Smile too little and you’re cold. Smile too much and you’re “condescending.”
That’s the message male pundits are sending to Hillary Clinton, whose pearly whites have become a major topic of discussion this election season.
During the Democratic primaries back in March, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough tweeted to Clinton: “Smile. You just had a big night.” Female social media users were swift to call out the host’s comment as sexist, and Fortune‘s Kristen Bellstrom wrote pinpointed the reason for their outrage over the Scarborough’s comment:
What is it about being told to smile? There’s the idea that smiling makes women look “prettier,” and the implication that appearing attractive to men is one of our responsibilities. Then there’s the condescension of being told the correct way to feel. (You should always be happy!) Of course, a smile also makes you look friendlier—or perhaps I should say, more docile. It’s a way of neutralizing a woman who might otherwise be read as a potentially threatening presence.
During her DNC acceptance speech, Clinton was again told to smile, this time by Atlantic editor Steve Clemons (who later apologized):
Instead of lecturing 2 citizens @HillaryClinton needs 2 have conversation w/us. Modulate voice. Tell stories. Set hopes. Smile #DNCinPHL
— Steve Clemons (@SCClemons) July 29, 2016
Now, it seems even a grinning Clinton can’t please male pundits.
Who told Hillary Clinton to keep smiling like she’s at her granddaughter’s birthday party?
— David Frum (@davidfrum) September 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/780580671462846464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Women on Twitter were quick to answer conservative political commentator David Frum’s question, “Who told Hillary Clinton to keep smiling like she’s at her granddaughter’s birthday party?”
You did. All of you. "She's not smiling enough" and now "She's smiling too much"… can you check for substance maybe?#Debate
— Cat West – Counting Witches and peaches 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑 (@catawu) September 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/BklynMiddleton/status/709916957932396546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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Meanwhile, even some “positive” comments about Clinton dwelled on her likability, with a Twitter user quoting Hardball host Chris Matthews on the seemingly shocking revelation that a powerful woman could appear “almost charming.”
https://twitter.com/AlexParkerDC/status/780642981514776576
Perhaps not surprisingly, some pundits skated right past Clinton’s facial expressions and likability factor and went straight to her appearance: Consider Fox News commentator Brit Hume, who described Clinton as “composed, smug sometimes, not necessarily attractive.” (Hume later said his comment was in reference to Clinton’s “demeanor.”)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include Hume’s Tuesday response to the criticism of his description of Hillary Clinton.
