One of the few female faces on stage at the latest Apple Keynote Event was a digital Photoshop model, and apparently Apple had a problem with her neutral face.
At the event on Wednesday, presenter Eric Snowden came on stage to demonstrate the capabilities of Photoshop on the new iPad Pro. While the new piece of technology was impressive, there was one issue with Snowden's presentation -- he made a point in changing the model's mouth so she looked like she was smiling.
Changing the otherwise neutral gaze of the woman's face -- or, some would say, her "resting bitch face" since she doesn't have a naturally upturned mouth -- is not insignificant. Even though he may have made the change innocuously, it points to a recurring problem of women being harassed for not smiling on the street or being labeled as "bitchy" in their jobs or personal lives.
Apple has received some criticism recently about it's lack of diversity, which CEO Tim Cook has acknowledged. However, the Photoshop model was one of a handful of female faces that were seen at the event -- and her image was almost immediately digitally altered.
Many people on social media noticed Apple's misguided presentation choice, and very few people are smiling about it either.
After all the stick Apple get about women & they choose to PHOTOSHOP A WOMAN'S FACE. I cannot. #AppleEvent— Guardian Tech (@guardiantech) September 9, 2015
The Apple keynote or: if you can’t get a woman to talk on stage, you can at least photoshop one live — Monica Dinosaurescu (@notwaldorf) September 9, 2015
First woman on stage and she got photoshopped. #appleEvent— Greg (@elgreg) September 9, 2015
So you're telling me no one in @apple PR previewed this Adobe demo and was like "guys, let's not force a woman to smile during this."— Nilkanth Patel (@nilkanthjp) September 9, 2015
Stop telling women to smile Apple— Femsplain (@femsplain) September 9, 2015
When men tell you to smile. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/pDZFhgaWUe— Donna Dickens (@MildlyAmused) September 9, 2015
wow before apple vs after apple wow technology pic.twitter.com/kiUP9icXqP— ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ ɔʇ (@chillmage) September 9, 2015
DEAR APPLE DUDE WHY ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO PHOTOSHOP LADIES? We don't have to smile for you.— Rachael Berkey (@bookoisseur) September 9, 2015
Are you kidding me? Now Photoshop is being used to change a woman's smile!? Don't worry ladies, no more RBF!!! #AppleEvent— Shiva Ram (@SubtlePerson) September 9, 2015
Did they really just use Photoshop in a demo to force a woman to smile? How is this really happening? #AppleEvent— Rachel King (@rachelking) September 9, 2015
Adobe Photoshop Fix. When women just aren’t smiling enough for techbros. Did they not run this idea past anyone?! #AppleEvent— John Walton (@thatjohn) September 9, 2015