Fake Smile? Why Are Women Pressured to Look Happy
Why are women expected to smile? Here are some reasons why, and why you shouldn’t have to.
It’s a Measure of Attractiveness>
It’s a Social Expectation>
It’s a Gender-Based Assumption>
Have you ever experienced this scenario? You walk along the street, going about your business, thinking about the bills you must pay and the deadlines you need to meet. Then, a passerby says, “ngumiti ka naman diyan.” In this world, it’s ironic that a woman must smile for people to take her seriously. It doesn't matter if you wear a fake smile or are genuinely happy. Grinning should be your default expression.
It even happens in the workplace where you would expect a more somber expression. A survey conducted online in the US found that 37% percent of women who were forced to smile say it happened at work. Harrowingly, 36% of those hold senior-level positions. Many of these women felt underappreciated, especially when a female boss was the one who pressured them to do it.
It’s a Measure of Attractiveness
There has long been a correlation between attractiveness and smiling. The Turkish Journal of Orthodontics notes that a person’s smile is a strong determinant of beauty. Moreover, according to the PEW Research Center, women are expected to adhere to standards that measure physical appearance more than men. Of the people interviewed in the study, 35% said that physical attractiveness or beauty was expected more in women than in men.
It’s a Social Expectation
A study in Psychological Science states that social context plays a part in why people smile. Variable smiling is a result of a social situation more than emotion. When people choose which sex smiles more often, they inevitably say that women do. For females, smiling has become a convention.
It’s a Gender-Based Assumption
Pop culture has painted the typical manly man as the brooding, silent type. Meanwhile, women are pegged to be warm and friendly. This gender-based assumption can make women feel pressured to wear a fake smile, despite not feeling it. If someone tells you, “Smile naman diyan!” you should not feel the need to oblige. Smiling is personal and not something anyone can make you do.
When you do not feel particularly jovial, just act the way you feel and be yourself. Save the fake smiles for genuine ones – when you're truly happy. Make each grin count with closeup All Around Fresh Soothing Menthol Toothpaste. It kills 99% of bacteria in your mouth thanks to zinc and micro-shine crystals.
Looking your best lessens the pressure to smile or look happy. Use Sunsilk Smooth and Manageable Shampoo, which smoothes your hair and makes it easy to style.
Your face glows when you smile genuinely, but the choice is yours. Try Vaseline Gluta-Hya Serum Burst Dewy Radiance. More powerful than vitamin C, its Hyaluron and GlutaGlow technology give you that lit-from-within radiance. Forget that fake smile. Just let your emotions flow.
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