Man's Smile Can Make Women More Subordinate

Women focus on physical interaction

A man's smile can make a woman more subordinate, according to new research in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Researchers found that women were more inclined to like a man in a dominant role (giving instructions) if he smiled — even if the smile came after a sexist statement. "It seems that overt sexism can affect behavior that actually promotes women's submissiveness when the bitter pill of sexism is given the sugar coating of a smile," researchers note. Body language expert Patti Wood says the troubling trend occurs because women are more likely to focus on physical interactions than verbal. "Even if there's dissonance between what's been said and what his body is doing, women will look to the body. If they see a smile, then the interaction seems more friendly," she said. (MSNBC)

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