Scientist Who Worked At NASA Gets A Message From A Guy Asking If She Was ‘The Receptionist’, Shuts Him Down In Her Reply
Never judge a book by its cover! We’ve heard it dozens of times, but when push comes to shove, far from everyone’s going to follow the wisdom of this old adage. People tend to generalize as a way to make sense of the world. However, that’s no excuse for blatant sexism and bad ‘humor.’
Dr. Lauren McKeown, a lecturer in planetary surfaces from Ireland, shared an unpleasant experience she had on the dating app Hinge. She ended up calling out a potential date for his attitude towards her and women in general.
When the man learned that she’d previously worked at NASA, he joked about her having been the receptionist. Well, Lauren wasn’t having any of it! She confronted him and later posted the screenshots of the conversation on Twitter. Scroll down and have a read how everything went down, dear Pandas.
Irish planetary scientist Lauren shared her interaction with a sexist guy named Mikey on the Hinge dating app
Image credits: mclaurenseries
The guy made a sexist remark and then tried to pass it off as a joke. Here’s how his and Lauren’s chat went down
Image credits: mclaurenseries
Lauren pointed out to the potential suitor that her own mother works as a primary school receptionist and is the “wisest, most inspirational and kindest” person she knows. In fact, she even dedicated her Ph.D thesis to her.
There’s absolutely nothing ‘shameful’ about being a receptionist. What is shameful, however, is assuming that working as a receptionist is low-brow. Or thinking that women supposedly can’t land a better job at NASA. And let’s not forget that it’s almost delusional to think that the man’s pitiful attempt at ‘negging’ (i.e. giving a backhanded ‘compliment’) could have ever worked.
But the cherry on top (if you could even call it that) was that the guy flat out stated that he can tell a woman’s intelligence by looking at her. It’s no wonder that Lauren wanted to call this guy out publicly, and plenty of Twitter users agreed.
Even the Hinge app got involved, pointing out that this sort of behavior by the guy wouldn’t be tolerated.
On her website, Lauren shares that she’s a planetary scientist with a particular interest in icy planetary surface processes. She also shared a bit more detail about her work which might be interesting for those of you Pandas who have a knack for science.
“I am driven to understand active Martian surface processes such as the formation of araneiforms by cryoventing and linear gullies by sliding CO2 ice blocks. I specialise in analog laboratory experiments under low pressure and temperature conditions and the analysis of multispectral remote-sensing data, in particular HiRISE images and DTMs. I am also interested in the surfaces of icy moons and plume dynamics,” she writes.
Lauren was so disappointed by her interaction with Mikey, she shamed him on Twitter
Image credits: mclaurenseries
People were impressed with how the scientist clapped back at the rude dude
Image credits: NEOsAndCyclones
Some women even shared their own experiences with having worked at NASA and how people reacted to this
Image credits: PlanetaryKeri
Image credits: megsylhydrazine
Lauren was upset that there are still guys out there who make generalizations about someone based on their looks alone
Image credits: mclaurenseries
Image credits: Spencer_space
Image credits: transitrunner
Image credits: ThisisLLN
The guy shattered any chances of ever dating Lauren with his receptionist comment
Image credits: mclaurenseries
Image credits: ericsteig
Image credits: ZacTrolley
Even the Hinge dating app got involved in the conversation and called out the man as well
Image credits: hinge
Image credits: mclaurenseries
I appreciate that Hinge's entire marketing campaign revolves around their goal to never be needed again because they did a perfect job of helping you find the right one.
Load More Replies...All too common unfortunately. At least this one outed himself first thing and not after weeks, months or years of dating.
It's really not a contest! The important thing is to appreciate each other i think
Load More Replies..."You look reasonably smart" .... And he looks reasonably like the south end of a northbound burro, and there we are. ;-)
Are you kidding me? My mother helped design the ISS and worked at NASA for several years before going to work at Lockheed Martin (NASA required too much traveling for her to handle). F**k yeah, women can do rocket science too. (If anyone wants to know my mother helped design the airlock on the ISS)
Assumptions like this tick me off. If someone works for a giant organization you cannot assume what their job within that organization is based upon their looks!? Just because someone works for McDonalds doesn't automatically mean they flip burgers. They could be a regional manager, or an accountant, or an executive... or a Hamburglar, I guess.
Person: I work at NASA. Me: That's really cool! What do you do at NASA? (See how easy that was.)
It's not really even your looks but your gender. I'm a plain looking overweight woman but still had people assume I was the receptionist instead of the engineering technologist that I was.
Years ago a spent a summer at JPL with my girlfriend and future wife. I was there because she had a NASA grant, and she convinced them to let me tag along. After a while she pointed out that, in conversation, people there tended to look at me rather than her, even though she was the project leader. I mentioned the problem to one of our engineering mentors, and he said, "Well, you look more like a scientist."
tf??? that's so dumb, unless the other was in like, jeans and a shirt and you were in a lab coat or something. but i dont think that's the case...
Load More Replies...Ugh. I hate when people can’t handle someone being smart. I dropped the one boyfriend I had when he started telling me all my accomplishments in IT were because of him (because helping me study for a test means he got me the good grades?). I now work in the same field as my husband and instead of feeling threatened, he and I share ideas and help each other with our work struggles.
That guy was such an ASSHOLE. Seriously? That was the best he could do? If I were in the dating pool today (thank god I am not, I wouldn't wish me on my worst enemy) and matched with someone who worked at NASA, I would probably be seriously fangoobering or something (which might also be a turn-off, you never know). But that would be SO COOL. As it is, I am happily married. My wife is the smartest person I know. The only time I have ever called her intelligence (and sanity) into question was when she agreed to marry me.
He was too stupid for her in any case. Even if in his sexist mind he suspected she was a receptionist, why open with that?
Can't tell you how many times I have been assumed to be the admin during my working life by men. I am an engineer. By the way I think admins are incredible and make our job easier, just rankles that assumptions are so often made about women especially in science and tech.
I'm also an engineer and my sister is an engineer who works for the European Nasa (ESA). Sadly, we both have had similar conversations with random people at meeting apps. However, this never happened to me with my coworkers that are engineers, too. In a project I was, I met a gouvernement secretary (her n+1 was a minister) who told me she often met male collaborators that asumed that she was the secretary (assistant) of the "imporatnt person".
I am an engineer in oil &gas and I have been assumed to be an admin or with doc control many many times.
Load More Replies...Oof, like my last ex. Dude was f*****g intimidated by any sign of intelligence or talent I had. He freaked out over me talking about books, history, and science when the topics came up and I corrected him on some stuff. He freaked out when I, who has been gaming since the 90s, was better than him at games he just picked up and refused to let me teach him. Tried to shush me in public when I was winning a disagreement
Sounds like one of my exs. Proof that these types of men definitely don't go far in a relationship.
Load More Replies...I just don't get this... Intelligence is sexy AF! Anyone can put out but not everyone can carry an intelligent conversation. Besides, belittling someone in a relationship is just a different form of abuse and control.
I have two PhDs and my bf didn't go to uni. We've been happy for ten years because I'm good at my thing and he's good at his thing, and we both recognize that. Knowledge and. experience in one area doesn't mean anything much about general intelligence, or how successful you are at 'lifeing'. Also, we met online and it worked out great for us.
I find it hard to believe that a man - unless he's just completely socially inept - would expect a woman to want to date him after he introduces himself by way of "jokingly" insulting her. I think there are a lot of people who just like to lurk around on these apps and troll people for fun.
You know this happens with everything. And entertainment and media are basically to blame for setting and reinforcing these ideas.
Ah, if I were unmarried and 30 years younger... wait, hang on, I should introduce her to my son.
The line I use on stupid men over the years is: I am single by choice. You, however, are being rejected.
Oioioi. One stupid comment and the world descends on him like 16 tons of brick. Poor guy. Such thoughtlessly lame and obnoxious comments have gotten me into trouble too. I wouldn’t mind such a comment, I’d really consider it one of the not so appropriate jokes and just set him straight. Nobody’s perfect.
Thank you! Seems nuance is not possible on this subject any more.
Load More Replies...No no, that’s not why YOU are single, Dr. Lauren. That’s why HE is single.
I've seen this sort of casual male misogyny among computer programmers more times than I would like. I shut it down by asking which of them is qualified to write a computer language compiler program. Then when none of them will claim that, I point out that the very first computer language compiler was written by a woman (USN Rear Admiral Grace Hopper) who was the oldest active duty officer in the Navy when she passed away. Generally speaking, women in computer science have proven less impetuous and much better at debugging other people's messed up code.
Should've ask him why he thinks she was a receptionist, then watch him try not to sounds like a sexist he is
I love smart and wise women, the whole conversation part of a relationship is so much more fun. I also don't mind her being smarter than me, why would i?
Strange. The first definition I found for Dork was from Merriam Webster: an odd, socially awkward, unstylish person. If I worked at NASA I wouldn't describe myself this way. Unless I needed the attention because.. I was an odd, socially awkward...........unstylish....
My issue is she posted a response with the thought in her head she is gonna post it to social media. I would have just blocked him & not wasted my breath.
I'am made $84, 8254 so far this year working online and I'm a full time student. Im using an online business opportunity I heard about and I'AM made such great money. It's really user friendly and I'm just so happy that I found out about it. Heres what I do,.for more information simply open this link ...www.earn96.com
Can't believe you idiots still lap this stuff up. It is completely fabricated nonsense.
I can't believe that you're still on this site. But here you are. Oh well...
Load More Replies...No, there wouldn't be as much backlash, but there is a big difference. I don't know how to explain it to you though... You seem to take things at a literal face value, and don't consider context or nuance. Yes your example is similar if taken in isolation, but life doesn't work that way.
Load More Replies...Did I miss the part in the article where someone claimed this woman's experience was unique? Because I thought the point was the opposite - she was just showing a common type of rude behavior women have to deal with on dating apps.
Load More Replies...I appreciate that Hinge's entire marketing campaign revolves around their goal to never be needed again because they did a perfect job of helping you find the right one.
Load More Replies...All too common unfortunately. At least this one outed himself first thing and not after weeks, months or years of dating.
It's really not a contest! The important thing is to appreciate each other i think
Load More Replies..."You look reasonably smart" .... And he looks reasonably like the south end of a northbound burro, and there we are. ;-)
Are you kidding me? My mother helped design the ISS and worked at NASA for several years before going to work at Lockheed Martin (NASA required too much traveling for her to handle). F**k yeah, women can do rocket science too. (If anyone wants to know my mother helped design the airlock on the ISS)
Assumptions like this tick me off. If someone works for a giant organization you cannot assume what their job within that organization is based upon their looks!? Just because someone works for McDonalds doesn't automatically mean they flip burgers. They could be a regional manager, or an accountant, or an executive... or a Hamburglar, I guess.
Person: I work at NASA. Me: That's really cool! What do you do at NASA? (See how easy that was.)
It's not really even your looks but your gender. I'm a plain looking overweight woman but still had people assume I was the receptionist instead of the engineering technologist that I was.
Years ago a spent a summer at JPL with my girlfriend and future wife. I was there because she had a NASA grant, and she convinced them to let me tag along. After a while she pointed out that, in conversation, people there tended to look at me rather than her, even though she was the project leader. I mentioned the problem to one of our engineering mentors, and he said, "Well, you look more like a scientist."
tf??? that's so dumb, unless the other was in like, jeans and a shirt and you were in a lab coat or something. but i dont think that's the case...
Load More Replies...Ugh. I hate when people can’t handle someone being smart. I dropped the one boyfriend I had when he started telling me all my accomplishments in IT were because of him (because helping me study for a test means he got me the good grades?). I now work in the same field as my husband and instead of feeling threatened, he and I share ideas and help each other with our work struggles.
That guy was such an ASSHOLE. Seriously? That was the best he could do? If I were in the dating pool today (thank god I am not, I wouldn't wish me on my worst enemy) and matched with someone who worked at NASA, I would probably be seriously fangoobering or something (which might also be a turn-off, you never know). But that would be SO COOL. As it is, I am happily married. My wife is the smartest person I know. The only time I have ever called her intelligence (and sanity) into question was when she agreed to marry me.
He was too stupid for her in any case. Even if in his sexist mind he suspected she was a receptionist, why open with that?
Can't tell you how many times I have been assumed to be the admin during my working life by men. I am an engineer. By the way I think admins are incredible and make our job easier, just rankles that assumptions are so often made about women especially in science and tech.
I'm also an engineer and my sister is an engineer who works for the European Nasa (ESA). Sadly, we both have had similar conversations with random people at meeting apps. However, this never happened to me with my coworkers that are engineers, too. In a project I was, I met a gouvernement secretary (her n+1 was a minister) who told me she often met male collaborators that asumed that she was the secretary (assistant) of the "imporatnt person".
I am an engineer in oil &gas and I have been assumed to be an admin or with doc control many many times.
Load More Replies...Oof, like my last ex. Dude was f*****g intimidated by any sign of intelligence or talent I had. He freaked out over me talking about books, history, and science when the topics came up and I corrected him on some stuff. He freaked out when I, who has been gaming since the 90s, was better than him at games he just picked up and refused to let me teach him. Tried to shush me in public when I was winning a disagreement
Sounds like one of my exs. Proof that these types of men definitely don't go far in a relationship.
Load More Replies...I just don't get this... Intelligence is sexy AF! Anyone can put out but not everyone can carry an intelligent conversation. Besides, belittling someone in a relationship is just a different form of abuse and control.
I have two PhDs and my bf didn't go to uni. We've been happy for ten years because I'm good at my thing and he's good at his thing, and we both recognize that. Knowledge and. experience in one area doesn't mean anything much about general intelligence, or how successful you are at 'lifeing'. Also, we met online and it worked out great for us.
I find it hard to believe that a man - unless he's just completely socially inept - would expect a woman to want to date him after he introduces himself by way of "jokingly" insulting her. I think there are a lot of people who just like to lurk around on these apps and troll people for fun.
You know this happens with everything. And entertainment and media are basically to blame for setting and reinforcing these ideas.
Ah, if I were unmarried and 30 years younger... wait, hang on, I should introduce her to my son.
The line I use on stupid men over the years is: I am single by choice. You, however, are being rejected.
Oioioi. One stupid comment and the world descends on him like 16 tons of brick. Poor guy. Such thoughtlessly lame and obnoxious comments have gotten me into trouble too. I wouldn’t mind such a comment, I’d really consider it one of the not so appropriate jokes and just set him straight. Nobody’s perfect.
Thank you! Seems nuance is not possible on this subject any more.
Load More Replies...No no, that’s not why YOU are single, Dr. Lauren. That’s why HE is single.
I've seen this sort of casual male misogyny among computer programmers more times than I would like. I shut it down by asking which of them is qualified to write a computer language compiler program. Then when none of them will claim that, I point out that the very first computer language compiler was written by a woman (USN Rear Admiral Grace Hopper) who was the oldest active duty officer in the Navy when she passed away. Generally speaking, women in computer science have proven less impetuous and much better at debugging other people's messed up code.
Should've ask him why he thinks she was a receptionist, then watch him try not to sounds like a sexist he is
I love smart and wise women, the whole conversation part of a relationship is so much more fun. I also don't mind her being smarter than me, why would i?
Strange. The first definition I found for Dork was from Merriam Webster: an odd, socially awkward, unstylish person. If I worked at NASA I wouldn't describe myself this way. Unless I needed the attention because.. I was an odd, socially awkward...........unstylish....
My issue is she posted a response with the thought in her head she is gonna post it to social media. I would have just blocked him & not wasted my breath.
I'am made $84, 8254 so far this year working online and I'm a full time student. Im using an online business opportunity I heard about and I'AM made such great money. It's really user friendly and I'm just so happy that I found out about it. Heres what I do,.for more information simply open this link ...www.earn96.com
Can't believe you idiots still lap this stuff up. It is completely fabricated nonsense.
I can't believe that you're still on this site. But here you are. Oh well...
Load More Replies...No, there wouldn't be as much backlash, but there is a big difference. I don't know how to explain it to you though... You seem to take things at a literal face value, and don't consider context or nuance. Yes your example is similar if taken in isolation, but life doesn't work that way.
Load More Replies...Did I miss the part in the article where someone claimed this woman's experience was unique? Because I thought the point was the opposite - she was just showing a common type of rude behavior women have to deal with on dating apps.
Load More Replies...
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