Power and privilege shown in A Woman on the Roof In "A Woman on the Roof" by Doris Lessing, three workers react differently towards a woman sunbathing on a roof. The men are Harry, who is about 45, Stanley, who has just married, and Tom, who is 17. They are engaged in jovial banter when they see a woman about fifty meters from where they are standing. She is on her back, face down on a brown blanket. Stanley is the first to comment: "She's completely naked." Harry agrees: “It seems so,” while Tom cranes his neck so he can see more and replies: “She thinks no one can see.” Stanley whistles, but the woman doesn't look up. She is sitting and smoking a cigarette (856). This seems to be one of Lessing's stories most overlooked by critics. In reality, there are few written criticisms about it and most focus on the different reactions of the three workers. However, the woman, who is not named in the story, is also a very intriguing and interesting character. Although many readers see her as an innocent, beachgoer who just wants to be left alone, there is evidence to show that she uses her sexuality through nonverbal communication to display power and privilege. Sociological perspectives suggest that nonverbal communication is of particular importance for women. because their socialization into docility and passivity makes them likely targets of social control. Sexuality (masculinity or femininity) is not biologically determined but is part of social learning. In "Womanspeak and Manspeak", Nancy Henley, Mykol Hamilton and Barrie Thorne argued that although women's general bodily behavior should be restrained and limited, and that their femininity is measured by how little (personal) space they occupy. On the contrary... half of the paper... Henslin, James. "On becoming male." Sociology with your feet on the ground. Ed. James Henslin. New York: The Free Press, 1991. 126-148. Lessing, Doris. "A woman on the roof." The Harper Fiction Anthology. Ed. Silvano Barnet. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. 856-862. Works consulted Allen, Orphia Jane. "Structure and Motif in Doris Lessing's A Man and Two Women." Criticism of short stories. Ed. Thomas Votteler.NY: Gale Research Inc., 1986. 199.Fitzgerald, Edward. "Collect from home." Criticism of short stories. Ed. Tommaso Votteler. New York: Gale Research Inc., 1986. 186.Hardin, Nancy. "Doris Lessing and the Sufi Way." Criticism of short stories. Ed. Carolyn Riley. New York: Gale Research Inc., 1976. 123. Zak, Michele. "The grass sings: a little novel about emotions." Criticism of short stories. Ed. Tommaso Votteler. New York: Gale Research Inc., 1986. 206.