LONDON -- Earlier this year, British scientist Dr. Samantha Decombel was invited to speak at the European Commission-sponsored Euraxess scientific conference only to have her invitation revoked following the revelation of her pregnancy.
Sharing her experience online, Decombel has provoked a worldwide Twitter movement out to prove that pregnancy should not be considered a hinderance.
Posting the following email from the European Commission to her Instagram account, Decombel sheds a light on the discrimination that so many women still face today. An excerpt from her response to the email is shared as a caption and reads:
"As @sherylsandberg, COO of Facebook, has said in the past, so many women 'leave before they leave' in anticipation of starting a family due to the guilt of juggling these two apparently contradictory options, taking on less responsibility within their role, taking a back seat in key decision-making and effectively putting the brakes on their career prospects before they actually need to, ensuring that on their return to work they are already at a disadvantage. I do not intend to put the brakes on my ambitions until I need to, and would encourage others to consider why we lay this guilt on female researchers that wish to have both a career and a family."
A photo posted by Dr. Samantha Decombel (@samdecombel) on Nov 29, 2015 at 7:47am PST
#7monthsawesome is a hashtag inspiring women to share the work and activities they have physically and mentally been able to continue during pregnancy and began after Decombel spoke about her experience. From teaching Zumba classes to setting up field experiments, the hashtag has created an online storm proving that any organisation discriminating against pregnant women is totally wrong.
Plumbed the depths of Utah's slot canyons one month before due date. #7monthsawesome pic.twitter.com/littQG9ael— Erin Alberty (@erinalberty) December 3, 2015
I was in lab on Fri, went into labor on Sat. Sent email to lab tech to freeze samples until I got back #7monthsawesome @kejames @samdecombel— Rajini Rao (@madamscientist) December 2, 2015
Setting up a new field experiment last month #7monthsawesome pic.twitter.com/lYPeMi7ySL— Melissa Cregger (@MelissaCregger) December 2, 2015
#7monthsawesome #SwaggerLikeUs MIA pointing at you @EU_Commission pic.twitter.com/EQjjGG3aqW— Katie Hinde (@Mammals_Suck) December 2, 2015
Friend Dulce TAUGHT Zumba all 38 wks. Pretty sure a woman can feel healthy enough to give a talk at #7monthsawesome pic.twitter.com/gVbHARwdT2— Melanie Tannenbaum (@melanietbaum) December 2, 2015
10 days before baby was born, in the lab collecting awesome data and testing antiviral drugs. #7monthsawesome pic.twitter.com/RUe4ZT6tAk— Gena (@Dr_Gena) December 1, 2015
But Twitter user @CatherineQ raised a point in regards to the health risks that effect individuals during pregnancy, urging tweeters to ensure that #7monthsawesome was taking into account the women prescribed bedrest and the like who are just as awesome as those who continue both work and play.
@kejames totally in support of it being *completely* up to woman and her doctor about decision to travel and every other pregnancy (1/n)— Catherine Q. (@CatherineQ) December 2, 2015
@kejames decision. But kind of worried about #7monthsawesome tag. There is never a "normal" for everyone in a health related situation (2/n)— Catherine Q. (@CatherineQ) December 2, 2015
@kejames meaning I also have good friends who had preemies and were on bedrest etc who feel great guilt and are equally awesome. (3/n)— Catherine Q. (@CatherineQ) December 2, 2015
@kejames so could we make sure we aren't subtly making pregnancy a competition or defining what is normal while supporting this cause.— Catherine Q. (@CatherineQ) December 2, 2015
@LKluber agreed, providing the moral of this story: complicated pregnancies are not out of the norm and the decision surrounding what women should or should not do whilst pregnant is ultimately down to the woman and her doctor alone.
I was lucky & had an uncomplicated pregnancy, not all women do. Let's let women & their doctors decide what is best for them #7monthsawesome— Laurel (@LKluber) December 2, 2015