The problem with STEM culture is that we are forcing people into a dominant narrative that scientists must look and act a certain way, SO MUCH that people think that this video is a representation of Black women scientists "sexualizing" themselves. 1/ https://twitter.com/theresearchher/status/1246442707137986560

You saw Black women in STEM who are in nice clothes and embracing their beauty, being their unapologetic selves and YOU thought of SEX. YOU thought of stereotypes. YOU thought this was a DEBATE. This is NOT a debate. That is a MAJOR PROBLEM with STEM culture. 2/

To move STEM culture forward to a place where EVERYONE FEELS INCLUDED AND RESPECTED, you have to be aware of your own IMPLICIT BIAS. CHECK YOURSELF. This is my response.

https://twitter.com/ravenscimaven/status/1247168836736032769?s=20

3/

If you want to hear me talk more about this don't miss my TEDx talk coming up in September or my keynote for SciComm2020 in August.

This is why I do what I do.

PLEASE KNOW: I AIN'T GONE TALK HOW **YOU** WANT ME TO TALK, WALK HOW **YOU** WANT ME TO WALK, OR ACT HOW **YOU** WANT ME TO ACT.

I KNOW THE SCIENCE, I DO THE SCIENCE, I HAVE THE CREDENTIALS. THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. THE END.

The video is part of the "DON'T RUSH CHALLENGE"

The ENTIRE point of the challenge is to show THESE types of transformations. From "plain" clothes to "glitz and glam". That's the nature of the challenge.

So NO, this is not discrediting people who prefer to not present this way.