In the panel yesterday I told the story of how I almost quit my Physics degree because I couldn’t get above a C in 1st year labs. I thought physics Wasn’t For Me. Found out a year later I was being marked down for “probably getting the boys to do my work.”

I’d actually arrived at university blissfully unaware that sexism was Still a Thing, having been to an all-girls’ school. That comment - which the prof concerned thought was mildly amusing and no big deal - was the beginning of my slow descent into a Raging Feminist.

I ended up graduating with a First so I got my temporary revenge, but more than a decade later I’d be told that my published work is faked but I shouldn’t take that accusation personally because obviously that paper with my name on it was really written by a man anyway...

...so tbh if I could have my time again I’d save myself a decade of exhausting anger and just quit at the undergrad stage. But yes, total mystery why there aren’t more women in physics.

A distressing number of people are congratulating me for surviving all this so for anyone who’s new I feel I have to clarify: I didn’t. The incident at the end of the thread was the final straw and I quit astronomy in November 2018.

However, I can say with some confidence that the overwhelming majority of women and minoritised people in science have experienced this or something similar - and worse - and have overcome it in addition to doing amazing science and this is why they are by default awesome people.

You can follow @rclivermore.

Share this thread

Bookmark

____

Tip: mention @threader_app on a Twitter thread with the keyword “compile” to get a link to it.



Enjoy Threader? Sign up.



Since you’re here...



... we’re asking visitors like you to make a contribution to support this independent project. In these uncertain times, access to information is vital. Threader gets 1,000,000+ visits a month and our iOS Twitter client was featured as an App of the Day by Apple. Your financial support will help two developers to keep working on this app. Everyone’s contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support Threader by becoming premium or by donating on PayPal. Thank you.



Download Threader on iOS.