JISCMail - PSCI-COM Archives

I have to agree with Alice.

The issue that mental health charities took with the branding of the costume as a ‘mental patient’ was that it contributed to the long-standing and continuing stereotype of people with mental health problems, that they are inherently dangerous and violent.

Comparing that level of prejudice, to the negative portrayal of scientists by the ‘mad scientist’ costume – as if scientists face equivalent discrimination and persecution as people with mental health issues – is really poor taste.

Richard Berks
Research Information Officer
E: [log in to unmask]

From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of alice bell
Sent: 04 October 2013 16:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Tesco have rebranded that offensive costume

I think this is a bit crass.

In fact, it's made me quite angry.

I appreciate that stereotypical images of scientists are frustrating. But it is qualitatively and significantly different to the types of prejudice faced by people with mental health problems.

E.g. why not just join in the campaigns against the idea of "mad" as a joke - be it applied to scientists or anyone else - rather than use it as a chance to promote yourselves?

Also, if you'd like to campaign on "violence" in images of science for young children, what's your take on sponsorship of things like the Big Bang Fair by groups like BAE Systems.

Seriously.

Look at yourselves.

On 4 October 2013 16:18, Nina Cromeyer Dieke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Well done!

>>> Victoria Steven <[log in to unmask]> 04/10/2013 15:49 >>>

Hi all,

The Royal Society of Chemistry issued a press release today calling for retailers to stop selling mad scientist costumes – Amazon are at it too apparently: http://www.rsc.org/AboutUs/News/PressReleases/2013/RSC-children-costumes.asp

We’re also trying a bit of a campaign on Twitter in the same vein as Mind and Time to Change did in response to the mental patient costume. They asked people with mental health conditions to tweet pictures of themselves using #mentalpatient to show people what they really look like and quash the stereotype.

Following on from Mind and Time to Change’s really great campaign (which got hundreds of people to tweet pictures of themselves), we’re asking scientists to say no to the ‘mad scientist’ stereotype and tweet pictures of themselves using #realscientist. It would be great if you could tweet pics yourselves and do some retweeting to encourage any other scientists you know to get involved – and show the world we’re not mad!

We’re on @RSC_Comms.

Thanks!

Victoria

Victoria Steven | RSC Media Relations Executive

Tel: +44 (0)207 440 3322 | +44 (0)7774328390

From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Omar Jamshed
Sent: 03 October 2013 16:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Tesco have rebranded that offensive costume

Clearly not a mad scientist, I can’t see the rejected grant application form anywhere!

Omar Jamshed

Communications Assistant

From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julie Webb
Sent: 03 October 2013 16:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Tesco have rebranded that offensive costume

Hi all,

Has anyone seen Tesco's rebranding of THAT costume? It has become a 'mad scientists' costume. No, really it's here: http://www.clothingattesco.com/fancy-dress/halloween-mad-scientist-costume/invt/ar329040/&bklist=icat,4,shop,halloween,all-halloween

I hesitate to say its a tad stereotyped - it is, apart from the belt, which is clearly from the previously withdrawn costume and has nothing to do with scientists at all.

Grrr....

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