Try not to smile
The Oxford English Dictionary describes a smile as "a slight and more or less involuntary movement of the countenance expressive of pleasure, amusement, affection, etc., or of amused contempt, disdain, incredulity, or similar emotion." An expression that can represent affection or contempt seems too confusing to have any utility, but many argue that a happy face is universally recognized. James Russell (1994) discusses flaws in this research, but concedes there is probably some association between facial expression and emotion labels.
Men and women seem to differ in their use of smiles. Hall and Friedman (1999) tested the hypothesis that status affects nonverbal communication more than gender, leading to more accommodating behaviours from (lower-status) women (after Nancy Henley, 1977 & 1985). They did not find any support for this hypothesis. In fact, Hall and Friedman found "gender differences became more pronounced when status differences were controlled." Women smiled significantly more than men in interactions with coworkers of both higher and lower status. This is consistent with LaFrance et al's (2003) meta-analysis of 162 reports, which found greater smiling rates in women and girls than men and boys. However, LaFrance et al's analysis is that these gender differences become more pronounced in environments where gender roles are more strictly enforced.
One of the first pieces of advice I got when I began to transition was to try to stop smiling so much: "men don't smile." However, I think the various interpretations of smile haven't been thoroughly examined. A U.S. News and World Report article on Nancy Pelosi (Borger 11/26/06) seems to describe what I mean: "women recognize that kind of smile: pasted, forced, painful." Women smile not only to represent happiness or contempt, but also to cover anguish. The only similar example I can think of for a man is Tom Delay's mugshot. I know that I begin to grin when I have bad news to deliver, which has been a socially terrible habit for me, and I've been fighting it for years. I'm not happy, but I can't stop smiling.
Men and women seem to differ in their use of smiles. Hall and Friedman (1999) tested the hypothesis that status affects nonverbal communication more than gender, leading to more accommodating behaviours from (lower-status) women (after Nancy Henley, 1977 & 1985). They did not find any support for this hypothesis. In fact, Hall and Friedman found "gender differences became more pronounced when status differences were controlled." Women smiled significantly more than men in interactions with coworkers of both higher and lower status. This is consistent with LaFrance et al's (2003) meta-analysis of 162 reports, which found greater smiling rates in women and girls than men and boys. However, LaFrance et al's analysis is that these gender differences become more pronounced in environments where gender roles are more strictly enforced.
One of the first pieces of advice I got when I began to transition was to try to stop smiling so much: "men don't smile." However, I think the various interpretations of smile haven't been thoroughly examined. A U.S. News and World Report article on Nancy Pelosi (Borger 11/26/06) seems to describe what I mean: "women recognize that kind of smile: pasted, forced, painful." Women smile not only to represent happiness or contempt, but also to cover anguish. The only similar example I can think of for a man is Tom Delay's mugshot. I know that I begin to grin when I have bad news to deliver, which has been a socially terrible habit for me, and I've been fighting it for years. I'm not happy, but I can't stop smiling.