Breaking the 'Nice' Mold: Navigating the Downsides of People Pleasing as a Woman

Have you ever heard someone tell you to smile more, or that you're prettier when you smile? Or has a man told you an inappropriate joke or out of context comment that made you uncomfortable, but you laughed anyway because you thought it was the 'proper' response? We all have…the blunders of being a woman in a man's world. It can feel so seamlessly intuitive to just smile and nod, giggle, tell men 'yes' instead of 'no,' but at the end of those moments we don't always feel very good about ourselves. 

It's not easy to go against societal expectations, but sometimes it's necessary, not only for you but for women everywhere. Just because a man wants us to be pretty for him doesn't mean we have to, pleasing a stranger for their own benefit won't do us any good. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, 'would they do it for me?' Or better yet, if you don't smile and nod, is someone going to get hurt? Besides a stranger's ego, no.

Author image for Briana Viser Briana Viser
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