(no subject)

[novapsyche]

Posted in feminist: Apparently there have been studies explaining that smiling is a social phenomenon linked with submissiveness.

I smile more often than not. But like I told the guy I interviewed with yesterday, I'm a pleaser by nature. Maybe I shouldn't advertise that so much. But I couldn't imagine going through a whole day scowling.

Comments

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I've been smiling in public a lot more since i transitioned, and found it just makes a lot of social situations flow much more smoothly.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

But then, that would make sense if what you posted was true. By sending the signal that i am not a threat, and am vaguely submissive, of course people are going to be more friendly -- especially since as a transperson i often send out confusing signals that put people off.

[guttaperk.livejournal.com]

I think that the article is correct in being clear that some, but not all, smiles are subservient.

Since smiling can also be rebellious- try smiling at your boss while he's reprimanding you- one might wonder if the tendency to characterise smiling as principally submissive does not imply more about the biases of the person doing the characterising.