Scientific Barbies from Guest Kate Sleeth
The first lady is a unique case who has chosen a non-conformist path to deliberately provoke debate, potentially similar to Erin Brockovich (who in the film refuses to change her wardrobe to be taken seriously). The second case is definitely a Scientific Barbie and is far more damaging; she is far from unique and isn't trying to make any grandiose statements. She is simply trying to get by using the minimum of effort and her "charms". Anyone who meets her may begin to wonder how many other women in science also resort to such distractions and may not deserve the positions they hold on their scientific merits alone. Clearly if you are a woman in science this is not how you want to be perceived and are probably aghast that because of the actions of a few, the many may be tarnished. The message needs to be sent loud and clear that the vast majority of women in science have fairly earned their positions and are knowledgeable or their research fields and business environment; that the vast majority do not appreciate the small handful of women who attempt to take an easier path to success. We need to ensure that impressionable women who are beginning their scientific careers are surrounded by good mentors; otherwise the Barbie phenotype may go viral and increase in number until they are no longer a small proportion of the population.
I've met several different versions of Barbie during my scientific career as Kate describes. And the Type B used to annoy me in particular, but then I realized I would not judge a man that harshly and I got over it as some of the other posters have also said.
If someone choses to present herself in a less than professional manner, it's up to her to decide that and deal with the consequences that come along with it.
I think that men are well able to differentiate between a woman as a scientist vs. as a "friend with benefits". I have seen men who are having an affair with a woman scientist who are still appropriately critical of her scientific work. And men who were rebuffed by a barbie praise the work of the woman who rejected them.
So all in all I don't think it affects things much.
What I can recommend is that they don't wear those miniskirts and heels in the lab...that's a safety issue! Put on a lab coat and some closed toe shoes please.
I think I have to agree with some of the sentiments posted by postdoc cat. I don't think that the first woman is hurt by her dress. She is quite well known and successful, clearly her wardrobe didn't stop or hurt her. Perhaps it helped???????? It is awful to ponder, but I agree that a male scientist may be more likely to talk to the miniskirt-wearing scientists over the one in boring/conservative dress.
Regarding the ditz, some woman are insecure and it comes out as ditzy. It is not helpful, I agree.
I think it's their own business. They do, however, strike me as the young women we've been discussing earlier this week, who choose love over science, in a manner of speaking. It doesn't matter to them that people understand and value their science as much as that their attractiveness as a sex object is validated, I guess. Not where I want to be, but I think it's sad and misguided not really destructive. FBP
I feel that the men's response is more the problem than the women's actions. If they didn't react, the women would stop doing it, right? I've seen men practically drool over an attractive speaker and ignore a less flamboyant one with much more impressive data.
