A woman on Reddit has been applauded for producing a ‘perfect’ response to a colleague who queried why she wasn’t beaming behind her desk at work.
Retail workers know that having a career in the sector can be seriously stressful at times and doesn't always warrant a wide grin.
More often than not in this fast-paced workplace, it can be inappropriate to crack jokes with your colleagues and take your eye off the ball for even a second.
Advert
It's nothing new for women to hear men make comments about us not smiling - but the truth is, sometimes we just don't want to.
Especially not at men we don't really know.
The unnamed woman took to Reddit to get their opinion on her situation.
When a security guard at work told her to smile, she gave him a piece of her mind - but was left feeling like maybe she'd done the wrong thing.
Advert
The woman explained there were no customers around, but added that when she told her mum about what had happened, her mum was of the opinion it wasn't appropriate.
She wrote: "I work as a cashier and a few days ago I was pulling a major resting b*tch face. I know I know we're supposed [to] look like we enjoy every second of this job but it was pretty dead at that moment.
"Our security guard takes one look at me and says this. 'C'mon smile, why aren't you smiling?' I hate when I get this question because it's like the people who tell me to smile had never worked retail before.
Advert
"So I turn to him and respond. 'Kevin, I am cold, tired, and hungry! And you better pray to whatever God you worship that my period doesn't start right now! He shut up and backed off for the rest of the day.
"My mom, her and I work at the same place different departments, asked what I said cause she saw my face but didn't pick up everything from the conversation.
Advert
"I told her and she laughed but said I shouldn't have said that to him. Sure looking back it wasn't work appropriate but no customers were around so I thought I was in the clear, AITA?"
Hundreds of Reddit users chimed in and gave their verdict - with the general consensus being she'd done nothing wrong.
One person wrote: "It is so condescending for someone to demand women smile just for their pleasure."
While another said: "I’ve actually perfected that look. I hate being told to smile, and I especially hate that girls and women are always told to smile. Even when they’re down and whatnot. My brain is just automatically like ‘make a crazy eyes face’ or ‘be super sarcastic and b****y'."
Advert
And a third added: "There were no customers around, and he asked a dumb question. Why would you be smiling when you are at work, and there is no one else around?!! You'd look pretty silly sitting there and smiling away at... nothing... right? LOL."
And a fourth commented: "Men need to stop telling women to smile."
What would you have done?
Ella Scott