NASA scientist's epic response to dating app match who asked if she was a 'receptionist'

Subtle traces of sexism still persist in today’s world, from outdated mindsets to offensive jokes. Planetary scientist Dr. Lauren McKeown recently shared on X how she handled a sexist encounter on the dating app Hinge. McKeown’s profile featured the line, “The dorkiest thing about me—I worked at NASA.” After matching with a man, the conversation quickly took a sexist turn.

“F*** me that’s cool. Wait till I tell my parents,” he wrote. Before they could even begin texting, the man sent a sexist remark about Keown’s job. He said, “So what are you, like the receptionist? Just kidding, you look reasonably smart.” The man’s comment may have been a joke but it appalled the scientist nonetheless. Keown had a savage response to render and did not hold back. She first called out the man for his sexist mindset and bland way of starting a conversation. “Smart enough to know, at least, that judging a woman’s intelligence based on her appearance might not be the best way to initiate conversation,” she wrote.

McKeown wasn’t done yet and delivered a final punchline: “P.S. My mother is a primary school receptionist and is the wisest, most inspirational and kindest woman I know. So much so that my PhD thesis is dedicated to her,” she exclaimed. It was the perfect way to shut down his ignorant comment, proudly showcasing her and her mother’s achievements. The man admitted he was joking and apologized, but McKeown wasn’t interested in excusing such remarks, especially after facing similar stereotypes in the past, according to CNN.

“To look at me, you probably wouldn’t think I’m academic. We have to be extremely careful not to display aspects of ourselves that might give people further reason to undermine our intelligence,” she remarked. Now working at London’s Natural History Museum, the scientist is continuing her research and hard-earned work. Her current project is research related to Mars and sources of Martian meteorites. She has also published an article about surface processes on Mars in the Journal Nature. Keown knows all too well the respect she deserves, not just for her profession or gender, but as a human being.

McKeown unmatched the man right after their conversation. She also encouraged people to be mindful of their words, especially when starting a conversation. People supported the woman and respected her for her bold reply. @Guildmas remarked, “I'd rather be single than with someone with that kind of way of thinking.” @BigMitchAK wrote, “What I love most about your reply is that you took the opportunity to uphold the dignity of honest labor. Nicely done!”