You might say that chronically serious-looking faces—a “condition” recently dubbed “resting bitch face,” or RBF—is a maternal trait in my family. From my grandmother on down, the women in my family have suffered from the RBF stigma. We have now reached the fourth generation, as my niece tells me that friends and co-workers describe her naturally non-smiling face as angry or aggressive. Add to that an East Coast upbringing which blessed us with a talent for sarcasm and the communication disconnect takes on a new level.
RBF, as a label, has become the latest Internet craze. A historical review of the term indicates it originated in 2009, but Google trends show internet searches for the phrase really started to take off in the spring of 2013. RBF has since become the subject of countless memes, often featuring celebrity examples. The hype reached new heights of controversy when it was written up in The New York Times on Aug. 1.
The vast majority of coverage has so far focused on the disadvantages of RBF. But this narrative only tells part of the story. The women in my family are very successful in their careers—despite, or perhaps in part because of—their RBF. Indeed I chalk up my own company’s continued growth, even during the recession, to a culture of communication and collaboration drawn from years of experience dealing with my less-than-jolly visage.
Yes, that’s right. I view my RBF as much of a blessing as a curse.
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