The Pressure to Smile: Challenging the Sexist Expectation

Have you ever been told to "smile, it’s not that bad" or "don’t be so serious"?

Society often expects women to smile at all times, regardless of how we’re feeling inside. This pressure can feel suffocating, as it reinforces the idea that women’s emotions should always be calm and pleasing to others. The expectation to constantly smile, even when we're stressed, anxious, or upset, is a restriction on our emotional expression.

This injunction to smile is not only unrealistic but deeply rooted in sexist ideals. Women are often expected to appear happy or accommodating at all costs, regardless of the circumstances, as though our worth and value are tied to our outward appearance and our ability to please others. This can lead to suppressing our true emotions, which is harmful to our mental and emotional health.

Women should have the freedom to express their feelings authentically, without being judged or pressured to perform happiness. Whether we're upset, frustrated, or simply not in the mood to smile, it’s okay to embrace the full range of emotions and to be true to ourselves. You don’t owe anyone a smile, and your feelings are valid no matter what.

How do you handle the pressure to smile?

What are some ways we can unlearn this expectation and embrace our true emotions?