History Main / StepFordSmiler

See also BeneathTheMask, BitchInSheepsClothing, BrokenAce, ComedicSociopathy, EvilMatriarch, ExtremeDoormat, TheFakeCutie, FauxAffablyEvil, IJustWantToBeNormal, MarySue, {{Masquerade}}, ThinkHappyThoughts, UncannyValleyGirl, {{Yandere}}, and the darker variants of MinnesotaNice. The CrapsaccharineWorld is basically this trope upscaled to include the entire society.

'''Depressed''' The character seems to be happy, cheerful, is always smiling and seems to live a perfect life - [[BeneathTheMask but inside]] [[TheEeyore they are melancholic, if not outright depressed]].

'''Empty''' The character seems to be [[ThePollyanna kind and cheerful]], but [[TrueSelf is actually]] [[ExtremeDoormat motiveless]] and [[EmptyShell hollow]].

'''Unstable''' The smile [[AxCrazy hides mental instability, and even madness]].

%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.

->''"I'' know ''smiles, and those smiles... they're just not right!"''
-->-- '''Pinkie Pie''', ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''

Not every {{Housewife}} is a Stepford Smiler, obviously. They often encounter one as a nemesis instead, in a post-HighSchool example of the AlphaBitch. Still, some readers describe ''any'' Housewife raising her own children as a Stepford Smiler [[RealWomenNeverWearDresses on little if any evidence]], bringing in the UnfortunateImplications about "staying at home = women being slaves of [[TheUnfairSex those evil men]]."

-->-- '''Pinkie Pie''', ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''

->''"He always smiled, and he always chuckled, but inside he did not notice anyone, did not care; it was his body that smiled, nodded and shook hands. Nothing touched his mind, which remained remote."''
-->-- '''Creator/PhilipKDick''', ''Literature/{{Ubik}}''

'''Type A: Depressed''' The character seems to be happy, cheerful, is always smiling and seems to live a perfect life - [[BeneathTheMask but inside]] [[TheEeyore they are melancholic, if not outright depressed]].

'''Type B: Empty''' The character seems to be [[ThePollyanna kind and cheerful]], but [[TrueSelf is actually]] [[ExtremeDoormat motiveless]] and [[EmptyShell hollow]].

'''Type C: Unstable''' The smile [[AxCrazy hides mental instability, and even madness]].

Type A {{Hero|es}}ines or show co-stars that are Stepford Smilers can either be played straight, or played to gain viewer sympathy as they struggle to live up to their own impossible ideals. {{Villain|s}}esses like the EvilMatriarch who are Stepford Smilers are usually played one of two ways: it can either humanize them, much like the heroine, or it can accentuate their evil by contrasting it with their soullessness. Feminine pronouns are used throughout this trope because the Stepford Smiler is a [[AlwaysFemale traditionally female]] role, though there are many male examples too. Sometimes, they're even a couple.

The Type B's mask itself can also hide a terrible secret... ''there is '''nothing''' behind it.'' The void is either a result of using up so much energy [[IJustWantToBeNormal pretending to be normal]] that nothing is left over, or because there was [[TheSoulless nothing there to begin with.]] The [[TropeNamers trope-naming]] [[Literature/TheStepfordWives Stepford Wives]] fall into this second category, naturally.

There is a very good chance that she is dosed up on prescription tranquilizers or antidepressants (Valium, Xanax, and/or Prozac are staple favorites)--or good old fashioned over-the-counter alcohol--often to the point of dependence. With or without drugs, if a Stepford Smiler smiles long enough without [[BrokenSmile cracking]], she can ''{{becom|ingTheMask}}e'' [[BecomingTheMask the mask]] and turn into a Type C. Some Stepford Smilers buy into the dead {{Franchise/Barbie}} smiles to such a degree that they care for ''nothing'' other than maintaining appearances, having money, making sure their [[GoodHairEvilHair hair is]] ''[[PowerHair just right,]]'' and improving their social standing, all of which are pursued with equally {{Social Darwinist}}ic means. Essentially, they become the materialist equivalent of the NietzscheWannabe. Type C characters sometimes have [[SlasherSmile another kind of smile]] behind the fake one.

[[quoteright:350:[[Literature/TheStepfordWives http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/50436494_9727.jpg]]]]

Type A {{Hero|es}}ines or show co-stars that are Stepford Smilers can either be played straight (they really are that [[TheDitz shallow]]) or to gain viewer sympathy as they struggle to live up to their own impossible ideals. {{Villain|s}}esses like the EvilMatriarch who are Stepford Smilers are usually played one of two ways: it can either humanize them, much like the heroine, or it can accentuate their evil by contrasting it with their soullessness. Feminine pronouns are used throughout this trope because the Stepford Smiler is a [[AlwaysFemale traditionally female]] role, though there are many male examples too. Sometimes, they're even a couple.

The Stepford Smiler is obsessed with projecting an image of wholesome happiness in order to be accepted by her peers. Tragically enough, they'd probably [[ThePowerOfFriendship accept her]] for who she is regardless of her self-imposed {{Masquerade}}. Her flawlessly crafted facade hides a real person that's usually breaking so much like fine china in order to keep up the deception.

There is a very good chance that she is dosed up on prescription tranquilizers or antidepressants (Valium, Xanax, and/or Prozac are staple favorites)--or good old fashioned over-the-counter alcohol--often to the point of dependence. With or without drugs, if a Stepford Smiler smiles long enough without [[BrokenSmile cracking]], she can ''{{becom|ingTheMask}}e'' [[BecomingTheMask the mask]] and turn into a Type C. Some Stepford Smilers buy into the dead {{Barbie}} smiles to such a degree that they care for ''nothing'' other than maintaining appearances, having money, making sure their [[GoodHairEvilHair hair is]] ''[[PowerHair just right,]]'' and improving their social standing, all of which are pursued with equally {{Social Darwinist}}ic means. Essentially, they become the materialist equivalent of the NietzscheWannabe. Type C characters sometimes have [[SlasherSmile another kind of smile]] behind the fake one.

'''Type C: Unstable''' The smile [[AxCrazy hides mental instability, if not outright madness]].

'''Type B: Empty''' The character seems to be [[ThePolyanna kind and cheerful]], but [[TrueSelf is actually]] [[ExtremeDoormat motiveless]] and [[EmptyShell hollow]].

There is a very good chance that she is dosed up on prescription tranquilizers or antidepressants (Valium, Xanax, and/or Prozac are staple favorites), often to the point of dependence. With or without drugs, if a Stepford Smiler smiles long enough without [[BrokenSmile cracking]], she can ''{{becom|ingTheMask}}e'' [[BecomingTheMask the mask]] and turn into a Type C. Some Stepford Smilers buy into the dead {{Barbie}} smiles to such a degree that they care for ''nothing'' other than maintaining appearances, having money, making sure their [[GoodHairEvilHair hair is]] ''[[PowerHair just right,]]'' and improving their social standing, all of which are pursued with equally {{Social Darwinist}}ic means. Essentially, they become the materialist equivalent of the NietzscheWannabe. Type C characters sometimes have [[SlasherSmile another kind of smile]] behind the fake one.

'''Type A: Depressed''' The character seems to be happy, cheerful, is always smiling and seems to live a perfect life, [[BeneathTheMask but inside]] [[TheEeyore is melancholic, if not outright depressed]].

'''Type B: Empty''' The character seems to be kind and cheerful, but [[TrueSelf is actually]] [[ExtremeDoormat motiveless]] and [[EmptyShell hollow]].

'''Type A: Depressed''' The character seems to be happy, cheerful, is always smiling and seems to live a perfect life, [[BeneathTheMask but inside]] [[TheEeyore she feels very sad and depressed]].

'''Type B: Empty''' The character seems to be kind and cheerful, but her TrueSelf is [[ExtremeDoormat motiveless]] and [[EmptyShell hollow]].

'''Type C: Unstable''' The smile [[AxCrazy hides a very unstable and crazy person]].

-> ''Inside my heart is breaking\\
My makeup may be flaking\\
But my smile still stays on.''
-->-- Music/{{Queen}}, "The Show Must Go On"

--> "Inside my heart is breaking/My makeup may be flaking/But my smile still stays on."
-->-- "Music/{{Queen}}" "The Show Must Go On"

The Stepford Smiler is obsessed with projecting an image of wholesome happiness in order to be accepted by her peers. Tragically enough, they'd probably [[ThePowerOfFriendship accept her]] for who she is regardless of her self-imposed {{Masquerade}}. Her flawlessly crafted facade hides a real person that's usually breaking like so much fine china in order to keep up the deception.

----
'''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle 8D]]'''

--> "Inside my heart is breaking/My makeup may be flaking/But my smile stays on."

'''Type C: Unstable''' The smile [[CuteAndPsycho hides a very unstable and crazy person]].

[[quoteright:350:[[TheStepfordWives http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/50436494_9727.jpg]]]]

The Type B's mask itself can also hide a terrible secret... ''there is '''nothing''' behind it.'' The void is either a result of using up so much energy [[IJustWantToBeNormal pretending to be normal]] that nothing is left over, or because there was [[TheSoulless nothing there to begin with.]] The [[TropeNamer trope-naming]] [[TheStepfordWives Stepford Wives]] fall into this second category, naturally.

The Stepford Smiler gets her name (as does the StepfordSuburbia in which she lives) from the book and later movies ''TheStepfordWives'', about a village whose men conspire to create the Barbie perfect wife, all with similar eerie smiles.

* StepfordSmiler/ProWrestling

--.-- "Music/{{Queen}}" "The Show Must Go On"

'''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle 8=D]]'''

'''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle 8-D]]'''