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Ever since I decided to study physics (around age 15), I have been made to reconsider my belonging in science, people sometimes straight up questioning my choice or by making apparently neutral or even well-meaning claims. “Oh, physics and engineering are packed with boys!”, “You must be really clever, the math is hard!”, or even “how come you do not want to study medicine? Or nursing?” when I had never expressed the wish to do so whatsoever. Who even came up with the idea that there are some sciences suitable for women and others that are not? Consciously or not, we constantly tell girls that science is not the right path for them. Somehow, in the current year of 2020, there are still people (mainly old men) arguing that “biologically”, “genetically” even (!), girls are just simply not cut to do the science. That men are unable to work by our sides because we are distracting and not helpful. This has a lot to do with the stereotypes still surrounding scientists nowadays; think of The Big Bang Theory’s characters: nerdy men, absorbed by their work, for whom science is their topmost priority, awkward around people. And they are unapologetically so. But for women the requirements are different, you are supposed to be charming, caring, generous and attentive to the people around you. How do we reconcile these expectations? The answer is not easy, and the road ahead is not a bed of roses. We need to dismantle the patriarchal edifice that took so many years to set up, let us crush what women are supposed to be or not to be! First, we start by showing girls the women that have made it before us. No disrespect to Marie Curie, but enough with her being our only example of women in science. She is proof that you need to be awarded not one but TWO Nobel prices in order to be considered worthy of studying. We need to talk about Hedy Lamarr, Rosalind Franklin, Ada Lovelace, Emmy Noether, Vera Rubin, Lise Meitner and all the names not nearly that well-known that we have found about with time. Image credit Randall Munroe https://xkcd.com/896/ Then, we need to show up for each other, we need not to compete but to ally, and fight, and help one another. It is paramount that we speak up, that we cease to be silent when our work is stolen and our ideas dismissed. And we need to work hard; harder than our male counterparts probably, because that is just how things are right now. But they will not always be. We have to do it for our mothers, for our grandmothers, for the generations of women before us that were not privileged enough to access university or laboratories, even under a fake name or without a salary. But most importantly we need to do it for our daughters and the women of tomorrow. It is exhausting, self-sacrificing, demoralizing; but it is also fundamental for things to keep changing and improving. Every once and again, we need to look back and relish how far we have come, and then get momentum and look forward to what is ahead! I joined Women in Engineering hoping to be just a bit of that, and I wish this venture to be a source of support for all of us that need it. Comments are closed.
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