocky" strut when they walk, whether they're conscious of doing this or not is up for debate.  It kind of makes me giggle and I can't mimic it without laughing, at least inwardly.  An exaggerated version would be watching Vince McMahnn of WWE, though it's a lot like the walks I see here.

[Between Names]

From my experience, it's best not to try too hard to mimic a man's walk.  I just walk in a way that's comfortable to me, and I've found that my legs only stay close together, and my hips only swing when I actually make them.  Otherwise they just naturally stay more masculine.  That's all I worry about, because if it doesn't come naturally to me I don't want to force myself to walk in a weird way.

(Oh, and if your muscles are sore after walking differently, maybe you should work out a little bit. )

[Tozzle]

Bit off topic as this isn't walking advice as such... I was once hoiked out of the line of kids coming in from lunch at primary school and asked to walk down the hallway in front of the Head and another teacher... 'doesn't she walk like her dad' they commented loudly to one another.  The walking demo was a bit embarrassing (luckily I was once of the last ones in and wasn't with people from the rest of my class) but it didn't occur to me for a minute I should be walking in any other way and secretly I was quite pleased

[GnomeKid]

wow.

I don't think I've ever actively analyzed the way men walk.  I suppose I've always had a manly gate though... At least my friends have joked around with me about it in the past.

My one friend recently told me that when he mentioned/was describing me once to some people one of the girls in our department said that I walked like I should be 6ft tall and ripped.  I'm not sure what that means, but I think I'll take it as a compliment?

[Between Names]

That's pretty interesting Tozzle.   I remember I used to have a boyish walk when I was little, and combined with the feminine clothes my mom wanted me to wear, I must have looked pretty silly.  I was once walking through Target with my hands in my pockets, and my mom told me "STOP walking like that!  You look like a boy!"  I didn't really feel pleased at all though, since I was raised Catholic and used to be kind of afraid of my mom. D:  We get along much better now that I'm a little older and an atheist.  Hahaha

[Tozzle]

I'm not sure what that means, but I think I'll take it as a compliment?

I would, definitely!

[Papillon]

LOL Shang!  I know what you mean!  And there are other exagerrated walks that make me laugh, like the goth guy's swinging lope, or the tough guy's knuckle-dragging lurch.  I think I could acquire a whole repertoire of these, for use on different occassions!

LucienOctopus, I am very aware that, over the years, I have almost consciously managed my body movements to be acceptably feminine.  I have now truly forgotten what it is to be "natural" in any way.  This is providing a good opportunity to try out alternatives.  I suspect I will settle into some compromise position that my body and I are happy with. 

And as for the muscles aching, I am a big walker and can go for literally miles without feeling it.  However, walking in a different way to what I am used to must have required me to use a different set of muscles to the ones I usually use.  Man walk muscles.  It was these that were aching, I believe.

Tozzle, that is outrageous!  Fish a child out of the crowd and make it demonstrate how different it is!  Cruel.  But good for you for being pleased.

[Shang]

LOL Shang!  I know what you mean!  And there are other exagerrated walks that make me laugh, like the goth guy's swinging lope, or the tough guy's knuckle-dragging lurch.  I think I could acquire a whole repertoire of these, for use on different occassions!

Totally! 

I wish I could do a "man" walk naturally, but I can't seem to pull it off due to physical constraints.  I only get told I look like I'm marching or walk like a horse...though, I'll admit, I have that model walk that most girls try for.  Except I get it naturally. 

[spacial]

The differences between men's and women's gaits is down to physiology.

A man tends to have narrow hips with a big sensitive bit in the middle. He needs to push his knees out a bit and will tend to walk so each foot swings slightly diagonal.

A woman tends to have wide hips. Also, they tend to be a bit selsitive, or perhaps, self conscious about what's in between. So women will tend to walk with their knees closer together. I've seen a lot of women whose knees are almost bent inward. They tend to walk in a straight line.

Men tend to take large steps and lean slightly back.

To #3. When I was younger, I often heard people saying my walk was not very manly. Though the word they tended to use was poofy.

Strange how these peculairities are preceived differently between males and females.

[owl]

I tried to walk with my pelvis thrust forward, and i just look silly, haha.

[Turtle]

Oh dear! This thread has made me chuckle. Years ago I was told I 'walked like a bloke', but now my girlfriend tells me I walk like an angry lesbian. Apparently I lead with my shoulders. I did try leading with my hips, but just ended up like Garth doing his 'Foxy Lady' dance (Wayne's World FTW).

[Tozzle]

I think the speed you're walking and how purposeful your walk is (compared to your usual relaxed gait) may well determine which bit of your body leads.... walking fast and leading with my head once lead to a nasty collision with my brother, after which I had to sit with a bag of frozen peas on my head to try and bring the bruise down.

Maybe there are as many different walks as there are bipeds and they can be roughly grouped together in genres (like catwalk model, angry lesbian, surfer dude, high powered executive etc.)?

[zombiesarepeaceful]

I try my best to stand tall, even though I'm always somewhat self conscious of my chest.

I've been told all my life even since childhood that I "walk like a farmer". Those were my mom's words. I guess I do. It got even worse when I transitioned cause I didn't try to supress my male tendencies anymore. I walk with a swivel...hard to explain...I sorta sway or move half my body instead of just my leg when I walk. Idk why. It's a habit. It's definitely a male walk though. It's more of a..."don't mess with me"...stance.
Post Merge: June 28, 2010, 12:29:12 PM
I try my best to stand tall, even though I'm always somewhat self conscious of my chest.

I've been told all my life even since childhood that I "walk like a farmer". Those were my mom's words. I guess I do. It got even worse when I transitioned cause I didn't try to supress my male tendencies anymore. I walk with a swivel...hard to explain...I sorta sway or move half my body instead of just my leg when I walk. Idk why. It's a habit. It's definitely a male walk though. It's more of a..."don't mess with me"...stance.

[owl]

everyone i know, says i walk like Shaggy from scooby doo. :l fml

[Papillon]

everyone i know, says i walk like Shaggy from scooby doo. :l fml

LOL!  But that is an exagerration of the exact body posture we have been talking about!  Pelvis forwards, slouched shoulders.  You've cracked it!  Just tone it down a bit now, eh?

[Turtle]

LOL!  But that is an exagerration of the exact body posture we have been talking about!  Pelvis forwards, slouched shoulders.  You've cracked it!  Just tone it down a bit now, eh?

Shaggy: the FTM role-model 

[Nathan.]

Shaggy: the FTM role-model 

haha 

[Wolf Man]

As a child I would mimic the stance of Goku in Dragon Ball Z. I still to this day stand with my hips forward and upper body leaned back. 

Also, this.

A lot of men seem to have this "cocky" strut when they walk, whether they're conscious of doing this or not is up for debate.

I do have a "cocky strut" in my opinion and I am highly conscious of it when I begin to think about it, but otherwise it's just another part of my person.

[Al James]

I too have been told off forever for the way i walk- apparently 'ladies' don't walk with their hands in their pockets or shoulders hunched or walk with a swagger. Well that would explain why i'm not a lady!!!!