Do You Think Some Cultures Smile Differently?

Saturday, 05 September 2009

Do You Think Some Cultures Smile Differently?

Smile! When you're traveling, you're obviously taking lots of pictures. Sometimes you're putting a thumbs up in front of the Empire State Building or a sad face in front of a huge roller coaster you're about to go on.

But, is there a difference between how different cultures smile? One Xanga user Kipahni introduces a conversation where she explains how two different cultures smile differently.
"Okay Tiff. We need to talk." Atta had a really concerned face and I got worried.

He continues "Sometimes when we are just hanging out doing nothing, or you are talking to me you stop, show me your teeth and squint your eyes, and it has me concerned. Do you naturally have this problem or are you doing this on purpose? And what does this mean?"

He gives me an example of the facial expression and I burst out laughing.

"ATTA! That is my happy face, I smile big toothy grins when I am thinking of something or when I look at you!"

Atta looked relieved "Oh good, because I thought it was an uncontrolled habit and it was something that could be passed to our children, it's just so unnatural"

"Wait- It's unnatural to smile big?" I am still laughing. In my experience I guess Americans really are the only country to grin with teeth. Perhaps because we like to threaten other primates or I think it's because we have GOOD DENTAL CARE-HA take that U.K.

"Well no- I am not saying that Tiff, I am saying that if it wasn't on purpose like you couldn't control your face then that would be unnatural."

Well in my thoughts on smiles the bigger the better.

Examples of Egyptian smiles. The one on the left is my sister-in-law Merriam, She is 18. And her friend Ilham.

Example of the American Toothy Grin: My sister and I

YAY dental care!
Do you think some cultures might smile differently? Why or Why not?

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I don't show my teeth when I smile. I had people tell me that I need to smile. I was like I do smile. I don't know why some people think you need to show your teeth for it to be a smile. I actually prefer the nonteeth smile to the tooth smile.
- 9/5/2009 10:22 AM
- Kristenmomof3@xanga (message)
- reply
i'm Iraqi and i live in the UK. we smile big and show our teeth, too. (PS. our dental care is soooo better than yours! haha jk)
in Iraq, people smile the same as me.
i also know Egyptians and they don't smile like in the photo, haha. they just smile normally like me. but maybe that's because they grew up here in the UK, i guess.
it depends on how funny/nice the thing is. if it's nice, i'll smile like Ilham there, without showing my teeth. but for photos or if i'm happy, i'll show my teeth.
did Atta grow up in America?
that story you told was sooooooo cute, though, haha. hilarious.
- 9/5/2009 10:30 AM
- OhItWontBeForever@xanga (message)
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OMG. no. come to think of it (and after looking through Iraq-holiday-photos), omg, you're right, haha. they (most of the time) don't show their teeth over there. whaaaaat?! i never thought about that. WOW!
some people have done, but for the most parts, they just smile like Ilham. hmmm, it may have something to do with the (attrocious) dental care out there.
- 9/5/2009 10:33 AM
- OhItWontBeForever@xanga (message)
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i read in japan it's considered rude to show your teeth when you smile, so people will cup their hands over their mouths when they laugh. maybe it's the same in other places?
- 9/5/2009 10:36 AM
- soyeahthatswhathappened@xanga (message)
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I never show my teeth when I smile, I am a little bit shy how my teeth look sometimes.

I think it sometimes to do with teeth.
- 9/5/2009 10:38 AM
- my_final_username@xanga (message)
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I never thought about but probably. This post cracked me up.
- 9/5/2009 10:39 AM
- Erika_Steele@xanga (message)
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i think in some asian cultures or at least in korea and taiwan they don't like to smile with their teeth showing.
- 9/5/2009 11:38 AM
- snapeful@xanga (message)
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I smile big toothy grins and squint my eyes! I think Japenese people do it too, I always see them smiling huge.
Oh nevermind, I saw a girl say that it's rude or something in Japan....there's still lots of pictures of Japanese girls grinning and giving the peace sign.
- 9/5/2009 12:14 PM
- cutesycharm@xanga (message)
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@snapeful@xanga - It's like that in China, too. Or was for women, at least. You were supposed to be a respectful, shy girl and cover your teeth when you smiled. Things are changing in the more western areas, though...
- 9/5/2009 12:32 PM
- ELIZerson@xanga (message)
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i don't think so. i think it's how our mouth is shaped or whether we want to smile showing our teeth, or not.

btw i love the smile on the first picture. :B
- 9/5/2009 1:12 PM
- xueyo@xanga (message)
- reply
yeah, i think asian girls are supposed to be "shy." eye roll. from what i notice, big laughs/wide smiles aren't look upon favorably, and i suppose they go against the big eyes/small mouth/docile girl paradigm.
- 9/5/2009 1:17 PM
- MissPixieGlitter@xanga (message)
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@soyeahthatswhathappened@xanga - thats very interesting! I never knew!
- 9/5/2009 1:23 PM
- dolcecorazon@dollarish (message)
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Well, the weird thing is when I grin or smile, it looks like I'm angry or sneering when I'm not!! I have to force myself to show teeth and open my eyes. I think it's just the way my face was made and for the longest time, I would cover my smile with my hand because I was so self-conscious and didn't want to accidentally offend anyone (not because I am an asian female). Then I practiced smiling in the mirror...and I think I got it down.... :o)
Lol, in the first picture, I think having arched eyebrows and wide eyes helps with the smile.
- 9/5/2009 4:17 PM
- thegreenlinda@xanga (message)
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Yeah, I think so. Sometimes people on other STATES might smile differently.
- 9/5/2009 5:52 PM
- laurasaurusrex@xanga (message)
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If you smile like an idiot then you look different than the rest of us. So yes, there is a difference in smiles.
- 9/5/2009 5:54 PM
- NikBv@xanga (message)
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When I was little my mom and grandma always told me not to show teeth when I smiled. In fourth grade I had a teacher who, one time, wouldn't let our table go on bathroom break until we "showed our pearly whites" in a smile. We were last because I had been taught not to smile that way :(
- 9/5/2009 7:17 PM
- black_lie@xanga (message)
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i think so ?
- 9/6/2009 1:35 AM
- soberheartss@xanga (message)
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I suppose, in Asia, they consider wide smiles "less attractive" than those in America.. They think it's decent, feminine, and beautiful to smile with their mouths closed. I'm not saying all of Asia, or most of Asia. Teeth have a huge impact on esteem, so some people might cover their mouths whenever they laugh or grin.
- 9/6/2009 5:06 AM
- BlehhItsTu@xanga (message)
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@BlehhItsTu@xanga - Agreed
- 9/6/2009 3:02 PM
- soniiuh@xanga (message)
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i smile genuinely really really wide. but i've heard that smiling with teeth make me look younger and more childish. i've even sometimes had my boyfriend tell me to just kind if smile without my teeth because i assume it's a sexier older look? but fuck that, i like to smile the way i do. :D
- 9/6/2009 6:32 PM
- zockonzockon@xanga (message)
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I'm from the US, but I never smile with my teeth. I don't like how my teeth look, so I never let them get caught on camera.
- 9/6/2009 6:49 PM
- swtvtgrl4o8@xanga (message)
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I live in Québec, my boyfriend's English and I can guarantee that we smile showing lots of teeth. :D
- 9/6/2009 7:23 PM
- alicec00per@xanga (message)
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i think it just depends on the person, not exactly culture.
- 9/6/2009 7:53 PM
- xchinkylaydee@xanga (message)
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o-o Hm. I don't like showing my teeth when I smile, and when I laugh, I cover my mouth. I dunno why, it became a habit I guess.
- 9/6/2009 9:01 PM
- mywordsx@xanga (message)
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Wow. I thought the smile was universal.
- 9/6/2009 10:31 PM
- adventist_pathfinder@xanga (message)
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