156 I Can Read You Like a Book E
advantage of upper body strength; women do uneven parallel bars
and balance beam to exploit the athletic advantages of their lower
center of gravity. This affects walking and other common movements
in a number of ways.
As a typical American man moves, he will catch his weight on
his heels and roll forward to the balls of his feet. His shoulders are
the eye-catching part of his movement; his hips are typically squared.
When an American woman walks, she is likely to catch her weight
somewhere forward of the heel; many women actually walk on the
balls of their feet. Her hips are the eye-catching part of her move-
ment. While she may pose her shoulders due to good posture or to
give a better look at her assets, those gestures reflect intention, not
an anatomical predisposition.
Exercise
For a woman: Walk with your shoulders squared
and land on your heels, roll your weight to the balls
of your feet with your hips square and no swish. How does that
feel? Even if you think yourself a bit masculine, the movements are
likely uncomfortable physically, because your hips are poorly placed
on the pelvis for this movement. Did you notice how little you use
your shoulders? Now watch other women try this and contrast
with what you see in men.
For a man: Raise the weight from your heels and move it for-
ward to the center or balls of your feet. Lead with your hips and
slightly sway as you walk. Try not to engage your shoulders in a
swagger. (I have made the men’s test easier because our brains
