The 12th session of the university-wide course "The Job of a Scientist and Career Development: Learning from the Career Histories of Female Researchers" was a lecture by Professor Masayo Soma of the Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, and the theme was "Considering the Diversity of a Researcher's Life from the Perspective of [Breaking Free from Stereotypes]." There are many stereotypes in the world. In particular, there seems to be a stereotype of "female researchers" because the image of "researcher" and "woman" that society expects is divergent. However, when you live your life proactively, there is no need to force yourself to fit into the "typical" image that society expects of you. Professor Soma's talk, in which she is living a "life free from stereotypes" by freely doing what she wants and enjoying it, was very inspiring and I think it conveyed a powerful message that it is okay to challenge yourself with what you love.
When we asked the students about stereotypes they encounter in their daily lives, they mentioned stereotypes based on their place of origin, such as, "Because I'm from Mito, people assume I like natto (fermented soybeans)," and "Because I'm from Hokkaido, people assume I can wear short sleeves even in winter." They also became more aware of the stereotypes they use when judging others, and I think they realized the importance of seeing people as individuals (without making hasty judgments based on stereotypes) as they meet various people in the future. Thank you, Professor Soma!
