IRL

Female scientists mock sexist Nobel Prize winner with #DistractinglySexy hashtag

Tim Hunt’s comments about women in science are atrocious.

Photo of Dylan Love

Dylan Love

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Sexist Nobel Prize winner Tim Hunt recently suggested that there are three things that happen when females are in a science lab: “You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them, they cry.” He says he supports single-sex science labs, because he doesn’t want to “stand in the way of women.”

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As if he’s such a heartbreaker. Here is what 72-year-old Hunt looks like:

His bloviating rightfully set off cries of sexism, and Hunt soon found himself issuing a half-hearted apology: “I found that these emotional entanglements made life very difficult. I’m really, really sorry I caused any offence, that’s awful. I certainly didn’t mean that. I just meant to be honest, actually.”

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This guy is a fellow of the Royal Society, and they are distancing themselves from him, issuing a statement that they are committed to getting more women involved in science. Hunt has since resigned from the prestigious fellowship.

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And what of the women already actively working in science? They are responding in the best way: with lightness and humor. Do yourself a favor and check out the #distractinglysexy hashtag—it skewers Hunt’s uninformed point of view so tastily.

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https://twitter.com/cenewman0/status/608817036077244416

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https://twitter.com/baileyanns/status/608913504007954432

Photo via Bailey-Ann/Twitter

 
The Daily Dot