In our patriarchal society, men do not step aside to let women pass. They are the dominant ones and rule the public space as they rule the rest of the world; with arrogance and aggressiveness.  It is up to women to move aside, to change their trajectory to let them pass.

Manspreading is an attitude men incorporate when occupying public spaces: sitting with their legs wide open, encroaching on the space of the people sitting next to them, especially in public transports.

Men spread out, extending their bodies and occupying as much space as possible; as an unconscious metaphor of their illegitimate power over others.

The position of the elbows is an inverted proposal to manspreading: instead of a seated man opening his legs broadly, it is here a woman standing and moving, spreading her elbows to reclaim her place in the streets.

The elbow position takes up the characteristics of manspreading: the spreading out of the body in space, a body attitude expressing self-confidence, a rootedness that seems unshakeable and physical power. Both require an adaptation of the behavior of others: the extra space arrogated encroaches on the collective space; the result is an unequal distribution in favor of the most spread out bodies, i.e. the dominant bodies.

Is raising my elbows enough to make me a dominant body in public space?

​