When A Black Female Scientist Gets Called An 'Urban Whore'

[theworldismine13]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/when-a-black-female-scientist-gets-called-an-urban-whore

Meet Danielle N. Lee, author of the blog "Urban Scientist," hosted by Scientific American.

If you haven't heard of Lee already, here's the backstory: She was recently asked by an editor named "Ofek" of the scientific site Biology-Online if she would be interested in blogging for them. When she asked for further details, including how much they paid their guest bloggers, the editor responded that the opportunity could provide traffic and exposure, but no payment. Lee politely declined the offer from Ofek, who penned a horrifying response: "Because we don't pay for blog entries? Are you an urban scientist or an urban whore?"

Even absent the continual debate about writing for free in online spaces, Lee's experience points to something deeper: It's hard to argue that Ofek would have responded to a white male writer in the same way he responded to her.

Lee is certainly more than qualified to seek pay for her writing. She is an established writer and accomplished scientist who earned her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and did her post-doctoral work at Oklahoma State University. She is also a black woman, and it is impossible to fully understand the implications of Ofek's slur without the contextualizing her identity within some basic facts about the scientific community.

In representational terms, women continue to lag behind men in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields: Women make up less than 20 percent of full professors in these disciplines. Women of color are an even smaller minority -- though they make up 12.5 percent of the U.S. population, a recent study found that women of color represent only 2.3 percent of the tenured or tenure-track faculty in STEM-related fields. Women of color holding Ph.D. are statistically less likely than their white and male counterparts to ever make full professor. In the STEM world, and academia in general, the odds are stacked against women of color like Lee. That's part of what makes Lee's educational accomplishments all the more incredible.

In a political setting, which demands that people of color pick themselves up by their proverbial bootstraps and overcome institutional racism through hard work and dedication, it is telling that a black woman as intelligent, accomplished and professional as Lee is subject to such offensive ridicule when she refuses to work for free. Here is a black woman who has obtained the highest level of education possible, who is a well-respected scientist and writer. On the surface, Lee has done everything that neoliberalism has demanded of her, yet as soon as she politely declines an offer to work for free, she is labeled a whore.

By calling Lee an "urban whore," the Biology-Online editor was essentially chastising her for not taking what she could get. The editor couldn't possibly understand how this black woman wouldn't jump at the chance to work for free, given that women of color are so rarely featured in publications, scientific or otherwise. This offensive slur reinforces the notion that women of color should be thrilled with the meager scraps they are thrown, and that they should smile and nod while doing so.

Biology-Online reports that "Ofek" the editor has been fired, and rightly so. But the fact that someone felt entitled enough to represent the site while so viciously deriding a black female scientist speaks volumes to little regarded women of color are in this context. Perhaps Ofek thought that Lee would silently take the slur, as women of color are so often expected to do. Or perhaps Ofek assumed that even if Lee did go public with the horrific incident, that the scientific community wouldn't take it seriously. Given that Lee's original post on her "Urban Scientist" blog was originally deleted by Scientific American because the post wasn't considered germane to the topic of discussing science, this assertion wasn't completely wrong. In response to public outcry, the post has since been re-instated.

Women of color are certainly no strangers to racism and sexism, and understanding their lived experiences of those oppressions is vital if STEM fields are going to become more welcoming to women of color. Efforts to increase diversity with STEM fields, like the Center for STEM Diversity at Tufts University, or the Tapestry Workshop, which helps STEM teachers recruit and retain girls in STEM fields at the middle and high school level, are an important step in diversifying this predominantly white, male field. These efforts, and others like them, should aim to center marginalized people and eschew a compartmentalized notion of existence in favor of an identity-based understanding of how we live. Diversity efforts in STEM fields must remember that one's lived experience within varying identities is not tangential, but integral to helping them succeed.

We should applaud Dr. Danielle N. Lee's bravery in the face of such an offensive slur and her pursuit of the highest level of education, despite overwhelming odds against women of color like her. May this be the beginning of a more holistic understanding of identity, in STEM fields and beyond.

 

[Blackking]

you mean Ofek like the Israeli satellites

 

[theworldismine13]

Profile
DNLee is a biologist and she studies animal behavior, mammalogy, and ecology . She uses social media, informal experiential science experiences, and draws from hip hop culture to share science with general audiences, particularly under-served groups. Follow on Twitter @DNLee5.

 

[Blackking]

I'm mad they have this pic of her up.... instead of pics of her being happy and doing her science work.

 

[Blackking]

Lee, who is African-American, said she has spent much of her career focusing on outreach to minorities to get them involved in science, engineering, technology and math subjects, including women, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and people of low income.

 

[Starman]

I'm mad they have this pic of her up.... instead of pics of her being happy and doing her science work.

That's just wrong...well, a little funny. But much more wrong.

 

[Blackking]

Then a weak ass apology from them ...

http://www.biology-online.org/biology-forum/about34647.html

 

[Starman]

Then a weak ass apology from them ...

http://www.biology-online.org/biology-forum/about34647.html

I found the apology acceptable. They even fired the offender. Did you want them to shoot him?

 

[Akata Man Bromo]

I wonder if dude saw her as a woman first and as a black woman second Was it because she was black or because she was a woman?

 

[theworldismine13]

Responding to No name Life Science Blog Editor who called me out of my name

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/2013/10/11/give-trouble-to-others-but-not-me/

Editor’s note (10/14/13): This post was originally published on Friday, October 11, 2013, at 16:58, and taken down within the hour. As fully detailed here, we could not quickly verify the facts of the blog post and consequently for legal reasons we had to remove it. Email to the editor referenced in this post to elicit his comments has gone unanswered. Biology Online would not disclose his identity or give out additional contact information and other efforts to identify him to solicit a response have been unsuccessful. Biology Online has confirmed the exchange. This post is therefore being republished as of October 14th at 4:46pm.


wachemshe hao hao kwangu mtapoa

I got this wrap cloth from Tanzania. It’s a khanga. It was the first khanga I purchased while I was in Africa for my nearly 3 month stay for field research last year. Everyone giggled when they saw me wear it and then gave a nod to suggest, “Well, okay”. I later learned that it translates to “Give trouble to others, but not me”. I laughed, thinking how appropriate it was. I was never a trouble-starter as a kid and I’m no fan of drama, but I always took this 21st century ghetto proverb most seriously:

Don’t start none. Won’t be none. For those not familiar with inner city anthropology – it is simply a variation of the Golden Rule. Be nice and respectful to me and I will do the same. Everyone doesn’t live by the Golden Rule it seems. (Click to embiggen.) The Blog editor of Biology-Online dot org asked me if I would like to blog for them. I asked the conditions. He explained. I said no. He then called me out of my name. My initial reaction was not civil, I can assure you. I’m far from rah-rah, but the innerSouth Memphis in me was spoiling for a fight after this unprovoked insult. I felt like Hollywood Cole, pulling my A-line T-shirt off over my head, walking wide leg from corner to corner yelling, “Aww hell nawl!” In my gut I felt so passionately:”Ofek, don’t let me catch you on these streets, homie!” This is my official response:


It wasn’t just that he called me a whore – he juxtaposed it against my professional being: Are you urban scientist or an urban whore? Completely dismissing me as a scientist, a science communicator (whom he sought for my particular expertise), and someone who could offer something meaningful to his brand.What? Now, I’m so immoral and wrong to inquire about compensation? Plus, it was obvious me that I wassupposed to be honored by the request.. After all, Dr. Important Person does it for free so what’s my problem? Listen, I ain’t him and he ain’t me. Folks have reasons – finances, time, energy, aligned missions, whatever – for doing or not doing things. Seriously, all anger aside…this rationalization of working for free and you’ll get exposure is wrong-headed. This is work. I am a professional. Professionals get paid. End of story. Even if I decide to do it pro bono (because I support your mission or I know you, whatevs) – it is still worth something. I’m simply choosing to waive that fee. But the fact is I told ol’ boy No; and he got all up in his feelings. So, go sit on a soft internet cushion, Ofek, ’cause you are obviously all butt-hurt over my rejection. And take heed of the advice on my khanga.


You don't want none of this

Thanks to everyone who helped me focus my righteous anger on these less-celebrated equines. I appreciate your support, words of encouragement, and offers to ride downon his *$$.

this is hilarious just from the title

 

[The Real]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/when-a-black-female-scientist-gets-called-an-urban-whore

Demonic.

 

[Blackking]

lol, she can't say
"Don’t start none. Won’t be none" and then still make that face..



She just can't...

 

[Brown_Pride]

Responding to No name Life Science Blog Editor who called me out of my name

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/2013/10/11/give-trouble-to-others-but-not-me/





this is hilarious just from the title

I read the first article and really didn't have a positive or negitive opinion of this girl, after reader her post she's cool as fuk in my eyes. Keeping it 100% is something i can respect.

Thanks to everyone who helped me focus my righteous anger on these less-celebrated equines. I appreciate yoursupport, words of encouragement, and offers to ride downon his *$$.

how can you not respect this?

 

[Strapped]

she's right fukk em

 

[Kritic]

wasn't really interested in the article until i read this line: "Are you an urban scientist or an urban whore?"

and then this nicca here throwing me an alleyhoop

you mean Ofek like the Israeli satellites