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Discovery Channel Promotes Sexist Stereotypes in Science and Engineering

discover adWhy aren't there more women in science and engineering? According to this Craigslist job ad, the Discovery Channel seems to think that males make the best scientists and engineers. In academia or corporate America, this job ad clearly would be discriminatory and illegal, but when it comes to TV and film, producers are given a free pass to hire based on gender. At least ads like this confirm our suspicions that gender-based discrimination is alive and well in the sciences. In academia, they pretend it doesn't exist or blame the women.

Update: For those who want to know, the series is being produced by Darlow Smithson Productions, a subsidiary of IMG Media.

Update (4/1/07): We emailed a few female science bloggers, such as FairerScience, for their thoughts on this ad last week. After a week of propagating around the internet, science bloggers are beginning to offer their thoughts on the ad. See their replies after the jump.

  • FairerScience - "Damn, that ticks me off. He's probably white, too."

    • Which has been followed up by:

  • Echidne of the Snakes: "You may have read about a time in America when job ads were segregated by sex, those dark ages of pre-feminism. Well, you can now find out how it worked. Here is a want-ad from last week's craigslist..."

  • Lab Cat: "It looks like a fun job. Only the host has to be MALE. Which reminds me how annoying I found the MALE hosts of Brainiacs when I watch it in England."

  • Green Gabbro replied to the poster to ask what they were thinking: "Here’s the reply I got from the woman on the other end of the craigslist posting:
    Frankly, I don’t know why Discovery is interested in men as hosts. There channel tends to dominated by male hosts. I believe the perception is that its a “male” show.
    I don’t completely follow that logic.. And hence, am considering women as well. I just can’t imagine men not wanting to watch attractive women talk mechanics and watch them blow things up. Seems about as American as Apple Pie in my opinion.
    Well then! Women are okay as engineers - as long as they are also sexbots. I’m so glad that’s settled."

    • We'll add more as they come in.

  • Find links to science job boards in the Element List Science Jobs directory.

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    Posted on March 24, 2007 | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

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    Comments (1)

    Pat from FairerScience:

    We have an update on that Discovery Channel job posting for a male host (the ideal). A new friend, who prefers to remain anonymous, took action. Here is what she found out:

    "A recent telephone call revealed that the ad was not placed directly by the Discovery Channel. Investigations are underway as to who placed the ad and it will be pulled in its current format. Sources also expressed some horror at being informed of the wording of the job posting, and added that they would love to find a female engineer. I don't know if they will run a replacement ad on Craigs List, so I would encourage anyone interested to apply now through the current posting and again if or when the new ad appears."

    Posted by Pat from FairerScience | April 5, 2007 4:26 PM

    Posted on April 5, 2007 16:26

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