I Spent a Month Trying to Smile Like Zohran Mamdani — No Easy Feat
Arwa Mahdawi spent a month attempting to imitate the perpetual smile of Zohran Mamdani, the incoming mayor of New York, known for maintaining his grin during confrontations, including exchanges with Donald Trump. Mamdani's campaign faced attacks questioning his citizenship path and calling for his deportation, yet his persistent smile has been described as subversive, undermining critics who expect anger from him.
The article discusses the complex relationship between smiling and mood, citing research debates. Some studies suggest smiling can improve mood, while others find no effect. A newer study points to a slight mood boost but clarifies that smiling is not a cure for depression.
Racialized emotional policing also features prominently, with American Psychological Association research indicating that Black children are more often perceived by teachers as angry. A line from Rudyard Kipling about “sullen peoples” is referenced to highlight enduring stereotypes.
The gender dynamics of smiling are examined through the concept of a gender rage gap and the social pressures on women to smile. Examples include Hillary Clinton being told to smile during the 2016 campaign and cultural references to Serena Williams as related tropes.
In her experiment, Mahdawi found that smiling lowered her heart rate and helped reset her emotions but also caused cheek ache and resulted in unflattering photos. Despite this, she plans to retain smiling as a tool for difficult moments and views joy itself as a potential act of resistance.
