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So, given that I’m rapidly becoming an old white dude in science. Here’s what I try to do when faced with situations where I witness bias in action
(This applies to all DEI issues, but focusing here on gender)
1/9 https://twitter.com/surt_lab/status/1335255939914448899
(This applies to all DEI issues, but focusing here on gender)
1/9 https://twitter.com/surt_lab/status/1335255939914448899
1. Be aware of my own biases in every direction. This helpful guide to writing letters of recommendation is one helpful tool: https://csw.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/avoiding_gender_bias_in_letter_of_reference_writing.pdf 2/9
2. Call out biases when you see them.
This can be pointing out when others don’t use formal titles in emails (e.g. Dear Dr ABC)
It can be calling out authors on software papers when there are 26 men and no women listed
It can be refusing to participate in manels
Etc
3/9
This can be pointing out when others don’t use formal titles in emails (e.g. Dear Dr ABC)
It can be calling out authors on software papers when there are 26 men and no women listed
It can be refusing to participate in manels
Etc
3/9
3. Step up and do the service work, the effort on which is oftentimes unfairly born by people from these underrepresented groups
4/9
4/9
4. Populate your reviewer lists and editorial boards and seminar speakers etc with people that don’t look like old white dudes. And not the same people that always get asked
5/9
5/9
5. Normalize things like parental leave, even if you don’t think you need it. I remember @bkoskella saying that one thing we guys can do is take paternal leave because this normalizes it and inherently shifts burdens
6/9
6/9
6. Listen, listen, listen more. Especially when the message is hard to hear, like in this comic “you should have asked” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/gender-wars-household-chores-comic
7/9
7/9
7. Assess and reassess. You can always do better
It’s not easy to see where you’re failing, but it’s important to constantly take temperature of your efforts. Here’s awesome work from @adahagan about biases in my academic society, publishes last week https://mbio.asm.org/content/11/6/e01680-20
8/9
It’s not easy to see where you’re failing, but it’s important to constantly take temperature of your efforts. Here’s awesome work from @adahagan about biases in my academic society, publishes last week https://mbio.asm.org/content/11/6/e01680-20
8/9
There are more things to add, but I gotta go shovel barn and feed horses so my wife can enjoy a couple days of staycation watching virtual conference for her job
No one is 100% perfect (hell, there are things in thread I dropped ball on last week). But try and try more
9/9
No one is 100% perfect (hell, there are things in thread I dropped ball on last week). But try and try more
9/9
