Please Refrain

Anonymous contribution.

This is a series of snippets from the life a female scientist – examples of what male (or female) mentors and PIs should never say to their female students/colleagues.

1.  We bet with your increased salary you’d get breast implants.

This was said to me at a public lunch table surrounded by numerous colleagues, regarding a raise I’d received by accepting a new position.  If I’d been a man, would they have bet about pectoral or testicle implants?

2.  Don’t be a “shrinking violet.”

This was said to me while I sat next to the most taciturn man I’ve ever known.  No one called him a “shrinking violet.”  Presumably he was just a “thoughtful silent type.”

3.  Come on Angels.

This was said by a PI while I was walking to a meeting with two other grad students.  We happened to be a redhead, a brunette, and a blonde.

4.  You really have put on weight, your ass is bigger.

5.  Women live longer then men because they don’t work as hard.

6.  The only intelligent woman I know is my wife.

7.  You don’t dress like a scientist.

8.  Do you plan on having a baby anytime soon?

La Científica would like to note:  If you’re uncertain of whether you’re about to say something which might be offensive, a good rule of thumb is a simple test:  if this person were a man, would I say exactly the same thing to them, with pronouns reversed as needed?