Hmmm...

[muckefuck]

I've long considered the tendency of retail businesses to put young women to work at the register rather than in the storeroom or the kitchen a natural consequence of (predominately male) managers' desire to greet customers with a pretty female face. Well, that and a prejudice that women are too delicate for strenuous tasks like unloading pallets or manning a hot grill. But a recent discussion reminded me of the stunning degree to which women in our culture are socialised to be constantly pleasant and friendly in a way not generally expected of men. So even if you were choosing your cashiers strictly on the basis of ability--primarily the ability to be courteous to strangers for long periods--you would end up selecting many more women than men.

Comments

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

No, really, it's biological. We smile because it helps keep our breasts up.

It's an interesting point, though, and actually generalizes to other jobs like "receptionist" or "travel agent". Hm.

[keyne.livejournal.com]

No, really, it's biological. We smile because it helps keep our breasts up.

Is that the trick? Ah, well, too late for me!

[pklexton.livejournal.com]

Funny. You don't see a lot of sixty year old white men as receptionists.

[lil-m-moses.livejournal.com]

Except at Wal-Mart.

[(Anonymous)]

Believe it or not, there are cultures in this world that consider smiling all the time or even a lot - a sign of mental retardation or the trademark of a salesman or a conman. An intelligent, adequate, and trustworthy person is not expected to smile all the time. Even if they are a woman.
By the way, in that discussion none of those complainiing gals mentioned the use of ever sobering 'pardon?'.

[innerdoggie.livejournal.com]

And you stop being ordered to smile all the time once you reach middle age.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

When you reach middle age, that's when your develop your invisibility powers!