Search for images of a "professor" on Google and this is what you'll find: a cornucopia of older white men standing authoritatively in front of a chalkboard.
This tired cliché has become the target of #ILookLikeaProfessor, a hashtag inviting professors who don't fit the stereotype to show the public that academics are a diverse bunch.
The callout has been a hit, particularly among women and people of color who say that they've been mistaken for students, custodians and even takeout delivery drivers.
"These are real posts from real people — real professors in diverse fields across the United States — who do not fit the stereotype of a 60-something, white male professor, usually in tie and tweed," said the hashtag's inventors in an essay for InsideHigherEd.com. "Extra credit if glasses and a beard came to mind"
Google image search results for "English Professor." Why the work being done at #ILookLikeAProfessor is so necessary. pic.twitter.com/MWucN6Aj7p— Jesse Stommel (@Jessifer) August 7, 2015
Sara B. Pritchard, an associate professor of science and technology studies at Cornell University, Adeline Koh, an associate professor of literature at Stockton University, and Michelle Moravec, an associate professor of history at Rosemont College, started the campaign last week in the wake of the viral hashtag #ILookLikeAnEngineer, which challenged the notion that engineering professionals look like hoodie-wearing white men in their 20s.
I worked as an engineer at @Intel + @Twitter, now I build features for Windows at @Microsoft #ILookLikeAnEngineer pic.twitter.com/ttGUnHseYH— dara (@daraoke) August 4, 2015
The stereotype-busting meme is allowing professionals to point out explicit and subtle bias and insist that people confront harmful ideas about gender, race, age, ethnicity, class, sexuality and more in the workplace.
just because three women got #ILookLikeAProfessor going doesn't mean it is (only) abt gender MANY layers of privilege/oppression in academy— Michelle Moravec (@ProfessMoravec) August 11, 2015
Some commenters on the trio's essay questioned the seriousness of these experiences, arguing that well-intentioned people simply make mistakes.
"Of course, we all make mistakes," Pritchard tells Mashable in an email. "But we need to think hard about what’s behind those mistakes — what entrenched cultural assumptions and stereotypes might make it much easier for someone to erroneously assume that a female professor is a secretary or an African-American faculty member is a janitor."
Pritchard says the spontaneous campaign was embraced at first by female professors, but others soon began sharing their stories of battling different stereotypes.
"One of the really amazing, wonderful things about this hashtag," says Pritchard, "is to see solidarity emerging across so many dimensions of difference — to recognize that many inequalities persist in the ivory tower and that we need to fight for each other, not just ourselves."
#ilooklikeaprofessor A full professor. Even if I am female and blonde. Accomplishments over chauvinism. pic.twitter.com/ZzQdIlk5Ix— Candida Moss (@candidamoss) August 11, 2015
A colleague told me I look like a student. Nah, champ. #ilooklikeaprofessor. All 3 of us do.Because all 3 of us are. pic.twitter.com/mN4TXnjNnI— Camika Royal (@DrCamikaRoyal) August 8, 2015
#ilooklikeaprofessor #medieval Yet still patronizingly told "Good for you" in response. pic.twitter.com/ENd9bzvdYw— Rick Godden (@RickGodden) August 8, 2015
#ILookLikeaProfessor is teaching me that TONS of women are mistaken for students (AKA we're immature/not authoritative).— Kate Weber (@k8simply) August 6, 2015
Because I'm often told I smile too much or I don't look serious enough #ILookLikeAProfessor pic.twitter.com/SEdBlP9YCF— M. (@MGreenbarteet) August 11, 2015
Not only do #ILookLikeAProfessor, so does my Auntie! pic.twitter.com/mhlQIrYo3G— Jonathan W. Gray (@elmcitytree) August 7, 2015
#ILookLikeAProfessor and a backpacker, and a mom. pic.twitter.com/cvOkqnOODj— Sarah (@swangler) August 11, 2015
#ILookLikeAProfessor Not quite one yet (I'm ABD), but soon environmental history professors will wear metal T-shirts. pic.twitter.com/ULdo76Knix— Sean Munger (@Sean_Munger) August 6, 2015
I'm 40 and students still assume the male TA is in charge. #ILookLikeAProfessor— Abby Swingen (@AbbySwingen) August 6, 2015
#ILookLikeaProfessor; also I look like a mathematician & a mom. pic.twitter.com/gYwAGSa9PB— Kate Owens (@katemath) August 7, 2015
#ilooklikeaprofessor #ilooklikeaDr Asst. Prof. #medieval lit and DH University of Nevada Reno pic.twitter.com/sw4zRaLdfK— Angie Bennett Segler (@MedievalAngie) August 11, 2015
I needed the hashtag #ILookLikeaProfessor today. #encouraged #latinoscholar #idotheatre pic.twitter.com/r9btZG2V43— Adam Flores (@lilflo84) August 11, 2015
I'm inspired! I'm working to one day being able to say #ilooklikeaprofessor pic.twitter.com/UlVYzrSa3s— Jessica Hasssinger (@Ms_Jess_Hass) August 11, 2015