You’ve likely heard the term “resting bitch face” (RBF) before—it’s often associated with women who appear expressionless and are wrongly labeled as unfriendly or aloof. Iconic figures like Kristen Stewart and Victoria Beckham exemplify this phenomenon, but it’s time to address a misconception: Men can exhibit RBF too, yet they rarely receive the same scrutiny.
Research conducted by behavioral scientists, Tom Bennett and Lisa Hargrove, from the renowned Noldus Information Technology, sheds light on this issue. They utilized the advanced FaceReader software, a tool designed to analyze facial expressions through a database of over 10,000 images. This technology evaluates a face by mapping 500 points and can identify eight fundamental human emotions, including happiness, sadness, and contempt, alongside a neutral expression.
Interestingly, the results revealed that both men and women display RBF at similar rates. The software identified a neutral expression characterized by a tightening around the eyes and subtle lip movement—indicating contempt rather than negativity. As Dr. Hargrove pointed out, “The neutral expressions read by the software convey contempt to observers and the technology alike.” This indicates that societal norms rather than physiological differences primarily shape perceptions of RBF.
Despite men experiencing similar levels of expressionlessness, societal expectations dictate that they aren’t pressured to wear a constant smile. This contrasts sharply with the societal expectation placed on women, who are often urged to “smile more,” leading to frustration. It seems men are simply allowed to exist without the implicit duty to brighten someone’s day, while women are not afforded the same leniency.
Ladies, embrace your resting bitch face! And if you’re curious whether there’s a male equivalent, it might just be referred to as “breathing.”
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In summary, both men and women can experience RBF, but societal expectations differ greatly between genders. While women are often criticized for their neutral expressions, men are frequently given a pass, highlighting the disparities in how we perceive and react to facial expressions.