tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post1791791917194489422..comments2024-03-19T05:33:56.516-04:00Comments on Women In Astronomy: Is science is in the eye of the beholder? [Hint: NO]Amanpreet Kaurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08734178178113146899noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-57290101267455526472015-02-19T08:14:43.806-05:002015-02-19T08:14:43.806-05:00You're a great girl. I advocate you.You're a great girl. I advocate you.Lisahttp://www.hoodietshirt.com/2014/12/its-where-my-story-begins.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-67206403922628395722014-11-24T07:00:52.476-05:002014-11-24T07:00:52.476-05:00In no way do I mean the following to take away fro...In no way do I mean the following to take away from any of the points that you made, all of which I agree with and think are spot-on and insightful, but: as a man and a scientist, I can tell you that telling a male scientist you are surprised that, being a scientist, he has an athletic body, is probably not going to bother him. It's still good to avoid comments like this, but mostly for reasons of professionalism (and a professional environment will help keep men from making these comments to women). Men and women experience our society differently in some ways, and this unfortunately makes it difficult to explain women's experiences to them using gender-swapping parables.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-89620597431805933442014-06-22T13:32:53.733-04:002014-06-22T13:32:53.733-04:00I know this comment is kind of late to the party, ...I know this comment is kind of late to the party, but I think we're somewhat mixing male-female issues with the basic stereotype most people have of scientists. If you ask the average person on the street what a scientist looks like, it will be something like Einstein, or in a lab cost with glasses mixing up colored test tubes. If they envision a female, it will almost always be a dour, severe, person with glasses on chain and a tight bun.<br /><br />This stereotype of a scientist is reinforced by text books which are illustrated by classic stereotypical images; by pop culture; TV and movies. The general public has been educated since kindergarten to think of scientists as dull, boring, unattractive, poorly dressed, socially inept people who can do those hard subjects like math.<br /><br />So, when someone says you don't look like a scientist, it can also be the surprise of seeing years of "education" and belief upended by the meeting. Better to use the opportunity to educate them than take offense. Plenty of true pigs for us to be offended over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-75134033480433753792014-04-15T00:14:06.836-04:002014-04-15T00:14:06.836-04:00Thanks for the post! I never realized this before ...Thanks for the post! I never realized this before but you are completely right, I work with a male scientist who looks much more like a "jock" than a scientist, something I've obviously noticed but would never comment on. On the other hand, I've lost count of the number of similar comments on my appearance falling outside the stereotypical scientist. The one I hear the most and have the hardest time with is: "YOU'RE in physics?! you must be so smart" which is always well-meaning, but I always find to be condescending and demeaning. Yes, I'm a female in science... and thanks for the double-whammy to let me know that I'm not fitting into the stereotypical persona you created for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-20869717936740658082013-12-18T00:08:28.424-05:002013-12-18T00:08:28.424-05:00At a family party this fall, my four-year-old grea...At a family party this fall, my four-year-old great nephew was playing with Leggos. He didn't approve of a little plastic scientist because the "minifig" was a girl and girls can't be scientists. I said, "I'm a scientist and I'm a girl!" He looked like he didn't believe me. (As a field botanist I don't wear lab coats, I admit.) Others assured him that girls can be scientists. He remained skeptical.<br /><br />We have a lot of work to do. Sigh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-69616137935048096472013-12-15T15:37:22.989-05:002013-12-15T15:37:22.989-05:00Renee - Thanks for the post! Why don't you s...Renee - Thanks for the post! Why don't you sign up as your own identity under the "Women in Astronomy" blog, instead of existing under some male's heading? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-5859760434181856502013-12-15T13:33:26.195-05:002013-12-15T13:33:26.195-05:00I too think we can navigate this in a productive a...I too think we can navigate this in a productive and non-threatening way. I have two daughters that I hope will not have to face blatant or (worse yet) well concealed sexism.SJMCKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-25176389190319495362013-12-14T17:43:36.915-05:002013-12-14T17:43:36.915-05:00Something similar (though not _quite_ as sexist) h...Something similar (though not _quite_ as sexist) happened to me during a similar background check interview for a colleague. I told someone about it afterward and got the sense that background check people are specifically encouraged to do this, because they believe it puts you at ease. ha hA HA, I guess they need to get a clue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-29794708489356306392013-12-13T16:51:38.775-05:002013-12-13T16:51:38.775-05:00I took the Project Implicit test and received the ...I took the Project Implicit test and received the result "Your data suggest a strong automatic association of Male with Science and Female with Liberal Arts compared to Female with Science and Male with Liberal Arts." as opposed to 'slight', 'moderate', or 'little to no preference'.<br />I have been troubled for a long time about sexism in general, let alone in the sciences. Even though I consider myself an intellectual, educated liberal with an interest in the sciences, my attitude seems to be colored when I encounter females in the workplace. As a career college instructor, I work alongside an all-female medical and dental assisting department. But their department happens to have a male chair. Meanwhile, administration is staffed entirely by women, with the notable exception of the campus president. This hierarchy has faced changes. Prior to the current president, a female ran the campus, and her methods and attitude brought disaster. The current president, although not a complete train-wreck, is a sexist pig (pardon the French), who makes public comments about staff that I find appalling. Much like the example you gave, I think our president is oblivious. He has to be, otherwise he wouldn't call teachers "scumbags" and "edutainers", nor would he sanction an outdoor dunk-tank for October holiday festivities, what faculty disparaged as the "wet T-shirt contest". My take on these and other humiliations? There but for the grace of god go I.<br />You see, when I say I've been troubled, I mean to say that my first impression on seeing an attractive coworker is not to align her appearance with her occupation. Rather, I gawk. I ogle. Perhaps Americans are preoccupied with Prudery, having subjected our society to conflicting moral constraints. Look, don't touch. Comment, but with taste, otherwise you run the risk of sounding perverted, which some men, myself included, tend to disguise as comedy, a slip: speak first, apologize later.<br />Another part of me is jealous that culturally, women have a much more broad range of attire to draw on, while men are relegated to shirts and pants (I'm currently boycotting the tie). But that's only a symptom of the deeper sexual longing or tension we're discussing. Personally, I find that monogamy is overrated, but poly-amorous relations, taken too often, cause headaches.<br />It may, in sum, be as you say: focus on the message and not the person, which is difficult when you (and by 'you' I mean me) would like to say "Wow, you are pretty!" As a professional dealing with staff and students, I hold myself back every day. I'm not a wanker. It is just frustrating, not to mention difficult, to emphasize and act on rational thoughts when the message sent by the senses about an attractive woman is, by far, receiving my neuron's most attention.David A. Czubahttp://www.linkedin.com/in/davidczubanoreply@blogger.com