Role Models

<p> There is an idea going around that says that one way of fighting <a class="wikilink" href="/gender_unbalance/"> gender unbalance </a> , or the under representation of <a class="wikilink" href="/minorities/"> minorities </a> is by increasing the visibility of certain people. A Black president, for example, is a great symbol to show that positions of power are not exclusive to white males. </p> <p> And this can be applied at every situation, and both with minorities, or genders. A female professor, a non-white science communicator, etc. If that person can, then I can as well. </p> <p> But are we going to scrutinize role models equally? <a class="wikilink" href="/james_watson/"> James Watson </a> is a misoginist, racist, Nobel-prize winner who could be considered a role model for many people. If he would have been black (or a woman), would he still be in such a notorious position? </p> <p> Related: <a class="wikilink" href="/the_liberation_of_rna/"> The Liberation of RNA </a> </p>