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Good afternoon everyone! All ok? Today I did something new and Tweeted a company to complain (my utilities being a mare). That was interesting, they phoned me back straight away and emailed me! Power of twitter! Today we shall delve into “ism” and stereotypes...
As always, I’m gonna set the scene... I am no way an expert on any of the subjects that fall under the diversity and inclusion banners. Even though I belong to the community both as a member and ally - I cannot and should not speak on all matters.
It is not my place to theorise or talk for somebody from a group I do not belong too. So I will not, out of respect. But, I am an ally, fierce listener and passionate for the underrepresented. If you have a story to tell, please leave it here 
This community (on here) are pretty amazing and diverse already... so maybe I’ll talk about some of the niche situations that have happened to me!
Now - everyone got your pens ready? Let’s do some box ticking: Irish, Working Class, neurodiverse, queer, mental health issues, weird ass upbringing, survivor of various abuse, etc etc, but also... a woman in STEM and this is where all this begins! Joy.
So, I’m here taking over this twitter cause I’m a women in STEM (I promise I will show you some batshit plots at some point to prove I’m a real scientist). In fact, I run the Women in Physics group! We used too (and will start virtually soon) holding a host of events!
We spotlighted amazing women in all different fields, supported women professors inaugural lectures, had range of guests come in for talks, hold discussions on hot subjects and just all round were there for one another.
The group is a safe space for all who identify! But is open to all genders as support for our noise is what makes effective change. So why is a group like this needed?
Well academia, especially the mathematical sciences is a boys club, well, is a white boys club really. So forming a community of like minded people is useful for championing all diversities - the WiP group isn’t just women centric, we look at all issues within the umbrella!
But surely Abbie, it’s 2020, we’ve sorted the lady undergrad ratios and we made 3 women professors last year! There’s no need for this type of group anymore!!
Ummm actually, just cause a institution is doing “good” doesn’t mean job done. We need to have a continued presence in order to still facilitate change, maintain the progress and become a support to the wider community and other disenfranchised bodies.
Basically, never rest on your laurels (auto correct made it L’Oréal at first... lol that also works). Just cause a battle is won, the war is not over. We still have many an uphill struggle left...
Which brings me to a point (which I touched upon in the UCL annual review)... Celebrating the triumphs is a wonderful thing to do, but we must continue the work that our predecessors have done, to honour them and their endeavours.
So, here’s a niche story! Woman in physics, woman in theoretical physics is worse... wayyyy less of us. In a single conference I never once was mistaken as a physicist. Instead I was a wife/girlfriend/secretary/lost/escort?
Why? Cause I have tits? Trust me, ain’t got the other hormones. The clothes? The makeup? Why aren’t I physicist? Then this makes me wonder...is it a combination of things... my accent? My “working class-ness”? Who knows?! It’s just rude. But it hurts (ah hello ImS, right on time)
I’ll leave WiP/Stem for now, we have lots to cover on this whistle stop tour! But, out of interest... Are women in the minority in your department? Comment on this with your field!
Before I head to Working Class Issues and “How to treat Irish people without doing a terrible accent or mentioning a leprechaun”, I thought it would be fun to address these quickly, not that they are any less important by far:
NeuroDiverse
Queer
Mental Health
NeuroDiverseQueerMental Health
So mental health is the quickest - see all my other posts lol! But the main point, that even though support systems are in place, there’s still institutional taboos that need to be removed. I’m lucky with my group, and department (for most part) but not everyone is
I think we need all to continue to fight that mental health is real, widespread and very common and empower ourselves to say “hey, I need help” and get others to listen to that and take it seriously, like it is any other health condition.
Which, we could apply to other health issues that “fly under the radar” or aren’t seen as serious. I could definitely do a whole thread on hormone/fertility/gynae problems and the gender biased researched attached to it. But alas, another day!
As for Neurodiversity - myself, I was diagnosed with Aspergers (years ago) and it still very much is she on the Spectrum and where? But that's ok. I also dyslexia and dyspraxia. I have been very vocal in my support for ND and here is two threads that you might be interested in!
As for Queer aspect of my life! As someone who is Pan, don’t tell me it’s a phase or I’m greedy. Grow the fuck up. As for intersex, please don’t say Ew before you even understand what it is.
Some People will always find “difference” to their life uncomfortable. It is not your job to make them feel comfortable, it’s their naivety or ignorance or down right dickish-ness for their approach. All we can do is be ourselves and that a beautiful thing.
There’s still huge taboos (again), last year ish there was the huge survey (linked is the summery) on LGBT+ experience at work. It’s an interesting read and we must strive to make all environments a safe space for our colleagues, so they can live their best life
Once again, all the negative experiences I have had happen only plays into the larger mental health picture and contributes to ImS and BO. With all good problems it’s multifaceted with complicated variables that are dependant on one another. Isolating root cause is impossible
Ok! Here we go!! Let’s go all Irish (just like a British Pub on the 17th of March...)
Yes, we are your cousins, just across a little see. Yes we speak the same language (kinda...) and have similar laws (let’s not get into abortion right now). But! The stereotypes/tropes that get played out are hurtful.
For instance, when you tell me you’re from X, I don’t pick an alcoholic beverages manufactured in that country and insinuate that the entire nation has a mass drinking problem. So, leave Guinness out when you respond to the fact I’m Irish. Even though it is gods own drink...
See! I made a joke! I’m Irish. But please don’t. I wouldn’t to you as that would be fucking terrible!
Also, I’ve surprised my accent over the years to “fit in” and to avoid “stereotypes” which in hindsight is such a betrayal and so sad. But at the same time, it means less mockery. I find it hard when someone tries to do an accent after they first meet me
Like with me friends when I say something very Irish they laugh and maybe repeat it but that’s cause we are ALL laughing at my Irish out burst. But, you meet me at the pub and start sing-song pots o’gold and wanting to have a craic... no. Also craic is spelt craic not crack. Ok
So be sensitive with all nationalities and races!! Our cultures are not a tourist attraction (do not get me started about Paddy’s day...) and yes, Irish is a very very small issue compared to the actual racism/cultural appropriation others experience.
But as I said I can only talk about my experience and not others, but this makes me 100% more mindful, considerate and thoughtful with interactions. Heritage, culture and race are so intrinsic to our lives that they need to be respected in the highest way.
So, Irish people not all... are drunks, drink Guinness, believe in fairies, are lazy, make boring food, potato obsessed, work in farming/labouring, red haired, are violent, are morose, hate NI/Scotland, religious, friendly, stupid, liars, illiterate, backwater, racist and Lucky!!
So please no biased or unconscious biased thought processes (otherwise I’ll steal your copper and get the little folk to curse you)
Let’s go with the diversity issue closest to my heart. Being Working Class (WC). Classism is alive and well here in the UK and if that’s news to you then you’re clearly in Tory Party (ok ok one political comment, let me have that one).
Want evidence - A Level fiasco. All the underfunded areas/schools got fucked over. Simple. Keep the rich rich (educated) and tell everyone else to go fuck themselves.
How many people do you know that identify as working class in your department (including yourself)?
You see, there’s also a taboo (surprise) about being “socially and economically diverse” so many people hide or actively avoid the subject. While others are lucky enough for it not being an issue in their work place. I’m in academia, it’s a needle in haystack!
If you’re WC, hit me up! I’m trying to create a network of those of us who identify with that term as I feel we need all the support we can get, just like the WiP does with women and continues to do with other minorities.
Anyway, back to the point. Being WC isn’t as simple as X. It’s a huge range of social and economic factors that intermingle with one another. My story has some classic hallmarks such as first gen uni, immigrant family, grew up poor.. etc. But there are other experiences too...
One could argue that anyone who grew up without examples/opportunities of “other avenues” of life could be deemed as working class. For instance...
Culturally both Irish and British upbringing, my lot didn’t get education beyond 16, you just went to work. So even though I was never discouraged by my family, it still felt weird swimming in this new pond and still does.
It’s about breaking the glass ceilings that are even enforced on you by culture/social/economic statuses or the ones that just kinda float in the background as “this route has never been explored”
It’s a very difficult subject to talk about over tweets and once again this is from my perspective but the WC are often forgotten about and “left doing what they do best - work” thus there is a distinct lack of higher education opportunities and role models available
