English scientist and Nobel laureate Tim Hunt put his foot in his mouth this week when he because deemed women scientists as problematic to work with because of their emotions. In no time, female scientists took to Twitter to answer with the hashtag #DistractinglySexy.
Reports surfaced earlier this week after the 72-year-old university professor, who received a Nobel Prize in Science back in 2001, told attendees at a conference that, “three things happen when they [women] are in the lab, you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them they cry.”
Hunt has since resigned from his position at the University College London and apologised after receiving backlash about his statements.
The saga prompted Vagenda magazine, an online UK magazine for feminists, to launch the tongue-in-cheek #DistractinglySexy trend on Twitter, calling on women scientists to post photos of themselves at work in the work gear using the hashtag.
Call for all female scientists to upload pictures of themselves at work with the hashtag #distractinglysexy
— The Vagenda Team (@VagendaMagazine) June 10, 2015
Soon the posts started pouring in.
MT @VagendaMagazine: Call for all female scientists to upload pics of themselves at work w hashtag #distractinglysexy pic.twitter.com/havNYcH8m7
— Melissa Ⓥ (@melissa_raguet) June 11, 2015
Taken moments before I burst out into my womanly tears, evidently. #distractinglysexy @VagendaMagazine pic.twitter.com/JyX73xsyZs
— TK421 (@Riddhiculous) June 11, 2015
the #distractinglysexy hairnet & helmet combo, great for head safety, only wish it also stopped me from crying… pic.twitter.com/UOMz8PSrPR — EleanorYeldHutchings (@Eleanor_YH) June 11, 2015
Being #distractinglysexy hacking away at AWS connection code. No tears yet, but give it time! #timhunt pic.twitter.com/7JSFkSbDTh
— Jessie Rowbum (@wakeyjess) June 11, 2015
Look how natural I am, when I’m being #distractinglysexy (and pregnant) at work. I cried after this photo was taken. pic.twitter.com/iVI7YXRC3W
— Dawn (@vintagescientis) June 11, 2015
And that is how you win the internet for the week.