One of our future scientists in the lab
More students writing about scientists! Not only do they get to learn about some cool science, they get to think about how communication can impact the take away message. Over half the students in our program are girls and yet our ‘wall of scientists photos are predominantly men. The students could write about either gender of scientist – but had to follow some rules.
How should we increase the profile of women scientists 1? People do write about women scientists but there is a certain approach where the scientists are often described first as a woman and then a scientist. In response, the Finkbeiner test was developed where a story cannot mention:
- The fact that she’s a woman
- Her husband’s job
- Her child care arrangements
- How she nurtures her underlings
- How she was taken aback by the competitiveness in her field
- How she’s such a role model for other women
- How she’s the “first woman to…”
This year, the students had to follow the Finkbeiner rules when their subject was a women OR they could break all the rules when talking about men. One student commented that writing all this extra stuff about a man scientist made me discount his work a bit. This student is used to thinking of male scientists as super-human, not as real people. I think it reinforces the idea that woman scientists should have their science described first and foremost. However, it could be that we need to break a few rules now and again so students don’t realize that scientists are human.
I’ve provided links to all the student’s profiles. Can you let them know if they passed the test?
Woman Scientists
- Gertrude B Elion
- Rita Levi-Montalcini
- Maria Mitchell
- Barbara McClintock
- Florence Nightingale
- Patricia Bath
- Gerty Cori
- Dorothy Hodgkin
Men scientists:
Last year’s posts about women scientists.
Other young scientists hard at work analyzing biofilms
Update: Added A. G. Bell on March 16, 2014
genegeek co-worker says
I read them all, I think I could try and give feedback, but I’d like to put in my 2 cents here first.
When I was growing up, I think that having a degree and successful career, or having kids, were a dichotomous goal—you couldn’t be expected to do or have both.
I had determined that I’d somehow have to prioritize learning, over having a family, or else be considered a failure.
This came to a head when I asked my mother a rather stupid question: why had her grandmother bothered going to university when she ended up ‘just being a mother?’
My mom then told me (in a suitably chastising manner) that any education is valuable and that it’s important to have a grasp of the world in order to raise children who care about and understand about the world.
I know that this exercise it evening out the playing field for woman scientists, I just feel there is value in somehow.. letting women know it’s ok to do both—and letting men know that caring about their families, does not make them less of a scientist, either.
What do you think?
genegeek says
I agree with you – and I started last year’s post about that (https://genegeek.ca/2013/07/writing-about-women-scientists/)
However, often the writing about work done by women scientists leads with their family etc. and we don’t do that for men. By suggesting that it is only important for women to talk about kids, etc. it reinforces the imbalance between parents. (Yes, at the beginning, women sort of have to be the primary care giver.) I think the writing should be the same across genders.
In a format where talking about ‘how do you do it all’, I do think women can lead with their personal lives. However, we should expand these sessions for men and ask how they manage to do it all.
Does that make sense? Even if it does, you are free to disagree 🙂
genegeek co-worker says
It does make sense.
I think it’s interesting, too, that people look at posts about scientists and see that they seem like super people—I wonder if that style, turns people off of doing science b/c they see it as an impossible pursuit!
And I think I do agree with you, certainly I think that the type of writing that uses that formula you’re getting the kids to use on the website, allows for an equal look at both genders in science.
Do I qualify as someone to write responses to these posts, by the way? I don’t really know if I have enough experience, but I’d love to try.
genegeek says
You definitely qualify!! I think that the more people who get involved with science and communicating science, the better. There isn’t a minimum amount of schooling or experience required.