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Original poster

Has anyone ever told a male to smile more?

31 replies

CarefulN0w · 14/03/2025 09:34

In this particular instance it’s conductors, but am sure it applies widely.

I’ve definitely been told as a nurse to smile - my male counterparts, not so much.

Has anyone ever told a male conductor to ‘smile more’? I doubt it

https://www.thetimes.com/article/113c70aa-1526-4915-9fda-e6a2747379fa?shareToken=f727b132f4039ed48b85ded218d9dcc8

Has anyone ever told a male conductor to ‘smile more’? I doubt it

Women whose gestures seem too overbearing, or facial expressions too fierce, will often be criticised for the very things regarded as assets in men

https://www.thetimes.com/article/113c70aa-1526-4915-9fda-e6a2747379fa?shareToken=f727b132f4039ed48b85ded218d9dcc8

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 14/03/2025 12:50

There will be posters saying that yes of course-in fact it probably happens even more to men than women. They are not posting in good faith.

Igmum · 14/03/2025 12:36

Really interesting article thank you @CarefulN0wi shall look out for the film.

I’m not often told to smile more but I’ve certainly been on the receiving end of misogyny including, back in the day when I was a lecturer and we gave students photocopied handouts, having a random bloke wander up to me in the photocopying room and hand me his photocopying. I stood there blankly for a moment then told him we all did our own and handed it back.

KrankyKumquat · 14/03/2025 12:31

I thought you were referring to conductors on buses! Christ, bus drivers are proper miserable, a hello or thank you would do for me. I tend to overcompensate when faced with someone who's just blanking me; maybe I should try requesting a smile instead.

NPET · 14/03/2025 11:03

No.
Men and boys smile at me far too much!!

RapidOnsetGenderCritic · 14/03/2025 10:31

Yes.

I've frequently been told to cheer up, smile it might not happen, answered with "only OK?" when I've replied to "how are you?".

Veryverycalmnow · 14/03/2025 09:40

I used to find it so frustrating and embarrassing as a teen/ young woman when random men would tell me to smile. Why? They wouldn't have said it to boys.
I find it disturbing.