Connection of the Rulebook to Larger Social Context/Theme

Gender 

    When thinking about gender, there is the notion that women are typically more cautious or fearful if they are by themselves or with an unknown male. If you are in a small space like an elevator, there are often awkward situations that make many people feel uncomfortable. Most men don’t have to worry about concerns like these if they are riding in an elevator or walking by themselves. For many women, they often feel intimidated or awkward when riding an elevator with a man. When a woman is riding an elevator with a man, there is the typical fear of the man looking at her or trying to pursue her. While a lot of people feel more comfortable riding by themselves, it can also cause nervousness for women at times when it is late or dark. When a woman rides with another woman, there is less tension in thinking that something will happen. With groups of women, however, there is the occasional discomfort of being left out of the conversation or judged based on appearance. In countries like Israel, they have created more gender-segregated spaces in order to protect the morals within Judaism. This article provides insight into the idea and options of segregated elevators and later stairs.

    Other factors like race, age, ability, etc. may also play a part in someone’s comfort within an elevator, the differences in gender within a small space might be one of the biggest factors to consider. A woman may prefer to ride in an elevator with a woman than a man with a preference involving gender. Some other similar places that women may feel less comfortable in include a subway train or a bus. The key point of comfortability involves the lack of not being able to move as freely or escape from a person/situation that has led many women and other people to have the typical awkwardness when being in spaces like an elevator. From The Social Construction of Gender, "Gendered norms and expectations are enforced through informal sanctions of gender-inappropriate behavior by peers and by formal punishment or threat of punishment by those in authority should behavior deviate too far from socially imposed standards for men and women" (Lorber 130). The creation of gender "norms" or "expectations" have led some people to feel uncomfortable with others due to the ranking of values and power that a gender supposedly has or should have.

Able Body vs Differently Able Body

    Because elevators are such an enclosed, almost intimate space, the experiences between those who are able-bodied and those who are not wildly vary. Elevators, like most places in the world, are designed for able-bodied people, as they are considered the “default.” Therefore, those who do not fall under that category can have a much harder time navigating space. The Alden Library elevator is no different.

    While people do tend to be respectful of those who are visibly differently abled, there is often still an awkward sense of uneasiness when differently abled people have to share space with the able-bodied. People do not tend to react favorably to behaviors outside of the norm, leaving those who are differently abled “trying to gain the ‘right’ of passage” (Hansen and Philo 501). Elevators elevate (ha-ha) this tension because they are so confined. For example, if someone is in a wheelchair, then they will be let on and let off first. While this is done to be respectful, it can lead to a feeling of alienization, “the constant fear of being ‘on approval’ in non-disabled space” (Hansen and Philo 501). On the other hand, those who are able-bodied will often be considered lazy by taking the elevator if there are stairs available, as if it is a competition to see who can reach a floor faster. When people choose to or must complete an action differently, others pass judgment as if their own way is better, for no reason other than the almost tribalistic human tendency to believe one is correct.

    However, there have been clear efforts to make the Alden Library elevator more accessible. Every button, including the up-and-down buttons, the floor buttons, and everything else, all have braille to accommodate anyone who reads that way. Furthermore, a voice announces which floor the elevator is on for those who are visually impaired. With that being said, the elevator does have its shortcomings as well. It is smaller than average, with three-foot wide doors and approximately 65 inches of depth (the average being 6.75-foot-wide doors and seven feet of depth) (How Big Is An Elevator? -- Standard And Commercial Sizes). This could make it much more difficult for people who are not able-bodied to navigate the elevator’s space, especially people who are in wheelchairs. This further demonstrates that while there have been efforts to accommodate those who are differently abled, they are still not fully able to comfortably “make their way in the world on their own terms” (Hansen and Philo 501).

Race

    A space, such as an elevator, can be experienced differently by people on the basis of their race.  For instance, a white person, might not have to worry as much about whether their presence induces a greater fear of crime in others, whereas a person of color is regularly assumed to be threatening or dangerous. Many mass media representations often depict black men as violent and predisposed to commit unlawful activity (Allen & Metcalf, 2019). Certain traits associated with being black include ‘you are poor’, ‘you are going to steal’, and ‘you do not belong’. You can easily find a video of black people not being allowed to ride an elevator in a building, being followed, or demanded to show some proof of residency. These assumptions can also be observed by some people’s decision to skip stepping into an elevator when a group of people of color are in it. A reddit user, identifying himself as a 6’2 black man, even feel the need to ask how he can make women feel safer on an elevator.

    Another common microaggression commonly shown is how people would hold their purse closer to them or reach to their pockets when a black person enters an elevator. This instance is described in this stand-up comedy by Ari Shaffir below:

Ari Shaffir - Racist in the Elevator (Stand Up Comedy)

    While these behaviors when riding an elevator might not always be subject to a person’s race, as one could argue that his/her discomfort comes from sharing a closed space with a stranger, whether the person is white, black, Asian, Hispanic, Arab, etc, it might be tough for people of color not to attribute them to the stereotypes assigned to their race. McIntosh (2004) articulated how one of many skin-color privileges that white people have is not to have to wonder if it is their race that causes people to treat them a certain way. She said, “If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has racial overtones” (McIntosh, 2004).

    Other minorities groups, such as Hispanics, Asians and Arabs face similar prejudices. As minority groups, they tend to have a lower sense of belonging. This can manifest through their body language and their efforts to occupy less space or avoid drawing too much attention to themselves.

Power Dynamics

    It is no secret that being around strangers can be uncomfortable, especially when alone. However, it is crucial to examine the differences in power that social groups have in a confined space such as an elevator. Similar to race and sex, age and class are two systems that play a role in elevator experiences.

    Based on physical appearance alone, perceived social status can change the experience someone has in an elevator. For example, if businessman and a janitor are riding together in an elevator, the janitor is more likely to feel powerless compared to the businessman because in society, janitors receive less respect than a businessman would. Elevators are places, and with every place, there are people who have more ability to exist comfortably compared to others. Occupations play a strong role in class perceptions, so if the janitor perceives the businessman to be in a higher class, its likely he perceives the businessman to have more “rights” in the elevator, which leads to a change in behavior.

    Similar to class, age also changes elevator experiences. In society, the elderly are typically given more respect, and people try to stare on their best behavior when around people who they perceive to deserve respect. If there is an elderly person or someone who is perceived to be older is in an elevator, to rest of the elevator users would try to follow the rules and feel as if the elderly person deserves more courtesy than a younger person.

    Despite how inactive we may be while in an elevator, we cannot stop our thoughts and perceptions of what’s going on around us (Hirschauer, 2005). We are constantly evaluating who is around and where we stand in comparison to them, which in turn changes our behavior and how we interact with the space we share. When around people we don’t know, our perceptions become reality, and elevators are a great study of how we interact with strangers in confined spaces.