How many times have I walked down the street to the tune of wolf whistles and cat calls? Too frequent to count, too insignificant to recall. I am not alone in this experience. Hundreds of thousands of women around the world get these unsolicited "compliments" on the daily. One of the most popular comments? "Smile!"
The demand for a grin can happen directly or indirectly, from strangers or colleagues, in professional settings or on the street. In Claudia Rankine's book, Citizen: An American Lyric, she writes about her own experience with the unsolicited "smile." She writes, "A friend tells you he has seen a photograph of you on the internet and he wants to know why you look so angry" (46). This section of the book is a point where I believe Rankine is addressing her fellow women. She is confronting an issue that has recently been brought to the forefront of feminist movements and giving her own perspective on it. "Obviously," she writes, "this unsmiling image of you makes him uncomfortable, and he needs you to account for that" (46). Rankin's argument is similar to that of other feminists(though hers is with far more eloquence): men want women to smile because they are uncomfortable with women feeling anything except happiness.
The "typical" woman- greatly popularized in the 60s (think The Donna Reed Show)- is submissive, ignorant, pretty, and joyous. They are fluffy and happy, not a care in the world except getting the roast on the dinner table and making sure their hair stays put. Women have come a long way since then. Mostly. Women are accepted and even expected in the work world, women hold office positions, women are treated with respect in many instances. However, much like the racism Rankine addresses through her book, sexism is still there. It lurks behind "well-meaning" neighbors, old-fashioned bosses, school dress codes, even outdated etiquette. Sexism, much like racism, is still here. Maybe it is not as visible as it once was, but it is present nonetheless.
Rankine did not smile in her photo. She is just as powerful, happy, and successful whether she appears with a beam or with a scowl. Her appearance- her race, her sexuality, her clothing- should not be subject to scrutiny. Then next time someone tells you to smile, think of Rankine. Think of the prosperous, strong, confident, and talented author who made it without a smile plastered on her face as she tried to appeal to everyone else's expectations. And then go about your merry way.
I like the connection you made between smiling representing sexism and the racism Rankine exhibits in her book. When asking for a smile, many people fail to recognize that they are propelling sexism, similar to how not everyone realizes that their acts are racist.
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