How to Sit? How to Smile?
How should one smile? There is a proper way to smile. There is a special beauty in the smile of a woman who smiles without making herself look ugly and without showing off in a way that might upset or annoy those around her.
Our curiosity about teaching women what to do and how to do it goes back more than a century.
One hundred and twelve years ago, in 1913, Afiyet magazine began publication. In its own words, it was an illustrated newspaper that discussed ‘health, home and administrative matters other than politics.’
Published by Sisak Ferit and edited by Avanzade Mehmed Süleyman, the magazine was printed at the Lüsyen Printing House in Galata.
The magazine provided illustrated and written instructions on how women should sit:
This picture shows seven women sitting in different positions.
The position on the far left of the top row is numbered 1, the position to its right is numbered 2, the position on the far left of the middle row is numbered 3, the position to its right is numbered 4, the position to its right is numbered 5, the position on the far left of the bottom row is numbered 6, and the position to its right is numbered 7.
How should one sit? There are rules and etiquette for sitting, and one should not sit in the positions shown in figures 1, 2, 6, and 7. An intelligent woman would never sit in this manner. The acceptable ways to sit are shown in figures 3 and 5.
Note: Although the sitting position of the woman huddled in the fourth position is not prohibited, it is also not recommended.
The magazine in question also clarifies how women should smile.
The magazine features photographs of the same woman in five different smiling poses. The pose on the left in the top row is numbered 1, the pose to its right is numbered 2, the pose in the middle row is numbered 3, the pose on the left in the bottom row is numbered 4, and the pose to its right is numbered 5.
Now let's read the text below the photographs:
How should one smile? There is a proper way to smile. There is a special charm in the smile of a woman who smiles without being self-conscious or causing others to dislike her. (There is a special beauty in the smile of a woman who smiles without being self-conscious or causing others to dislike her by being ostentatious or causing discomfort.)
One should not laugh with a loud laugh like the women in figures 2, 3, and 4. One should laugh like the women in figures 1 and 5 so as not to spoil beauty and to bestow grace upon those around them.
I asked Artificial Intelligence (AI) about the proper etiquette for sitting in today's world. You can compare the three correct and three incorrect sitting postures AI provided for women with the proper etiquette for sitting from a hundred years ago.
The seating arrangement most recommended by Artificial Intelligence is as follows.
