12 January 2009

girl, fix yo face!

What is with these girls and women who walk around with this perpetual scowl on their faces or looking like they smell shit all day long? OMG! It's so annoying to see. The other day, I saw a girl who couldn't have been more than about 13 and she had this look on her face like she'd worked for the past 20 hrs and was about to work 20 more. To add insult to the situation was that she was a pretty girl, but she sure as shit looked a triple hot mess with that damn scowl on her face. I also saw a 20 something year old woman who had that, "I smell shit" look on her face and I'm like, no friggin way.
This isn't the first time I've seen this look and I'm sure it won't be the last, but what is it all about? I have no idea what makes these girls/women walk around looking like they have absolutely nothing to live for or smile about. Is this something I missed in Black Girl Charm School? No, for real, because these girls/women where it like they were taught to look like that. White girls don't walk around with this scowl, so it got me to thinking that it's seriously a "black girl" thing.
I know it's hard out there for black women, but it can't be that hard that we're walking around looking like we're going to gouge the eyes out of the next person who looks at us. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? It saddens me because it seems like we're conditioning our girls to look intimidating or menacing. I've often wanted to ask them what is really going on to make them look that way, but truth be told I'm a little scared just in case they flip out on me.
All jokes aside, this is something that really bothers me. I want to understand what this is all about.
love to live; live to love!

10 comments:

Believer said...

Hold up! You brought me back to my elementary days and the after school nonsense of jumping me. I have no idea what's up with them, or those that walk around today with "looks to kill."

chele said...

In some cases, it's a defense tool adopted to weed out the riff-raff, generally used by those who have major trust issues. Ask me how I know? :)

Anonymous said...

Ah yes. The scowl. Common. But you're dealing with folks who come from homes so broken that they'd run in fear from something whole.

I combat this with kindness, sincerely, and a compliment. Seriously. Go out of your way once and watch what happens to the scowl. Some haven't heard a kind word in so long, it's like a shock to the system.

Organized Noise said...

That is the quickest way to turn a beautiful woman into an ugly woman. I agree with chele. It's a defense mechinism. Sadly, it generally doesn't work. A wise man once told me, "smile, it will keep people out of your business". The scowl just attracts more attention.

Blu Jewel said...

@ Believer - Sorry, you endured what you did coming up. Maybe through this post, we'll come to an understanding about the "looks to kill"

@ Chele - Well, I'm happy to see that you're no longer wearing "That Look". It's so saddening and depressing.

@ Hawa - Okay, I understand what you're saying about the home lives, but there are grown women; educated, well employed women walking around like their faces will crack if they smile. I'll consider the kindness aspect the next time I see it, but if they come at me wrong, you know it'll be on and poppin...lol!

@ Org - I've smiled my way through some adversity in my day, so I know that what you say is true. I wish these women could see that.

Love to live; live to love!

Mizrepresent said...

Preach sis! I too see this same old squenched up, lemon faces and i'm thinking, "what do they have to be so angry about?" The mean mugging don't just take place in the streets, at the mall and in the beauty parlor...it's at our local fastfood restaurant and to tell you the truth, that's when the buck stops with me! That's when i want to say, "what's your problem...they didn't teach you how to say "may i help you?"

Good one Sis! Prayer changes things!

dessex said...

I know what you are talking bout I would just look back at them crazy. The reaction is pretty funny

Wendy said...

Yes!Yes!Yes!, I have been wondering what the heck do these young people have to be so angry about myself. Defense..hmmm I don't get it. I wear a smile on my face, but when/ if needs to be a scowl it can quickly become one.I don't blame you for not asking though, she probably doesn't even realize she is doing it anymore.

Blu Jewel said...

@ miz - it's so prevalent and it's so damn sad and annoying. yes, things can be difficult, but twisting your face up isn't going to make it better. a smile goes a long way.

@ des - LOL@ looking at them crazy. I'm gonna try that one.

@ Wendy - Flipping a scowl to a smile is so much easy and causes less tension on the face. i'd like to see some of these folks in a few years and see how much they've aged. I'll be 42 this year and most don't believe me; that goes to show how well smiling has worked in my favor.

love to live; live to love!

iriegal said...

Blu..I feel it is sometimes (as many have stated here) a defense mechanism. It is like "back off." Sometimes it is a sign of "insecurity."