I was so glad when we had the opportunity to order women's lab coats at my work. The men=E2=80™s coats didn't fit well, had long sleeves which got in the way or had to be rolled up, and felt bulky. Due to good fit, women's lab coats are safer for women to wear.

Science for men and women is not about looking good, but I have no issue with making it "fun". I would prefer if the fun options were marketed to both boys and girls. Thankfully, there are lab coat options out there for professional scientists which suit a woman's shape and are more "fashionable". I do not order these coats so do not have immediately available ordering information, but I do know we can get coats which fit women well in standard lab coats and those manufactured flame resistant. I could ask for ordering information if you are interested.

I don't think a lab coat needs to be gender-neutral. It just needs to fit well, be professional, and protect the wearer.

Bethicia Prasek

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of S deBoer
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 11:20 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] "labcandy"

Until this thread started I had never even thought of labcoats being "men's" clothing, it was just a labcoat. Now I know better, I guess I should probably feel bad about being a woman wearing "men's" clothes(?)

I'm all for making labcoats and safety gear more fun and appealing, but personally, the gender nonsense is a bit old and sickening. Why can't fun-coloured coats be marketed to both genders?

This is annoying in the same way that pink lego is annoying.

Both are sold under the banner of "empowerment", but when you really think about it, do you really love the message?

My two cents- from a chemist working on a minesite.

P.S. i would totally buy one of these colourful coats if it was gender-neutral and didn't say 'Lab Candy' on it.

Susan deBoer,

QA/QC Specialist

Australia

On Tuesday, August 12, 2014, Katherine Wall <kwall**At_Symbol_Here**waubonsee.edu> wrote:

I've been thinking about this all weekend. I believe strongly that 'we' need to do more to get the girls' attention about being scientists. And the lab coats and safety goggles bling is great. But the name "labcandy" is too close to "eye candy", in my humble opinion. All girls / young women (and I am the mother of one and used to be one!) want to be "eye candy". So, are we trying to get girls into science so the guys have something better to look at than the old nerd in the white lab coat? I agree with Monona, this is demeaning for the girls. Can't we interest them in science because that's what the world/earth/people/food/etc. is based on?

Thanks for reading my two cents.

Kathy Wall, M.S.
Chemistry Lab Coordinator

Chemistry Adjunct Faculty
Direct 630-466-2347

Office SCI 204

Division of Mathematics and Sciences
Waubonsee Community College
Rt 47 at Waubonsee Dr.
Sugar Grove, IL 60554

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