Elementary school Quote by Dexter Palmer
““Setup: Alicia (the scientist) is speaking to an elementary school class about what she does. She’s just taken scads of questions from several young boys. The teachers says, “Maybe you could talk for a little bit about what it’s like to be a women in science……for the girls.” And I just got so sad. What the hell am I supposed to say? When I’m doing science my gender isn’t interesting to me. The science I’m doing is interesting. And okay, there was a past when women in science were anomalies but that was a dark and ridiculous time. We live in the future now. Can we just agree I can talk about gravitation without having to point out the existence of my vagina before I begin? It’s all so trivial. I half-way feel like I wasted my time going out there. I could have spent that time in the lab. We could have sent the possessor of a penis out there to handle the PR while I got some serious work done.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Talk on gender and science, 2023
The speaker expresses frustration at being asked to discuss gender identity when presenting scientific work, emphasizing that science should stand on its own merit regardless of the presenter’s gender.
In simple terms: Science should be judged, not the scientist’s gender.
Key Takeaway
Focus on the science, not personal gender.
Themes
gender equality
science communication
identity
representation
Mood
frustrated
determined
reflective
Type
statement
personal anecdote.
When to use this quote
- classroom lecture
- public outreach
- media interview
- science conference
Key Concepts
intersectionality
social expectations
bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can scientists address gender bias without detracting from their work?
- What strategies help keep focus on content in diverse audiences?
A Different Perspective
Some audiences may still expect gender discussion, limiting pure scientific focus.
