Resting bitch face (RBF), also known as bitchy resting face, has gained renewed attention—and some debunking—in a recent New York Times column. If strangers often urge you to smile, you might be experiencing this common phenomenon.
What is resting bitch face?
A neutral facial expression that unintentionally appears angry, annoyed, or emotionless.
The RBF trend began as satire: American writer and comedian Taylor Orci created a mock ad for this 'pseudomedical condition,' which has racked up millions of views. Many celebrities are said to have it too.
That said, certain facial features can indeed make someone look perpetually cranky. Plastic surgeons frequently address this. In North Korea, the 'smile lift'—a procedure lifting the mouth corners for a permanent smile—is rising in popularity. In the Netherlands, thousands of women seek surgeries for a friendlier look.
Erik Laban, a plastic surgeon at Velthuis Kliniek, explains: 'Women with RBF often have pronounced lines around the mouth or slightly drooping upper eyelids. Those with light-colored eyes may squint more to shield from light, and aging naturally causes some sagging.'
Clients often choose upper eyelid corrections, Botox, or facelifts. More commonly, they opt for a forced smile. Neurologist Guillaume-Benjamin Duchenne found in the 19th century that only 20% of smiles are genuine, involving both mouth and eye muscles. Fake smiles are detectable in the eyes, yet we all use them—smiling is socially expected.
This pressure hits women hardest. Yale psychologist Marianne LaFrance's research shows women laugh far more than men, especially under observation, and face harsher judgment for neutral expressions like 'Cheer up.'
University of Amsterdam emotion researcher Agneta Fischer notes clear gender norms: 'Women are expected to appear warm and approachable with smiles, while men convey authority with serious expressions, heavy brows, and strong jawlines.'
Where does the 'friendly female face' ideal originate?
Some experts suggest women are more empathetic and emotionally expressive, evidenced by longer mouth corners in female faces. Evolutionary psychology offers another view: smiling signals submission, akin to female primates baring teeth more than males.
Regardless, women with RBF often hear 'Don't look so angry.' True friends—and confident partners—see past it.
This article adapts a piece by Esma Linnemann from the March 2014 issue of Santé.
