Sunday, February 11, 2007
What Would Larry Summers Say?
Meanwhile in the Midwest, there's a controversy at the University of Illinois over one entepreneurial student project: a "girls of engineering" U of I calendar. The calendar was conceived of by a woman who wanted to break down stereotypes about smart women, but not everyone thinks that's the best way to go about doing so.
Said one female engineering student,
I've seen a few of the pictures, and I thought they were a little racy. I know their intention was to show smart as sexy, but part of being sexy is being classy.
Would this challenge Larry Summers' notions of the intelligence of women in the sciences? Or reaffirm them? Perhaps more to the current point, what would Drew Faust say? (She's going to be thinking a lot about science now, right?)
Incidentally, this does not count as Monday Morning Zen.
A typical Midwestern engineering student.
Said one female engineering student,
I've seen a few of the pictures, and I thought they were a little racy. I know their intention was to show smart as sexy, but part of being sexy is being classy.
Would this challenge Larry Summers' notions of the intelligence of women in the sciences? Or reaffirm them? Perhaps more to the current point, what would Drew Faust say? (She's going to be thinking a lot about science now, right?)
Incidentally, this does not count as Monday Morning Zen.
A typical Midwestern engineering student.
Comments:
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I think the more appropriate question would be, "what would Harvard President-elect Drew Gilpin Faust" say.
Richard,
As an admirer of your writings and blog I am disappointed that the first thing on your blog today is this demeaning picture of a woman being photographed in her underwear.
Shouldn't the news we should all be celebrating that Harvard has finally seen the light an appointed a remarkable woman to lead it into the XXI century? I would enjoy seeing President Faust's picture --with or without earrings-- a lot better than what now decorates the front page of your web-site.
As an admirer of your writings and blog I am disappointed that the first thing on your blog today is this demeaning picture of a woman being photographed in her underwear.
Shouldn't the news we should all be celebrating that Harvard has finally seen the light an appointed a remarkable woman to lead it into the XXI century? I would enjoy seeing President Faust's picture --with or without earrings-- a lot better than what now decorates the front page of your web-site.
Anonymous two, it's not my job to celebrate news. In this case, I'm just pointing out a paradox. Make of it what you will. But when you decide what "we should all be celebrating," aren't you closing off the more interesting lines of discussion that such paradoxes present?
I think that there's less a paradox than you think, as the message here is that "image" counts, whether you're a female engineering student chosing to pose provocatively, or Richard suggesting that President-elect Faust needs a more atractive portrait or stock photo. The female student is posing to overcome the stereotype that highly intelligent woman can't be sexy, or are otherwise "geeky," whereas Richard has suggested that Faust would do well to appear more regal, and more of a leader.
Maybe, sure.
Also, if you look at the ethnic and gender composition of that photo, it becomes a little more political and interesting than just a cheesecake shot.
Also, if you look at the ethnic and gender composition of that photo, it becomes a little more political and interesting than just a cheesecake shot.
It's a nice cheesecake shot, though. Keep it up -- not all of us are solemn academics/policy wonks who live to deconstruct all the boyishly charming things you do on here.
God she's hot! I love that insouciant, come hither little eye flicker, with the short gams nicely displyaed and that unhip haircut giving a slightly hussy-trailer style.
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