What I find particularly horrifying is that this comes from a serious organization. If it was the work of a random blogger I would say, yes, it’s tasteless, but who cares? But the European Commission? Nowadays with Musk and the orange buffoon in charge anything is possible, but in the days when the government was in the hands of grown ups, can you imagine the National Science Foundation producing something like this?
In 2019, a woman who worked at NASA wore a sequined dress while giving a speech to students so girls could see a ‘sparkly’ scientist. I can see the point, more or less, of showing that scientists can dress or adorn themselves in stereotypically feminine ways and still be scientists; I would not want a promising young girl to think that she would have to choose between her favorite clothes styles and dedicating herself to her academic endeavors. The scientist in this case was delivering information about real science, and merely wearing clothes she liked.
This video, on the other hand, does not seem connected to science, except perhaps in the “chemist Barbie” sense.
What a blinkered view of “how to interest girls” in anything. As if girls aren’t capable of reasoning or passion for anything that isn’t airheaded frippery. What an insult to girls.
Yeah, and not just ‘high heels’, but damn near stilettos, which are all about making the woman wearing them ornamental.
Maybe, maybe this could have worked if they hadn’t had all of the girls look like they just escaped from a 1990s mall. If they’d presented a full array of girls and women, and one or two out of a couple dozen happened to fall into that fashion-model mold, that would have sent the dual message that women are varied, and should not be judged by their appearance. But by only featuring the Fashion Brigade, they lock in the idea that a woman who is not conventionally attractive is worthless. She can have a serious job, but should never forget that her real role is eye-candy.
Great video. Thanks.
Great in the sense of giving me ideas for my writing; I posted too quickly.
What I find particularly horrifying is that this comes from a serious organization. If it was the work of a random blogger I would say, yes, it’s tasteless, but who cares? But the European Commission? Nowadays with Musk and the orange buffoon in charge anything is possible, but in the days when the government was in the hands of grown ups, can you imagine the National Science Foundation producing something like this?
In 2019, a woman who worked at NASA wore a sequined dress while giving a speech to students so girls could see a ‘sparkly’ scientist. I can see the point, more or less, of showing that scientists can dress or adorn themselves in stereotypically feminine ways and still be scientists; I would not want a promising young girl to think that she would have to choose between her favorite clothes styles and dedicating herself to her academic endeavors. The scientist in this case was delivering information about real science, and merely wearing clothes she liked.
This video, on the other hand, does not seem connected to science, except perhaps in the “chemist Barbie” sense.
What a blinkered view of “how to interest girls” in anything. As if girls aren’t capable of reasoning or passion for anything that isn’t airheaded frippery. What an insult to girls.
Maybe it’s a minor point, but I noticed the present day equivalent of foot binding in the video, ie: high heels.
(I consider that extremely unattractive, but it is marketed as ‘sexy’.)
Oh I don’t think that’s a minor point. It literally is a form of foot-binding and it’s every bit as stupid and insulting.
Yeah, and not just ‘high heels’, but damn near stilettos, which are all about making the woman wearing them ornamental.
Maybe, maybe this could have worked if they hadn’t had all of the girls look like they just escaped from a 1990s mall. If they’d presented a full array of girls and women, and one or two out of a couple dozen happened to fall into that fashion-model mold, that would have sent the dual message that women are varied, and should not be judged by their appearance. But by only featuring the Fashion Brigade, they lock in the idea that a woman who is not conventionally attractive is worthless. She can have a serious job, but should never forget that her real role is eye-candy.