tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852404808836733096.post768383806082954601..comments2023-05-13T05:43:36.885-06:00Comments on Bug loving mama: A rant on maternity clothing and what I think looks "professional"Mama beehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245565933429926406noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852404808836733096.post-67517816284836194632009-07-29T01:01:16.803-06:002009-07-29T01:01:16.803-06:00I find this post very interesting. First, I tend ...I find this post very interesting. First, I tend to agree with you (i.e., professional equal masculine). And when I begin to examine why I agree with that, like you, what I find is very telling and more than a bit disturbing about ME.<br /><br />We are quite the same, pregnant you and non-pregnant I. Where you have a pregnant belly, I have extraordinarily large breasts. And where you want to be taken seriously as a scientist who happens to be pregnant, I wish to be taken seriously as a scientist who happens to have large breasts. Unfortunately, we both <i>know</i> that a pregnant belly and big boobs trigger negative biases and stereotypes in both men and women on both a professional and a personal level. You are pregnant, therefore you aren't serious about your work. I have big boobs. Obviously, I've gotten where I am by capitalizing on my tits. Or worse, I must be a bubble-headed bimbo. Like you, my physical condition announces itself before I have an opportunity to demonstrate my competence, my seriousness, or my professionalism. So in virtually any interaction with a new acquaintence, I believe myself to be operating from a position of weakness (having to identify and diffuse each new person's biases and stereotypes). I do so predominantly by downplaying (to the best of my ability) my physical attributes (hiding them, if you will), seldom dressing in feminine attire, and by ignoring any reference to them (and trust me, you'd be surprised how many people are willing to say "Wow, those are some tits!"), and finally, by overwhelming people from the get-go with my intelligence, competence, and professionalism. <br /><br />It's a lot to ask of every single interaction I have with every single person I meet. And it is one reason that people who only know me via the internet think that I am something of an intellectual snob. Because they haven't met me, they don't understand my need to diffuse a potentially embarassing situation before it happens by overwhelming them with my competence.<br /><br />It is sad but it is my life. Be thankful that pregnancy is only temporary. Unless and until I have money for a breast reduction, this is my life permanently.Daktarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08291715601733518982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852404808836733096.post-14746742803770822732009-07-25T18:22:55.555-06:002009-07-25T18:22:55.555-06:00Yes, Aaron, please do point out manboobs to me at ...Yes, Aaron, please do point out manboobs to me at the conference. :-)Mama beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07245565933429926406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852404808836733096.post-57042473591411861112009-07-24T00:34:46.053-06:002009-07-24T00:34:46.053-06:00Do I apologize, do I feel sympathy for you or both...Do I apologize, do I feel sympathy for you or both knowing what CRAP you are going to have to take from Aaron being at the conference with him! I wish you good luck, my friend.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15303234515778299372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852404808836733096.post-63805682376575213752009-07-23T18:31:50.349-06:002009-07-23T18:31:50.349-06:00I hope after all this trouble you don't end up...I hope after all this trouble you don't end up giving your talk while standing behind a podium so no one can see anything you are wearing anyway. Also, I'm going to make it my personal mission to point out to you all the men at this conference who DO have boobs!Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998796244677612983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852404808836733096.post-39197529566358288512009-07-23T16:27:36.058-06:002009-07-23T16:27:36.058-06:00I had the same problem last pregnancy. This time a...I had the same problem last pregnancy. This time around I, thankfully, haven't (and probably won't) had to put on my professional 'hat'. I am sick of ribbons, bows and pleats on maternity clothes- and why are there flowers or horizontal stripes on everything?!I'm not much for clothes shopping either and, even with my impressive belly size, have managed to wear many non-maternity outfits. Too bad you didn't post sooner, I have a nice blue maternity blouse that does not sport any ribbons, bows, or even elastic, and it does not come close to fitting me this pregnancy- I would have mailed it to you. =)Momma Nummieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07915122901066587205noreply@blogger.com