A week or so ago I read a post on Medium by a young woman who is studying Engineering at MIT. In it she recounted some of the bizarre sexist reactions she gets as a blonde engineering student. (I read her exchange with a dental hygienist to my Dad, who is over 80 and not exactly a feminist, and even he was shocked.)
The post has attracted responses, comments, and a follow-up by the author. All worth reading, by the way.
So I have added my own response, based on some notes I jotted down last Summer when I was (again) messing up the demographics at an event. You can read the whole post on Medium.
“I am the oldest person here, the youngest person here. I am the only woman here.
I am the only woman over 40 at a technology Meetup event. (OK, over 50, but I’m still the only woman over 40.) My white hair will stand out, slightly overexposed, when somebody posts photos on the website tomorrow.”
Circle of Ignorance 