• Question: did people treat you differently because you weren't English and did this effect your career?

    Asked by anon-188305 to Nadine on 15 Nov 2018.
    • Photo: Nadine Mirza

      Nadine Mirza answered on 15 Nov 2018:

      Thank you for your question- it’s a very thoughtful one.
      I think I’ve been incredibly fortunate that overall I haven’t been treated too differently for not being traditionally English. I think it helped, being born in Ireland, my first language being English, that made it easier, as well as my dressing very Western (which is just normal for me). Have I had some uncomfortable and/or racist incidents? Yes. But they are very very few and have never ventured into my career as yet.
      The most that’s happened is that people get surprised that I can speak English (“oh you speak English so well!”), I get asked a lot where I’m from and sometimes stuff like “How is it you’re allowed to wear jeans?” or “How are you allowed to keep your head uncovered?”. Honestly? It’s more funny than anything and a good way to dispel myths.The most amusing one is that people keep thinking I’m from America!
      However, I’m at the early stages of my career. I do know it’s going to be statistically harder for me to move up the scientific ladder to better and higher paying jobs, being a coloured woman. But I think so many amazing women are already paving the way for young scientists like me that I’m not too scared or worried by this! 🙂

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