Category Archives: sexism

Diversity? Who needs your diversity, we already know we are the smartest people in the room.

Posted on 1 October 2018 by Sylvia McLain

I am a member of an exclusive club. We, in our club, decide who the smartest people in the world are. The club, naturally, only contains white women who are below 5 foot 3 inches in height; 1.61 meters for … Continue reading →

Posted in CERN, sexism, Strumia, Women in science | Comments Off on Diversity? Who needs your diversity, we already know we are the smartest people in the room.

On double standards – in Tennis and otherwise

Posted on 12 September 2018 by Sylvia McLain

I know next to nothing about the official rules of Tennis. I do, however, know a bit about double standards. Societally, women are often expected to operate at a different standard to men. Usually, it is a higher standard.

Posted in double standards, Serena Williams, sexism | Comments Off on On double standards – in Tennis and otherwise

Are universities finally moving towards their #MeToo moment?

Posted on 30 July 2018 by Athene Donald

I have been away from my computer for over a week, but while I was away a piece I wrote previously for the Guardian HE Network has appeared regarding sexism in academic science. So, for my latest thoughts on this … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Marcy, Guardian, sexism, Women in science | Comments Off on Are universities finally moving towards their #MeToo moment?

Changing the Patriarchy (Perhaps)

Posted on 14 January 2018 by Athene Donald

I’m afraid this is going to be a derivative blog. Derivative because I’m prompted to write it due to two recent articles I’ve read, but I’d like to turn their ideas into the world of academia. The first was in … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Hadley Freeman, Kate Manne, misogyny, sexism | Comments Off on Changing the Patriarchy (Perhaps)

Laying Ghosts to Rest

Posted on 21 August 2017 by Athene Donald

Many years ago I was invited to give one of the keynote talks at a conference in the USA. I was  young and I was flattered. It was a Conference on Polymer Physics held on the east coast of America. … Continue reading →

Posted in conferences, Equality, Science Culture, self-confidence, sexism | Comments Off on Laying Ghosts to Rest

Building a Humane Workplace

Posted on 17 February 2017 by Athene Donald

This is the unabridged/unedited version of an article that first appeared a couple of weeks ago in Optics and Photonics. Increasingly industry has woken up to the fact that diverse teams make better decisions and, by implication, make more money. … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Equality, group dynamics, sexism | Comments Off on Building a Humane Workplace

Manifesto for Change

Posted on 28 March 2016 by Athene Donald

‘Science needs women’ proclaims the L’Oreal/UNESCO For Women in Science awards tagline. For the last 18 years the pairing has been awarding five laureates to women from different geographical regions around the world each year to celebrate (and publicise) their success. … Continue reading →

Posted in Charlotte Proudman, discrimination, Equality, L'Oreal For Women in Science, sexism, Women in science | Comments Off on Manifesto for Change

How Not to Chair a Committee

Posted on 15 March 2016 by Athene Donald

Whether as a student or a professor (or indeed at any level in between) I would suspect there isn’t a reader of this blog who hasn’t had to sit through a meeting of some type or other where the Chair … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, incompetence, Science Culture, sexism | Comments Off on How Not to Chair a Committee

What’s the Extent of the Problem?

Posted on 30 January 2016 by Athene Donald

I don’t usually recycle my posts, but the time seems ripe to repost this particular one appended below. I wrote it just over three years ago. It asks ‘Just how bad is it?’ referring to the issue of sexual harassment. … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Geoff Marcy, sexism, sexual harassment, Women in science | Comments Off on What’s the Extent of the Problem?

Where Can You Speak Out Safely?

Posted on 17 November 2014 by Athene Donald

The media is full of stories around men behaving inappropriately – or worse – currently. These range from #shirtstorm in the wake of Matt Taylor’s press conference regarding the successful landing of Philae (a sad distraction from the amazingly successful … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, harassment, philosophy, SASSY, Science Culture, sexism | Comments Off on Where Can You Speak Out Safely?