Backreaction- a great blog post.

I realise that this blog post is a bit old, but it was a very interesting read. Backreaction:Women in Physics. The blog itself is also a lot of fun. Although the blog itself was very interesting, I found the comments even more so. She also has a great post on Diversity in the field. I find sometimes the comments are almost more informative, at least on a given communities knowledge, than the blog itself. It's amazing how many people are willing to state out right sexist comments. For instance one person stated that when they talk about physics with guys about 95% of them get bored right away compared to 99% of women that he talks to about physics. I'm betting first of all that this is maybe not the best start for an argument. We tend to remember and look for what we want to find and trying to get a feel for the difference between 99 and 95 percent is not something I bet the average person or even a non average person could do easily. To then extrapolate that out of 200 people 6 maybe interested in physics, and out of those it's 1 women for every 5 guys seems a bit iffy on the stats. This type of argument also then doesn't include societal pressures on people. I love physics and love to talk about physics, but if a random guy starts talking to me about physics at a bar or in a coffee shop, I'm not only likely to appear dis-interested, but I'm probably trying to find an out of the entire conversations. I've meant many physicist whom are not the most socially apt, and when talking with people in general, and members of the opposite sex in particular tend to not confide to social norms. If I don't know this person, it makes me nervous and I will try to end the conversation even it is on the most interested topic in the world.

Maybe that analysis of the comment was a bit harsh, but one thing I've seen often is that male physicist whom either think that there are plenty of women in the science, that women are much less interested in the sciences, or that women get an unfair advantage never want to quote peer review studies and research on the topics and instead use life experiences. These same people tend to demand peer review citations in bar conversations when discussing say the latest NOVA show, or headlines from the New York times.

I'd like to end with a quote from Backreaction:

The first is a chicken and egg problem. If there are few women, few will follow. This has less to do with the often called-upon lack of "role models" for girls, but more with the awkwardness of being the odd one out. Even after all these years, coming into a room with some dozen men as the only one wearing a dress strikes me as a completely unnatural situation. If I laugh, I hear my voice fluttering an octave higher than everybody elses. It's not so much that it bothers me, it just feels like a relic of medieval times.

I've had self proclaimed feminist tell me that I have to stay in physics because future generations need female role models. I always asked them why we had to have role models that looked like us? I didn't know any blond hair blue eyed physicist growing up, and I don't know many now, and I'm betting that many blond haired blue eyed girls interested in the science today don't know of me. I looked up to men because they were doing what I wanted to do. I don't think we have to limit our role models to those who look like us, but I do strongly agree with her comment that it is awkward to be the only or one of few women in a room with men. It's especially awkward because it's normally pointed out, perhaps subtly, but it's there. Someone will say, oh we have to watch our language, or we have to behave our selves. Even something as simple as "you look nice today" is nice to hear, but guys don't tend to say this to other guys, and it points out that you are different. Small difference I know, but one that is there.