Crossing legs in non-J countries

Loca, thanks for your input.

Anonymouse, for most (if not all) women in Japan, it is not difficult to "switch sides" when you're sitting on the floor with both legs laying parallel on one side with knees folded.

As for manners in Japan, no matter how old or how young you are, all females are expected not to spread your legs apart. So when meditating, they are supposed to fold their knees and sort of sit on top of their legs and feet, which is called "seiza" style. Actually, same goes for males, except that they are allowed to spread their knees slightly more. But when you're just with friends and you're wearing trousers, you'd often sit with your legs spread apart.

Those with knee problems will either sit on chairs or sit with legs stretched frontward without folding the knees.