FASHION
Dressing the Part: Women in STEM
By: Sophie DeCristofaro, Staff Writer Edited by: Rezi Ubogu
As women increasingly enter male-dominated fields, there is constant pressure to prove ourselves and do everything possible to be taken seriously. Bias against feminine expression is ingrained into society, especially in male-dominated workplaces. Astronaut and TikTok star, Kellie Gerardi is breaking barriers of fashion and femininity, as one of the first 100 women to travel to space. In a 2023 interview with Josh Dinner for Space.com, Gerardi mentions she is conducting meaningful research, while also creating a presence on Tiktok. She uses her platform to showcase herself as a woman who can do it all—an astronaut, scientist, and mom—while encouraging young women to embrace their true selves, especially in professions that have historically lacked women.
Gerardi has spent her career challenging stereotypes surrounding femininity and its relationship to intellect and respect in the professional world. Nonetheless, an article from Style magazine introduces Gerardi as a “‘beautiful astronaut’ and TikTok star.” In the same interview, Gerardi combats the belief that women have to abandon their femininity to be taken seriously, stating she “wants women to be themselves in space.” She challenges the ingrained norms of masculine presentation and behavior by embracing her femininity and rejecting the expectation to wear pantsuits and limited makeup. Gerardi argues, “We don’t need to tone down any aspect of our femininity or personality to be seen as more credible or professional in the workforce.” Alongside her extensive aerospace research, fight for representation in space, and growing social media presence, she is a mother to a 6-year-old girl, Delta V, showing value in both being a mother and having a career, without compromising either. Gerardi’s social media features content of her and her daughter, emphasizing the belief that women can be present, supportive mothers and have successful careers.
As I explored Gerardi’s impact, I sought another perspective. Sydney Jud, a first-year PhD student at Syracuse University serves as an engineering TA and physics coach. Sydney’s experience as a young woman in STEM, particularly in teaching roles, made her an excellent resource and a valuable complement to Gerardi’s experiences. She spoke about her experiences expressing her femininity in her male-dominated department. She remarked, “They’ll notice a skirt because it’s out of the norm.” Sydney attributes this dynamic to the underrepresentation of women in the sciences, adding, “Because we have to conform to the ‘tomboy-women-in-STEM’ stereotype, not many people wear skirts.” This echoes Gerardi’s argument that being less feminine or “girly” can lead to perceptions of being less professional or worthy of respect. “When I wear a dress, I walk into the engineering building and think, ‘Yeah, I don’t look like I belong here.’” Sydney noted how a woman's choice of clothing can significantly influence her sense of belonging in a male-dominated environment. She clarified, “My goal is never to be more feminine; it’s to be more expressive, which often aligns with what people associate with femininity.” This reflects a shared experience among women in STEM, as Gerardi similarly encourages women to simply “be themselves.”
Later in our interview, Sydney reflected on the moment she realized she was being judged not for her intellect or character, but as a woman who had to fight to prove she belonged in a space overwhelmingly dominated by men. She was aware of it in middle school, but had grown to become more aware of it as she got older, even writing an essay in college about “being a woman and taking up space” as “a controversial act.” She then highlighted a trend she had noticed: “[herself] and fellow female classmates will answer in the form of a question,” whereas her male classmates would confidently state the answer, whether right or wrong. She calls this, “undercutting,” saying “If I say my answer confidently and I’m wrong, that reflects worse on me than if I say my answer very hesitantly.” Being aware of this trend among female students, Sydney uses her confidence as well as experience as a female coach and TA to encourage her students to not be afraid to make mistakes. She concluded, “If I’m out here being loud, proud, and ridiculous… that makes it a lot more ok for a student who’s maybe unsure of an answer to make a mistake.” I believe this perfectly sums up the goal of changing the narrative; a world where the expression of femininity is accepted as normal, and girls never have to grow up wondering if they belong in STEM.
As a young woman studying physics, I remember thinking that any expression of femininity– dresses, skirts, or makeup, were not acceptable if I wanted to be taken seriously. As I get older and figure out who I am, I’ve begun dressing in a way that expresses my femininity. Some may say I dress “girly,” but regardless, it makes me feel the most confident and contributes to my success, inside and outside of the science world. Gerardi, Sydney, and I believe every woman belongs in STEM. It’s crucial to support women in these fields and to celebrate those who succeed by simply being themselves.
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