This image is an ode to femininity in the lab. It is undeniable that women have made enormous strides toward equality in STEM over the last several decades. However, inclusion is not enough. Our field has a long and storied history of benefitting from the minds of women without recognizing their contributions or celebrating their impacts (cough cough, Rosalind Franklin). Because of this, most of our genomic leaders, mentors, and role models are men. As burgeoning scientists, we emulate our heroes and regulate our behaviors accordingly to be perceived as serious. We sequester stereotypically feminine traits like sensitivity, compassion, and congeniality, to appear more professional. This picture is a reminder that these traits and many others serve to advance our research in meaningful and far-reaching ways. There is no wrong way to be feminine in a genomics lab (provided long hair is pulled back according to protocol).
