How do you fight the stereotype that women suck at science?

Idle Thoughts

Personally I don't think that getting a gender studies degree and complaining about the stereotype is very helpful.

So what is helpful?

This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrduBZ319XI

I've been subscribed to Physics Girl for a couple of weeks now and, not only does she clearly know her stuff, she is unashamedly passionate about it.

In my opinion, the only way negative stereotypes about women in science will go away is through people seeing positive examples of women in science, not making an issue of their gender, just getting on with the science.

I'll also add another, more controversial, example of a woman breaking down stereotypes:

http://www.vox.com/2016/2/17/11024334/sci-hub-free-academic-papers

Alexandra Elbakyan is a neuroscientist but that's not the only thing that makes her awesome. She has taken up the fight against price gouging from academic journal publishers.

You may remember Aaron Swartz. He attempted to download and release the articles journals for free. He was caught and so viciously prosecuted that he took his own life.

Elbakyan seems to be being smarter about how she enables access to these documents but it still taking a personal risk by being the public face of such an operation.

Posted Feb 22, 2016, 4:57 AM UTC · edited

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