The insidious sexism of 'resting bitch face'

Can we please retire this made-up affliction?

Emojis.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Apple)

If you're a woman and you have a face, chances are good that at some point, you've been accused of having "resting bitch face."

Resting bitch face — also known as RBF or "bitchy resting face" — is a relatively new term in our lexicon. It's used to describe a supposed condition that causes a person to appear angry or annoyed when they're actually at ease or feeling neutral. Resting bitch face is a completely made-up affliction, and it is slung primarily at women for doing little more than having a face and not always having it arranged in a smile. The audacity.

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Samantha Grossman

Samantha Grossman is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist based in Brooklyn, New York. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has worked on staff at TIME magazine and The Dodo, but her most important job is being the mother of a beautiful corgi named Simon.