"Dowdy, like a librarian"

My mom told me about a comment that was made on the Today show where the representative from In Style Magazine referenced not wanting to look "dowdy like a librarian". So I wrote the following e-mail to the editor of In Style magazine and hopefully we will see some positive changes for our image:


Hello.

It was recently brought to my attention that Amy E. Goodman, from In Style, made a comment on the Today show about looking “dowdy like a librarian.” A reference to the clip can be seen online here: http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?f=05%2f64&i=640d4bcb-8c35-4930-82fc-3af32987de9d.

Librarians have been trying to move away from the image of the 1950s and into the 21st Century. When comments are made that throw us back to a past stereotypical image by fashion gurus, it makes it hard for us to make that transition. I have been working on a project over the past year and a half to show the diversity in the profession of librarianship (www.iamalibrarian.com). There are many male librarians in the profession as well these days. It would be great if the fashion industry would help us librarians to move into the new image of the librarian, which we are already portraying.

Thanks!

-Cynthia

Cynthia Wilson
www.cynthiawilson.net
www.iamalibrarian.com