Second wave feminism

I was with a group of fellow scientists recently on a selection committee that was charged with choosing sessions for an upcoming science conference. At some point we got to one submission that had a title something like “Women in science: Encouraging broader participation”. That’s not the exact title, but you get the idea.

One of the scientists said “Finally, a submission about gender!”

I turned to her and said “No, it’s about women.”

At which point I realized everybody was looking at me, and I would need to explain myself.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I was just channeling my inner Simone de Beauvoir.”

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