Saturday, October 1, 2011

The scientific Cinderella... - daily transformations of women in science

Holidays are far behind us now (we are just enjoying the last indian summer days), conference season is also over, so here comes the daily routine of work (and housework). This cartoon does not need too much explanation, it only demonstrates the different 'personnalities' and fashion trends represented by scientists during a day or at different special events. Sometimes I really feel that no colleague will ever recognize me in the street or on the playground when I'm in my casual outfit suitable for playing with kids, etc. On the other hand, we can really feel like Cinderella when we go alone to conferences and/or study trips, finally as a scientist and a woman and not as a mother or housewife... But then, when we return home to our beloved family (and arrive at midnight after 10 days off on a study trip as I did for the last time, that gave my inspiration for Cinderella), we got transformed into the devoted mother and housewife we used to be before... So, other women (and maybe men) in science must also know the feeling how it is to work abroad, far away from the family, at a conference or during a study trip, and how we can become real-real scientists at these relatively lonely moments, when we do not have to worry about napkins, panties, food, homeworks, cleaning duties, etc. And then, your trip is over, you come home and your daily routine and 'struggle' with science and family (and finding the equilibrium) starts again.

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