Show Notes
In this engaging episode our hosts explore the societal perceptions of women's facial expressions, especially Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and how these perceptions impact women's experiences in healthcare, professional settings, and social interactions. It delves into cultural differences, gender stereotypes, racial biases, and the importance of self-advocacy.
Show Notes Takeaways: - The science behind facial expressions and social cues - Cultural differences in interpreting resting face - Gender bias and societal expectations around women and men - The impact of resting face on women's professional and personal lives - Unconscious biases and their influence on perception Societal perceptions of women's facial expressions - Impact of RBF on women's healthcare experiences - Cultural differences in expressing emotions - Racial and gender biases in social and medical contexts - Strategies for self-advocacy and authenticity
Chapters: 00:01 Introduction to Murder of Crones Podcast 00:49 Exploring RBF 05:28 Personal Experiences with RBF 11:00 Cultural Perspectives on Facial Expressions 14:04 The Burden of Smiling 16:18 RBF: A Double Standard 18:47 Cultural Expectations and Gender Norms 20:39 Unconscious Bias and Social Perception 29:16 The Impact of RBF on Professional Life 35:59 Navigating Health and Communication Challenges 36:49 The Impact of RBF on Women's Health 39:45 Systematic Dismissal of Women's Pain 44:13 Advocating for Women's Health in Medical Settings 47:03 Intersectionality in Healthcare Disparities 53:01 Understanding Neurodiversity and Gender Bias 54:25 Understanding Neurodivergence in Women 55:54 Cultural Perspectives on Facial Expressions 01:00:46 The Impact of RBF Across Cultures 01:05:27 Breaking Gender Norms and Embracing Authenticity 01:08:28 The Social Media Landscape and Its Effects 01:11:16 Concluding Thoughts on Performance and Identity
References: B, Nikki. “The "Bitch” Penalty: Why Assertive Women Pay the Price in Industry.” Linked In, 5 March 2026, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bitch-penalty-why-assertive-women-pay-price-industry-nikki-bens-vzvqc/. Carpenter, Kalyn. “Getting real about women's health - Fatal delays and the misdiagnosis epidemic.” Curious Health, 7 March 2024, https://curioushealth.io/getting-real-about-womens-health-fatal-delays-and-the-misdiagnosis-epidemic/. Accessed 5 April 2026. Christopher, Watkins D., et al. “Social Transmission of Leadership Preference: Knowledge of Group Membership and Partisan Media Reporting Moderates Perceptions of Leadership Ability From Facial Cues to Competence and Dominance.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 10, no. 2996, 2020. National Library of Medicine, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6971406/. Cooke, Martin, and Tasha Shields. “Anti-Indigenous racism in Canadian healthcare: a scoping review of the literature.” International Journal for Quality in Health Care, vol. 36, no. 3, 2024. Oxford Academic, https://academic.oup.com/intqhc/article/36/3/mzae089/7749614?login=false. Grossman, Samantha. “The Insidious Sexism of 'Resting Bitch Face.'” This Week, 10 January 2019, https://theweek.com/articles/815496/insidious-sexism-resting-bitch-face. Harris Dr., Felecia C. “The Resting "Bitch" Face: Exploring The Intersection of African American Women, Race, Class, Sexuality. Gender and Reality TV.” University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2016. Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/sewsa/2016/fullschedule/5/. Khazan, Olga. “Why Some Cultures Frown on Smiling.” The Atlantic, 27 May 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/05/culture-and-smiling/483827/. Mehrotra, Palasha Krishna. “The Unsmiling Indian.” Man's World, https://www.mansworldindia.com/lifestyle/the-unsmiling-indian. R, Rathi. “Resting Bitch Face: Why Are Only Women Accused Of Having It?” Feminism in India, 1 August 2017, https://feminisminindia.com/2017/08/01/resting-bitch-face-women/. Salamon, Maureen. “The dangerous dismissal of women's pain.” Harva
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