How Not To Promote Science

[magog_83]

I know I have some scientists on my flist, so I have to ask - what in the name of Dr Liz Shaw and women scientists everywhere were the European Commission THINKING when they made this 'ad' to promote women in science DDDDD:

Women scientists on twitter are already on the case. As is this blogger with a great article.

Also check out the This is What a Scientist Looks Like tumblr for more pictures of real life women who do science.

(links filched from i09)

Just for this, I am bringing out the Anne Icon of Awesome.

Comments

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

If it is, they haven't got around to yelling FOOLED YOU yet :(

I have to ask you - as a scientist - just what was it about the lipstick and high heel opportunities that attracted you to your career?

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is, this video isn't even selling why science can be exciting and interesting. I'm not a scientist but I didn't feel I particularly learned anything about the (huge and varied) field that is science from that awful, tacky, pink ad. If, as you say, there is a real gender problem here, and I suppose there is for the EC to be focusing on it, then why on earth are they tackling a 'gender' issue by using outdated and patronising gender stereotypes.

[colacube.livejournal.com]

My lab has three men to seven women. I've always seen the gender bias the other way and I don't see why it matters anyway. As you say, surely it's about finding people who are interested, regardless of what they keep in their trousers.

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

I just heard a story about how big princesses are for little girls on the radio yesterday. I even posted about it.

I think it's a related issue. Urgh. I am failing to articulate anything this week and I can't connect the dots here, but trying to make science into something essentially "princessy" does all of us a disservice.

I loved the Sherlock ep where Adler (I think it was) said something about Brainy being the new sexy. That's definitely where my values lie and I walk that walk.

(I really super duper need a geek!girl icon because while tesla coil hat boy is adorable, he does not represent geek!girls.)

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

By the way, the best comment underneath the video on youtube...

"Whoever approved this, it seems like a pretty complicated way to resign."

[colacube.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'm not sure I'd want to be sharing lab space with the sort of women who would require this sort of ad to convince them.

This. Besides, PPE isn't exactly going to go with their sense of style. *facepalms*

[vicious-seagull.livejournal.com]

God, the whole time I was watching it I kept expecting it to be a commercial for H&M or something. Even that would be offensive. I can't even-WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?????

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I kept waiting for the 'but seriously, folks...' AND IT NEVER CAME. Did the girls even do any science? I admit I was face palming extremely hard by the last 30 seconds or so, but all I saw was a man in a lab coat.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Hello :)

Also, yes!

Going out of the way to show female scientists as attractive, girly-girls just reinforces the ridiculous stereotype that female scientists are not feminine or attractive women.

Agreed. It also seems bizarre to me that they are tackling the issue of science apparently being difficult for women to study and find work in - by using stupid, patronising stereotypes which quite possibly contribute to the field being difficult for women to study or find work in... It's also clearly NOT putting female scientists on a level with their male counterparts (and what is the man in the video even doing? Judging them for a beauty pageant?)

I'm mad this ad treats intelligent woman as one uniform group. We have girly-girls, nerds, athletes, artists, and party girls. And most of us have a bit of all of those in us. Science shouldn't have a stereotype at all, whether it's girly or nerdy.

Perfectly said. If there's a gender imbalance in science, I'm willing to bet stereotypes are a big part of the problem in the first place. Why couldn't they advertise science by showing the WORK and how fantastic and important it can be?

[colacube.livejournal.com]

*cries*

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

*joins you*

[colacube.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't get what my gender has to do with me being a scientist. And there are not enough words to describe the damage that video does in the area it's trying to help.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

UGH. what is that??? Personally, I'm sad that this is still an issue that needs attention. :/

I was just going through my highschool 'stuff' and found interview I did for our local paper about 'girls in science' because SHOCKER! I was a girl! and I was taking science! and I had just been accepted into uni to study Computer Science (er... different kind of science but they lumped it together for the purpose of the article).

The point is that it was 'exciting' in the nineties. YAY! look at girls who think Math and Science are awesome.

How sad is it that the same article could be written today. (and I think my hairstyle would be back in style too)

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Do you remember the controversy when Mattel brought out a Barbie who said "Math is hard!"? I was just reminded of that after your comment about younger girls in science and maths subjects. Ugh, I have also noticed a trend in TV and film - men are cool scientists and can be any age/weight/whatever, women are often 'sexy scientists' instead, even if their skills are also made very clear. I mean, of course there's no reason why women scientists can't be sexy too but can't they just be scientists?

I can only remember one female science teacher at my secondary school, and we had a lot of science teachers so maybe there really is a persistent imbalance still.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

Yes, that barbie thing wasawful. I hadno female math or science teachers. Only on female math prof throughout all uni. Actually i remember some courses where i was the only girl in a class of 200.


I m just sad it's still lke that. But ads like this one won,t help.

[sighnomore.livejournal.com]

This video response was just posted by somebody in the St. Andrews Feminist Society Facebook group. I find it quite amusing XD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vyAWyAUHpI&feature=colike

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

Lol. Loved it.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

That's a perfect response to it <3

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

So, just for the record, I am not a scientist, but um, what does that ad have to do with science? Why didn't they get some smoking hot scientists to do the ad? Gah. I am clearly too full of questions...:D

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

'natch! Good point.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha PERFECT

[capricornucopia.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, the video is now private? Progress? :D

I managed to catch it before that, and needless to say, that is not why I'm in science. I'd run the other way if I were a girl thinking of doing science and saw that ad.

Plus, it's general practice not to wear open-toed shoes in a lab*. Won't girls be devastated to find that out? ;)

*That being said, I have skirted the rule many a time and worn sandals while doing labwork, which is a no-no. But you didn't hear that from me.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Found another version to embed! YOU CANNOT CENSOR ME, EUROPEAN COMMISSION.

Apparently the original got too many negative votes, I can't think why.

You sound like a science rebel! :D I must admit, I have been known to flout the historian disapproval of mechanical pencils - do I look like I have time to endlessly sharpen when making notes in an archive? I need my pencils SHARP, dammit.

[sabriel75.livejournal.com]

This video disgusts and offends me. And in 3rd grade, I had a female teacher tell me girls weren't meant to learn Math or Science, at least not as easily as boys did. Such bullshit then and still even now, what ideals are we perpetuating? Every single still and shot of that advertisement belittles women.

I am so sick of having to fight for respect when it should be a given. Also, like the others said, gender does not, should not determine whether someone is good at something. Do what you like and love and be good at it. Let your actions count for what they are, and stand alone as whether or not you're qualified.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Bravo :D

It's time we stopped talking about 'can girls do science?' or 'can boys do English?' (since that always seems to be a girl's subject in every film/drama ever, unless you are the 'sensitive jock' when you might learn it too), and just asked ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS THING? THEN JUST BLOODY DO IT. Adverts like this are doing NOTHING to dispel stereotypes, if such stereotypes exist (and it seems they do). It makes it appear like science must be 'dumbed down' to appeal to us female types, and that is just offensive on many levels >:(

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

This!

[giecast.livejournal.com]

*blinks* What the hell did I just watch?? If they didn't have that "science: it's a girl thing" line at the end, I would think it's an ad for cosmetics. I mean, make-up spilling and flowing everywhere! Seriously, who green-lighted this? It's offensive!

That tumblr account with women scientists is very interesting. *clicks away*

[winter-rogue.livejournal.com]

O.O /shudders

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*weeps*

It's so true - I only studied science because of the outfits... and the make up...

*weeps some more*

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

I've just stumbled upon your Merlin fanfiction (I'm VERY late to this fandom) and browsed through your journal and found this - holy hell, WHAT A BUNCH OF SEXIST CRAP! I'd like to know just WHAT the people who came up with the idea and those who ok'ed it were thinking? And if this is really their mindset, then they don't belong into any positions with power.