A friend just sent me this article (and audio interview) in the New York Times. It is an interview with four women scientists at the top of their fields. I am curious about how others felt upon reading (or listening to) this interview.
Did the interview:
A) Inspire you
B) Make you question your decision to be a scientist
C) Produce no strong reaction either way
Also, are you a scientist? Are you male or female? Do you have children?
Did the interview:
A) Inspire you
B) Make you question your decision to be a scientist
C) Produce no strong reaction either way
Also, are you a scientist? Are you male or female? Do you have children?
6 comments:
The worst thing the interview was when one women said that the middle of the night saved her. Finally, everybody was asleep and she could work. What about sleeping herself? What kind of environment is it if you have to give up sleep on a regular basis in order to stay in the game?
I found this interview infuriating! Why do women have to work so much harder than everyone else? Why is it that when everyone is asleep, what saves us is the middle of the night? When do we sleep? Why do you have to be made out of titanium to make it as a woman is science? This is ridiculous. No wonder science loses so many women along the pipeline. As a discipline, the sciences try to recruit rational and intelligent people, but could it be that rational, intelligent women are currently deciding that a career as a research scientist may not be the most rational decision? The culture needs to change. This would benefit both females and males in science, and the scientific enterprise would benefit from keeping the intelligence and awareness brought by female (and male) scientists who operate in a collaborative (rather than combative or competitive) fashion.
@ Anon 9:33 and 9:43. Are you scientists? Are you male or female?
Anon 9:33 here. I am a female scientist with kids
I am also a female scientist with children (Anon 9:43)
The article produced no strong reaction either way for me. Even the bit about working at night. I've always worked at night. But then again, I can sleep in the next morning if needed.
Female scientist without kids
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