Segregation of Female Scientists!

[Sheitgeist]

Started a thread in Chat about this, but no one's noticed.

The Nobel Laureate Tim Hunt has made some ridiculous comments about female scientists:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/10/nobel-scientist-tim-hunt-female-scientists-cause-trouble-for-men-in-labs

He's apologised for causing offence, but says he still means it!

[EBearhug]

The trouble is more like men failing to support women in STEM careers, and sexually harassing (when they're "in love with") the women who do manage to stick it out.

It's just so depressing.

[tribpot]

Presumably to avoid any form of romantic entanglements, it would have to be lesbians and straight guys in one lab, gay guys and straight women in another - and as for the bisexuals, they would need individual labs.

But lest we forget, the problem is not just the romance but also the fact 'women cry' when you criticise them. And the pursuit of scientific truth requires there to be criticism. QED: women cannot be scientists. Presumably gay guys can take the criticism and so merely have to promise not to fall in love with anyone to pass muster.

[Andrewofgg]

"Brilliant Scientist is also a Silly Twat"

Now there's news . . .

[thedancingbear]

as for the bisexuals, they would need individual labs.

Surely by his logic they should be banned from science altogether. The lascivious fuckers cannot be trusted around anyone!

[thedancingbear]

^"Brilliant Scientist is also a Silly Twat"

Now there's news . . .^

Well yes, and that.

[sashh]

Well yes that scientist Pierre Curie went right down hill when a woman joined his lab as a student.

[tribpot]

Surely by his logic they should be banned from science altogether.

I think he is advocating the banning of all women, gay men and bisexuals actually. Oh, and anyone left who can't take criticism.

[slug]

As always twitter has a response

[CollatalieSisters]

I heard this on the radio on in the background this morning and, not catching the entirety, thought he'd made some satirical remarks that had been taken seriously in an unfortunate cross-culture mix-up. Then I was like when I understood it was some serious remarks. I knew people with these views existed, but not to have the sense/perspective to know that most people are going to think you are ludicrous and that this is standing in the way of women in science... words fail me

[tribpot]

My fave.

[MrNoseybonk]

I've worked in science for years in all male labs, mixed labs and predominantly femal labs and have never known any crying or sexual shenanigans to happen.
Sounds like he is a typical bully and mysoginist.
Who the hell falls in love with their staff these days?
He should be more professional.

[scallopsrgreat]

"But lest we forget, the problem is not just the romance but also the fact 'women cry' when you criticise them."
Because obviously crying is the worst thing you can do in a lab... oh wait.

I agree with you tribpot. What passes as 'criticism' could also be described as abuse. Or bullying. Or micro managing. Or full of one's own self-importance.

[thedancingbear]

Exactly, scallops, you can just tell this guy's a massive workplace bully. He wouldn't spout this shit if anyone was in a position to stand up to him.

[slicedfinger]

Utterly gobsmacked that he continues to defend it!

That is a nice rack…I can completely understand that the male scientists might find themselves distracted by it.

[Sheitgeist]

A distraction. Sigh. I can't help but have this ridiculous image of a Benny Hill chase with busty, 'girl' scientists wearing short, revealing lab coats and goofy, bespectacled 'proper' men scientists chasing each other around the lab and not getting much work done.

I know the reality is very much more mundane and dull. Because most people are professional, respectful towards their professional peers, and can manage to get through the working day without falling in love or crying.

[tribpot]

Because obviously crying is the worst thing you can do in a lab...

Indeed. And even if people (because, let's face it, men actually do cry as well) react differently to criticism that doesn't make it impossible to criticise them. It simply means you have to accept that ... ready yourselves for this revelation ... not all people are the same.

Boom - can I have a Nobel Prize as well now?

[LurcioAgain]

As one of my colleagues just said (we're both female scientists) what does it say about him that he frequently reduced people to tears in his lab? What sort of a person does that? I (fortunately) have never had a boss, supervisor or PhD advisor, of either sex, do that to me. What sort of people do that? Oh yes, bullies, that's right.

[YonicScrewdriver]

He's married to an immunology professor.

[YonicScrewdriver]

A major point that he has missed by claiming it's a joke... Would he say "don't have black people in your lab because they play distracting rap music" or something equally ludicrous and claim it was a joke? No because he'd know that it was a racist comment.

[MonstrousRatbag]

My favourite comment is: 'Tim Hunt: puts the nob in Nobel'.

[tribpot]

Amazing comment article here - ban old men from science.

[ErrolTheDragon]

This one is quite fun too.

[tribpot]

Tim Hunt has now resigned.

[YonicScrewdriver]

I think that's the right outcome.

I also don't know why he thinks labs are unique. They are a workplace. Relationships in the workplace are common and need to be carefully handled, science or not. Does he think Yvette Cooper should be sent to work in a different Parliament?

[CollatalieSisters]

I wondered that too, Yonic.it's barking. I suspect its because labs are where he works and he has a slight blind spot re.extrapolating from his experience to others'. Did get me an amusing daydream about sex segregation in my workplace though. Most days I'd be all alone - would be very peaceful.