Why the “White Person Smile” Needs to be Reevaluated
Have you ever heard of the “white person smile”? It’s the classic closed-lip smile that many people, especially in Western cultures, use in photographs. It’s seen as polite and friendly, but is it really? This so-called “polite” smile is actually rooted in racism and Eurocentric beauty standards.
The history of the “white person smile”
The “white person smile” has its roots in 18th century European portraiture. At that time, smiling was seen as vulgar and only common people smiled in portraits. Wealthy and upper-class individuals were depicted with somber expressions to convey a sense of nobility. However, in the 19th century, photography became accessible to the masses and smiling became more acceptable in photographs.
But why the closed-lip smile? It was believed that showing teeth in a photograph was unattractive and a sign of lower-class status. This belief was rooted in Eurocentric beauty standards that determined straight white teeth to be the epitome of beauty.
The harm of the “white person smile”
The “white person smile” reinforces harmful beauty standards that prioritize Eurocentric features over others. It also reinforces the idea that people of color, who often have different dental structures, are not as attractive or desirable.
Furthermore, the pressure to conform to the “white person smile” can be harmful to people’s mental health. It perpetuates the idea that people should be fake or insincere in order to be polite or likable. It can also lead to people feeling self-conscious about their own smiles and feeling like they are not good enough.
The need to embrace diversity in smiling
It’s time to start reevaluating the “white person smile” and the harmful beauty standards it represents. We should embrace diversity in smiling and encourage people to smile however they like, whether it be with teeth or without.
In doing so, we also need to recognize and challenge societal norms and beauty standards that prioritize Eurocentric features. This includes calling out instances where people are shamed for not conforming to the “white person smile” or for having different dental structures.
Conclusion
The “white person smile” may seem like a harmless social norm, but it’s rooted in harmful beauty standards and reinforces racism. By embracing diversity in smiling and challenging these harmful standards, we can work towards a more inclusive and accepting society.
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