Yes. The notion that women should smile more is certainly sexist — it’s not-so-subtle and pervasive. I’ve caught myself thinking, “Gee, she’d be really pretty if she’d just smile.” Not because I was encouraging smiling to please men (because that’s what good little women do) but more the unconscious recognition of someone who might be suffering the mental or emotional pain of RBF.
If I’d know what the bird was and how to do it, I probably would have, Edel. I much prefer the greeting of a prof of mine “Hello, beautiful.” He really meant it, too. And it wasn’t ‘til years later I realized his sole purpose was to brighten our day — the smile was a byproduct.