The perfect playlist for ignoring people who tell you to smile

Welcome to This Week’s Playlist, where we look to current events for some curation inspiration. Tune in every Friday for a mix of news, commentary, and of course, music.

There is nothing wrong with smiling. If the weather’s that perfect mix of balmy and breezy, smile! If someone tips you way more than 20% with no ulterior motives, smile! If a man on the street calls out to you that you’d look so much prettier if you just perked your mouth up — uhhh, hold up.

Counterpoint: There’s nothing wrong with smiling when you’re happy. But to be told that you should be smiling, despite everything else you’re going through? (Like with Serena Williams.) To be constantly shown images of men correcting/calling out women’s unsmiling faces? (Like with Apple’s Photoshop fail.) There’s a reason why Tatyana Fazlalizadeh’s “Stop Telling Women To Smile” art is so popular — it is exhausting being on all the time, and for anybody but yourself? Not a chance.

With that in mind, we’ve put together the perfect playlist to blast when some rando on the street tells you to smile. These are all songs that explore street harassment, women’s consent over their own bodies and expressions, and of course, the fact that in this day and age, it’s still an ordeal to be out and about living our own lives. To quote Empress Of’s “Kitty Kat,” “Let me walk away” — smiling or not.

The Broad City gals know what’s up.

Image via here.