Female Group Analysis

The female group are more familiar with the room and study their regularly.  The way their work is laid out is interesting because they are claiming the entire area of the group desk, with work overlapping.  This suggests that the group are more connected, but this may not be the case. 

Female 1 within the group has a desk entirely to herself and her caption states that she likes to ‘take up space.  Her wording suggests she like to be in control as she is taking the space, rather than claiming to like to spread out, or needing lots of space.  However, it may equally be in order to create distance between herself and her classmates.  This could be for any number of reasons.  The position that female 1 has taken at the area is at the head of the table and with her back to the door.  This may suggest that she is unconcerned about who may come into the room without her seeing in terms of an authoritative figure, but it certainly implies that she is comfortable in the room and her group.

The separation and resulting proximity of females 2, 3 and 4 implies that female 1 is of greater significance within the group, whereas the others are equal as they have divided their space equally.  The seemingly practical positions of the females, one on each side of a square table, is also a form of control as this way anyone wishing to work on the table must come between them. 

The females are controlling more space than the table by having jackets draped over the backs of chairs.  Also, by having bags and clothing conspicuously placed, they extend the area which someone outside of the group must step around in order to travel in the room or must step into to join the group.  Therefore, these items act like defences.  An excellent example is female 1’s very large bag propped against the table.  This bag is balanced and it would appear more practical to place the bag under the table or tucked in the corner where it is less likely to fall or be damaged by knocking.  However, balanced next to female one it prevents anyone approaching her from her left side, including her group members.

Female 3 is creating a similar situation, but in a less obvious way by having her clothing draped over her chair and leaving an article on the floor around her chair.  The fact that it is on the floor implies that keeping her space contained is not important and therefore the article has not been noticed.  Alternatively, has it been noticed, but deemed unimportant enough to rectify?  The second suggestion implies conscious space taking, which also demonstrates the females’ implied ownership of space within the study room.  This is indicated again by the satchel that is leaned against the wall, visible behind the chair of female 3.  The positioning of this bag makes it awkward for someone to approach female 4 because it obstructs the path.  It is impossible to see if female 2 has any space claiming methods.

The females have a bottle of juice on the table in a gesture that is defiant of the rules that state food and drink are not allowed.  However, this may well imply that, despite the rules, the social norms within this particular space make drinking a bottle of juice acceptable.  What this demonstrates is the females’ awareness of the social norms within the room.

The captions for these photographs were also influenced by my explanation of the process I was completing, but less so than with the male group.  Female 1’s statement ‘I like to take up space’ was as influential if not more so.  Female 2 starts her caption in with the same words as female 1, as do females 3 and 4.  Female 2 is more subtle in her claiming of space, by implying she likes to spread out, she is suggesting that she does it when it is appropriate, rather than all the time regardless of others.  Female 3 sounds defensive by stating that she likes to ‘have somewhere to study’ she is implying that her use of the space is because she likes to have a designated place, but her statement, ‘studyroom can be very busy at times’ implies that she is justified in taking extra space because if she doesn’t claim it someone else will. 

Female 4’s statement is interesting because it is a combination of female 1 and female 2’s responses.  This is a form of compliment and deference as she deems their responses more valid than coming up with one of her own.