Every year before the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, there is a
flurry of conversation in my mostly female lab about what to wear. I understand that this was also discussed on the
Earth Science Women’s Network listserv. For someone who has never been, it is impossible
to know what to expect. This is science after all, and geology at that, so much
of the online guidance about corporate conference attire is off-base. As women
in earth science, it is especially difficult to balance several competing aims
when packing for AGU. First and foremost, AGU presents a unique opportunity for
professional development– one that is particularly important for younger
scientists. Getting a job after graduation requires making a name for yourself
outside of your lab. Presenting a polished, put-together appearance reflects a
seriousness of purpose, self-confidence, and shows respect for the collective
scientific efforts on display at AGU. Add to this the intuitive understanding
that attractive people are at a distinct advantage in our society (see supporting
research here and especially here),
and these drivers would in isolation push women towards the coordinated,
tailored suits that are so common in corporate settings. It is important to
remember that science is an arena where individual
intellectual accomplishment is highly valued, so there is more latitude for personal style than
in corporate America.
However, several important factors push
AGU women’s attire in the other direction, closer to the average AGU men’s
outfit of jeans paired with a pullover sweater. Most obviously, attractive
young female students are likely wary of distinguishing themselves from the sea
of male colleagues by calling attention to their femininity. And then there’s
the whole “geology” subculture: rock
hammer-toting, North Face-wearing, “I’m-so-busy-solving-earth’s-mysteries-that-I-hardly-have-time-to-shave”.
In this world, a Mac laptop is a fashion statement. Finally, some recent
research (summarized here)
has uncovered a distinct bias against the hiring of attractive women in
male-dominated fields. If young women are subconsciously aware of such a bias,
it will also push them towards a more androgenous look.
What follows is my attempt to provide some guidance for young women beginning their careers in geoscience, especially as they consider conference attire. It was also really fun to collect these images from well-dressed women scientists, as a fashion aficionado myself. I didn’t know most of them, so you can imagine the reaction I got when I asked to take their picture for an AGU fashion blog! They turned three shades of red and giggled nervously. Some preferred to remain anonymous, while some, like my esteemed colleague Adina Paytan, reveled in the spotlight. I owe a big thank-you to these ladies, who were great sports.
Below I present several looks and
discuss why I believe they make successful AGU outfits. [Update: Many readers have bemoaned the lack of pants featured here. I love wearing pants to AGU myself, and I in no way meant to suggest that one must wear a skirt and/or boots to AGU to look "acceptable" or fashionable.]
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| Lynn Soreghan, Prof. Univ. of Oklahoma. I love the effortless-ness of the outfit, impeccably accessorized, with matching coat and boots. It's "earthy" but modern, and the vest adds a touch of academic elegance. |
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| Jen (awake) and Annie (asleep) Pierce, Boise State University. What can I say, there is nothing that says "I'm a fearless female scientist" like a baby in a sling paired with some incredible red boots! Great wool skirt too. |
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| Yours truly, sporting my new, ridiculous(ly cute) Italian shoes. Matching bag is a coincidence. I do like to wear skirts at AGU, most often with a plain, unmemorable, but well-conceived (and warm!) top. Here, it's all about the accessories. |
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| Anonymous. I think this outfit hits all the right notes. She looks nerdy and interesting, but attractive, in a Euro-styled aesthetic that is made particularly memorable by, once more, great red boots. I like her hair worn down here, which softens the look. |
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| Anonymous. I saw meters and meters of scarves at AGU, whose gifts are on display here. The long skirt is flattering yet nondescript, while the scarf and coordinated sweater add interest and draw the eye to her face - a good thing. |
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| Betsy Madden, an all-but-PhD'd grad student at Stanford. I love the ease that this outfit conveys, and the pairing of neutrals with the colorful textured skirt. She certainly seems ready to be at the front of a class. |
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| Sylvia Dee, grad student USC. She is making a bold statement with the all-black look, which is very effective against her striking red hair and blue eyes. The metal-studded flats are a good choice, adding some playfulness to the ensemble. |
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| Adina Paytan, UCSC. Sporting a killer blue dress at the AGU Honor's Banquet. She wears her sunglasses at night. A brilliant scientist, close friend and colleague, and one of my role models. |
