After an advertisement in California sparked controversy online over what a female engineer "should look like," women around the world have joined forces to fight gender stereotypes using the hashtag #ILookLikeAnEngineer.
The ad, a promo for tech security company $4, features 22-year-old Isis Anchalee, who works for the company as a full-stack engineer, $4. She and three other OneLogin employees were selected to be in the campaign, with each ad including a picture and a quote about working at the company, Anchalee explained in an $4.
Medium/Isis Anchalee
Photos of the ad made their way to Facebook and Twitter. There, people commented that Anchalee was too attractive to be an engineer. They even took issue with her facial expression, calling it a "sexy smirk."
Mostly, people were sarcastic:
Isis Anchalee/Medium
Instead of backing down, Anchalee took the commentary as an opportunity to make a statement about the sexism often experienced by women in the tech industry.
"Some people think I'm not making 'the right face,'"$4. "Others think that this is unbelievable as to what 'female engineers look like.'"
In protest, she posted $4 holding a sign emblazoned with the hashtag #ILookLikeAnEngineer and invited people to use it to $4spread the word and help us redefine 'what an engineer should look like.'">$4
![isis anchalee](https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55c50845dd0895000b8b4625-700-466/screen%20shot%202015-08-07%20at%202.33.32%20pm.png)
Medium/Isis Anchalee
Here's a multi-generational #ILookLikeAnEngineer tweet featuring a mother and daughter.
Mom designed power plant & oil refinery controls. I design air planes $4 $4 $4 $4
- Liz San Miguel (@LizSM_217) $4
"I didn't want or ask for any of this attention, but if I can use this to put a spotlight on gender issues in tech, I consider that to be at least one win," $4.
#ILookLikeAnEngineer trended on Facebook and Twitter this week and does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
I've put Java, C#, Ruby, Golang, JavaScript, & a baby into Production this year. $4 $4
- Lisa Smith (@lisariendeau) $4
I'm from Benin, West Africa. I'm Black. I have short hair, and I smile a LOT. $4 $4
- Pamela Assogba (@pam_yam) $4
I'm a self-taught PHP and iOS engineer at $4 and co-founder/CTO of $4 $4 $4
- Amelia Gapin (@EntirelyAmelia) $4
Supporting $4 I look like an engineer because I am oneI manage energy $4 $4 $4
- Pilar Karlen (@plequio) $4