Honey, I shrunk the gender gap
Welcome to our elaborate bug hotel
Hags, rejoice! This week marks the hopeful start of things reopening in the UK, meaning that covens can be reunited indoors (or underground, we’re not here to judge).
Our theme this week is: ‘incredible women discovering things’ – another thing to rejoice in. For a start, look at the basic essentials we wouldn’t have if it weren’t for these amazing Black women. From sanitary towels to the hairbrush, these pioneers deserve a steaming goblet of the good stuff. Here’s to them!
Then, read on to find out about Victorian bug ladies, the women tackling the “modesty gap” to make healthcare accessible for Orthodox Jewish women, and the life-saving pandemic guidance which would not exist without one persistent badass… PLUS cheese-tasting and photos of bums. Don’t claim we don’t spoil you.
Meet the Victorian Bug Ladies
Honey, I shrunk the gender gap
By Marie Fury
I am a big fan of creepy crawlies. I spent hours as a child peering underneath rocks or creating elaborate bug hotels to better observe their miniature worlds. Even now, I’ve been known to slip the odd insect story into HEX, to the bemusement of my fellow hags. So it was a real treat this week to come across not one but two articles about the work of pioneering “bug ladies.”
The cicada lady
The “great cicada hatching of 2021,” will soon see trillions of the winged wonders take to the skies of Northeastern USA. Once thought to be the same species, we now know that the noisy swarms that emerge every 17 years are made up of more than one type of cicada. After years of careful study, entomologist Margaretta Hare Morris was the first to distinguish two separate species in 1846 – five years later, two male scientists who had read Morris’ reports “discovered” the second species and named it after... themselves. Undaunted by this fuckwittery, Morris went on to become one of the first women elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Spiderwoman
Another Victorian-era entomologist, Elizabeth Bangs Bryant, devoted herself to spiders, and she ventured as far afield as the Caribbean to add to her impressive arachnid collection. Although female staff at the Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology were rarely recognised (or even paid) for their painstaking work, Bryant eventually gained the position of assistant curator of arachnids, published multiple papers, and even had two species of spider named after her. Flash forward to 2021 and curator Reed Gochberg is highlighting the role of women in the museum’s history in a new online exhibition.
It’s about time that these inspirational insect enthusiasts are recognised, especially since entomology still suffers from a significant gender gap. If only these brilliant bug ladies could have trained their insect friends to unleash many-legged fury upon their male detractors… <MF disappears into the garden>
TIT BITS
Keeping abreast of the latest news, views, and research
Women are amazing, Vol #1,365
Concerns about modesty can prevent many Orthodox Jewish women from getting adequate medical help – or ANY help – even in life-threatening emergencies. Enter Ezras Nashim, a group of NYC women trained as EMTs (emergency medical technicians) who, despite protests from their communities (including the all-male volunteer ambulance service), have set up an emergency response team specifically for women. So if you have a sour taste in your mouth after THAT ‘car convoy of abuse’, this quietly inspiring tale is the perfect palate cleanser.
What’s in a name?
Do you love controversy, fascinating science, and (most deliciously) women being dismissed by the establishment, only to later be proven right? Buckle up and read the fantastic tale of Linsey Marr, an aerosol scientist/general badass who helped get to the bottom of a 60-year-old scientific error that impacted our understanding of how COVID-19 was spreading.
The elusive OC
Disappointing news for ovaries everywhere: a clinical trial has shown that routine blood test screening for ovarian cancer in women without symptoms has no effect on the number of deaths from the disease. But, it did pick up disease at an earlier stage. If you’ll pardon our French, ovarian cancer is a right sneaky bastard; many symptoms can be confused with other illnesses, and some people suffer little to no symptoms at all. Until a successful screening option is found, remind yourself of the key signs and get straight to your GP as soon as anything feels amiss (definitely worth waiting through the terrible hold music...).
TO THE KRAKEN 🦑
Please continue to maintain at least a 2,000-metre distance at all times
With further lifting of lockdown, Ms K has taken herself off to her favourite haunt in the trench. She’s in the mood for a few mollusc martinis, shaken not stirred. Olives? Nope, her drinks are garnished with human eyeballs, ofc. She’s now waiting for the first male politician to break their own pandemic rules, so she can enjoy a bowl of nuts… and not the dry roasted kind.
More things hatching our cicadas this week:
This woman got her (and our) dream job | Prioritising friendship over romance | How you can help Latin-American scientists | Can bum photos challenge female stereotypes? | The science of motherhood: fascinating/terrifying
The HEX Science team
🧠 Rorschach Tess | ☢ Marie Fury | 🔬 Rosalind Frankly | 🧬Jean Splicer
