Men and women all have their own personal bubbles. This falls under the nonverbal style of proxemics. Proxemics studies how we use personal space. Every person has a different personal bubble, which is how close they will let other people physically get to them before they get uncomfortable. Personal bubbles can demonstrate how much a person likes another person. They are not going to let someone they do not care for stand extremely close to them, while with a person they like that may not matter as much. Personal bubbles for people can also experience some territoriality, which is the space we protect from invasion by others. Many people are uncomfortable with letting others in their personal bubble, so they guard it. Men and women guard their personal spaces differently. The space surrounding women is more public, while the immediate space surrounding men is more private.
Gamble, T. K., & Gamble, M. W (2003). The gender communication connection. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
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