First notebook entry: O(∩_∩)O Evidently, a woman’s happy, willing deference is something the world wants visibly demonstrated. Woes to the waitress, the personal assistant or receptionist, the flight attendant, or any other woman in line of public service whose smile is not offered up to the boss or client as proof that there are no storm clouds --- no kids to support, no sleep that’s been missed --- roll into the sunny workplace landscape. Women are expected to smile no matter where they line on the the social, cultural, or economic ladder. College professors are criticized for not smiling, political spouses are pilloried for being too serious, and women’s roles in films have historically been smiling ones. It’s a litter wonder that men on the street still call out, “Hey, baby, smile! Life’s not that bad, is it?” to women passing by, lost in the thought. A friend remembers being pulled aside by a teacher after class and asked, “What is wrong, dear? You sat there for the whole hour looking so sad!” “All I could figure, ” my friend says now, “was that I wasn’t smiling. And the fact that she felt sorry for me for looking normal made me feel horrible.” Ironically, the social laws that govern our smiles have completely reversed themselves over the last 2,000 years. Women weren’t always expected to seem animated and responsible; in fact, immoderate laughter was once considered one of more conspicuous vices a woman could have, and mirth was downright sinful. Women were kept apart, in some cultures even veiled, so that they couldn’t perpetuate Eve’s seductive, evil work. The only smile deeming appropriate on a privileged woman’s face was the serene, inward smile of the Virgin Mary at Christ’s birth, Cackling laughter, and wicked glee were the kinds of sounds heard only in hell.