Resting Bitch Face

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The Resting Bitch Face is often used by both women and men to describe a female (and sometimes the occasional male) who unintentionally looks grumpy, angry, tired or bitchy. While the term Resting Bitch Face can be through social media as humorous, it does not address more serious problems that women face every day. It is important to bring light to the negative shaming the term places upon those who are subject to having a supposed Resting Bitch Face, as it perpetuates unwarranted judgement from others and it continues to allow society to suggest that women’s behavior exists within a narrow spectrum. Since childhood, females have been ingrained with sexist messages on how to behave and accepting the term Resting Bitch Face allows society to further suggest what female behavior should look like. Society has told women, both explicitly and implicitly that females should smile, be pleasant and be appeasing. However, when a female decides not to participate in this behavior, it is seen as deviating from society’s expected …show more content…

In order to remain unresponsive to a rude cat-call, a non emotional face may help a female get out of a situation that could possibly turn aggressive if a different rude response is given. If a woman responds kindly to verbal harassment, she opens the opportunity for the harasser to make unwanted advances. If she responds in a way that is aggressive, the harasser could be triggered by that behavior. Consequently, the harasser may feel offended and aggression could escalate. As a female, we understand that not all men are dangerous predators. However, you never know what strangers are capable of doing and it is probably safe to stay unresponsive and keeping moving in unsure

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