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It's interesting how capitalism is able to monetize everything even social justice. This story could be entirely made up, it fits perfectly in her narrative. I

It's interesting how capitalism is able to monetize everything even social justice. This story could be entirely made up, it fits perfectly in her narrative. I find it unlikely that the BBC reporter contacted her, most likely the PR firm recommended to her by the VC that "told her" to dye her hair arranged for that profile.

CJefferson 9y ago
I'm going to post a slightly mean reply. Do you question every story you hear? My wife is a successful blonde female academic (more successful than me). I often go with her to events she is invited to and there is always some people who assume she is my "dumb wife" that I've brought with me. At every event at some point I usually have to say to someone "Don't ask me, I have no idea. Karen is the person you should be speaking to", and they are always surprised. I've had people accuse me of lying when I say my wife is better at some academic topic than me. Yes, genuinely. That isn't an exaggeration. I can see it's annoying being a blonde and female academic. Far too many people just seem to have hard-wired that "blonde female = stupid".
- orbifold 9y ago
  > Do you question every story you hear? Generally speaking yes, especially if it us told to me by someone with a clear profit motive and not backed by evidence. Obviously the only reason this story works is because it is easy to believe that a typical VC has the stereotypical view of blond women you describe. That doesn't make it true or relevant. Also imagine someone wrote a profile about Ursula von der Leyen, the current German Defence minister, who happens to have blonde hair and ~6 children. Or a profile on Manuela Schweswig, current family minister in Germany, who happens to be blonde, just had a child and pushed through a gender quota for executive positions in DAX companies. Both of them probably profit from being female, because their parties struggle to find enough female politicians, but it is not the reason for their success and I'm pretty sure they would not try to get publicity by talking about the adversity they faced being female. Their accomplishments speak for themselves.
  - orbifold 9y ago
    Also just BTW I'm just getting a haircut because I will be speaking at a meeting with important people attending, so I want to look as professional as possible, which according to male stereotypes means short hair, no beard and no glasses.
    - CJefferson 9y ago
      I've never heard "no glasses" being a required part of professionalism, maybe it's a thing in different countries? Also, the point here I feel is for women that also includes (possibly) change hair colour, which is a much more serious, and expensive, undertaking.
- Joeboy 9y ago
  > Do you question every story you hear? Do you not? Edit: I feel a bit awkward about being on the same side as the "this is bullshit" people. I think the general message that it's harder for women to look "appropriate" in a business setting is probably fair, at least based on some of the conversations I've witnessed among my male co-workers.
  - CJefferson 9y ago
    OK, I worded that badly. I more meant "Do you reply to every story on news.ycombinator says "This story could be entirely made up", I mean that's true of many, many stories, but I'm sure I've noticed a pattern that that kind of message appears more on stories about females. However, I should probably do a correct survey on that claim!
- beagle3 9y ago
  "my 'dumb wife' that I've bought with me." I assume that's a typo, but it works either way ...
  - CJefferson 9y ago
    It was, which I decided to fix :)
- dekhn 9y ago
  Yes, I question every story I hear. This is known as skepticism and is a critical thinking skill in a world filled with people writing articles with agendas.

CJefferson 9y ago

I'm going to post a slightly mean reply. Do you question every story you hear? My wife is a successful blonde female academic (more successful than me). I often go with her to events she is invited to and there is always some people who assume she is my "dumb wife" that I've brought with me. At every event at some point I usually have to say to someone "Don't ask me, I have no idea. Karen is the person you should be speaking to", and they are always surprised. I've had people accuse me of lying when I say my wife is better at some academic topic than me. Yes, genuinely. That isn't an exaggeration. I can see it's annoying being a blonde and female academic. Far too many people just seem to have hard-wired that "blonde female = stupid".

orbifold 9y ago
> Do you question every story you hear? Generally speaking yes, especially if it us told to me by someone with a clear profit motive and not backed by evidence. Obviously the only reason this story works is because it is easy to believe that a typical VC has the stereotypical view of blond women you describe. That doesn't make it true or relevant. Also imagine someone wrote a profile about Ursula von der Leyen, the current German Defence minister, who happens to have blonde hair and ~6 children. Or a profile on Manuela Schweswig, current family minister in Germany, who happens to be blonde, just had a child and pushed through a gender quota for executive positions in DAX companies. Both of them probably profit from being female, because their parties struggle to find enough female politicians, but it is not the reason for their success and I'm pretty sure they would not try to get publicity by talking about the adversity they faced being female. Their accomplishments speak for themselves.
- orbifold 9y ago
  Also just BTW I'm just getting a haircut because I will be speaking at a meeting with important people attending, so I want to look as professional as possible, which according to male stereotypes means short hair, no beard and no glasses.
  - CJefferson 9y ago
    I've never heard "no glasses" being a required part of professionalism, maybe it's a thing in different countries? Also, the point here I feel is for women that also includes (possibly) change hair colour, which is a much more serious, and expensive, undertaking.
Joeboy 9y ago
> Do you question every story you hear? Do you not? Edit: I feel a bit awkward about being on the same side as the "this is bullshit" people. I think the general message that it's harder for women to look "appropriate" in a business setting is probably fair, at least based on some of the conversations I've witnessed among my male co-workers.
- CJefferson 9y ago
  OK, I worded that badly. I more meant "Do you reply to every story on news.ycombinator says "This story could be entirely made up", I mean that's true of many, many stories, but I'm sure I've noticed a pattern that that kind of message appears more on stories about females. However, I should probably do a correct survey on that claim!
beagle3 9y ago
"my 'dumb wife' that I've bought with me." I assume that's a typo, but it works either way ...
- CJefferson 9y ago
  It was, which I decided to fix :)
dekhn 9y ago
Yes, I question every story I hear. This is known as skepticism and is a critical thinking skill in a world filled with people writing articles with agendas.