Coined in 2013, the term "Resting Bitch Face" was originated. The world finally discovered a sufficient label for women who, uhm, have a "less than pleasant" appearance while their faces are expressionless. Let me explain.
Upon a swift google search you will discover the following: "Bitchy Resting Face syndrome" (typically with reference to a woman) a sullen or scowling expression attributed to or unconsciously adopted by a person when in repose. So basically, if you don't have a smile slapped onto your face 24/7 you've contracted this syndrome. Not really. There's actual science behind this stuff though which is kind of weird when you think about it. In 2015, researchers used Noldus’s FaceReader, a software program that examines faces based on human emotions. Basically, if you submit a photo or video clip of yourself into the program it can detect the level of bitchiness in your face. Since it is only a software program and all, it's unable to detect gender and the study found RBF syndrome equally in both female and male participants. So all in all, the phenomenon has more to do with social norms rather than having a genetic predisposition to looking like a serial killer.
Resting bitchy face is my expression for literally everything. When I am excited about acing a quiz, walking down the street and seeing a cute puppy, holding hands with my boyfriend, eating pizza, or talking with one of my friends. I am aware of my ever present "less than thrilled" expression and honestly, I'm okay with it. But it's other people who seem to have an issue with it. Honestly, I've noticed a lot of things that happen in the life of having a RBF. Do you have a bitchy resting face? Below are some signs that maybe you just might.
1. When people ask you if you're okay literally all the time. Or "is there something wrong?"
2. Or my personal favorite: "Are you uncomfortable?...because you look uncomfortable". WELL I AM NOW.
3. When people assume that your RBF is a sure sign that you're judging them for their entire existence.
4. And then you crack a joke and people aren't sure whether you're being serious or not so everybody takes you seriously. C'mon people.
5. When you work in customer service and someone tells you to smile.
6. When a good friend of yours tell you down the line that they thought you were a bitch when you first met. (I'm a bad bitch, nbd.)
7. Then you google what resting bitch face syndrome is and you realize that you do indeed, have the facial expressions of an inconsolable cat.
8. And then you start avoiding candid photographs of yourself because even when you smile you look like this:
9. So then you try to smile and things get incredibly awkward.
10. You unintentionally give out dirty looks without meaning to. But whatever, the people who know you, they love you despite your face.
11. When you get super interested in something and are 100% into it but you're face says that you want to die.
12. When your resting bitch face turns into an actual angry face.
13. Someone points out the fact that you aren't looking particularly thrilled so you try and smile to appease them.
14. This.
15. You ask your friends why people seem to shy away from you. You may just look a little intimidating. It's all good.
16. Then you think who cares? RBF is a filter for all of the people who judge a book by its cover. Own that frown.
17. Smiling gives you wrinkles, anyway.
