I usually don't blog, hardly ever by looking at this blog. But today I'm pissed. Really pissed and I am going to tell you why.
A few days ago I saw on Twitter that Dr. Danielle N. Lee (@DNLee5) was asked to blog for Biology Online, and declined to do so after she found out that there was no pay, so the editor contacted her and called her an "urban whore".
I don't know Dr. Lee, never met her, read her work, or even knew she existed. However I do know that she was incredibly disrespected by someone that is supposed to behave in a professional manner, that is supposed to be there to promote ideas, new thinking, to increase diversity in the scientific field and yes, I am writing about Scientific American (@sciam) who is partnered with the original offender Biology Online. You see, they [@sciam] removed a blog she posted about the incident.
Now you ask, why are you pissed at Scientific American? They are just partners, loosely at that with Biology Online. In the last few years Scientific American has hosted a myriad of blogs, articles and workshops on the lack of diversity in STEM fields, especially academia. So I find it hypocritical that they then removed Dr. Lee's blog about the incident. Especially because they are the senior [power] in the room. They are supposed to set the example.
Collusion? Confusion? Miss-communication? I don't know, but I do know that Scientific American has failed to stand up for one of their own, and for what science stands for. Because science is about truth. And the truth is that shaming a female academic for speaking her mind or asking to be paid is not how science is made.
This pisses me off because about 2 years ago I was invited to speak at an NSF workshop for minority students. At this 3 day event, there were presentations scheduled. During the Q&A of one presentation I made a comment on the font color (yes, the font color) and who I could not see something in the slide, could they please repeat the message. The speaker was the organizer of the NSF sponsored workshop and he said: "Oh, you must have an STD that doesn't let you see clearly" and everyone laughed and moved on.
I was speechless. I basically was called promiscuous and that I has a sexually transmitted disease and therefore my comment was invalid and could be dismissed. Really? This is what was being taught to those students in attendance: If you dare make a comment to a senior researcher YOU will be shamed.
Not one senior person in attendance said anything. Not my fellow female faculty members at the table, in the room, or any of my fellow department members, not one person. All were ok with the insult. No one stood up for me that day. And we all know that silence is tacit agreement.
So after the presentations ended,. I got up and went to the organizer and co-organizer and told him he was inappropriate, disrespectful and did he see what message he just sent. He apologized, the co-organizer (a female Professor.) also apologized, and then they hurriedly rushed off. To this day I have not been invited to any of the LSMAP events, while my colleagues still are.
So you see Dr. Lee I don't know you, but I do know how you feel when someone that is supposed to be a leader tries to step on you. No one stood up for me then, which is why I am standing up for you now.
#IstandwithDNLee
