FAN: Thanks for being the woman who showed me that science wasn’t just for boys. In fact, I think one of the greatest gifts of the X-Files is that the lead male character is irrational and nonsensical. It has been done since, especially in the genre, but it was the first show I saw that challenged those roles. So, no questions, just plain old thanks from a long time fan and (now) woman of science. GILLIAN ANDERSON: There’s a lot of women who have come to me and told me they have gone into some form of science because of Scully, which I think is really cool. Thank you.
In a Reddit AMA to mark the 20th anniversary of The X-Files, Gillian Anderson reflects on how the show encouraged women to pursue science. Pair with how, a century earlier, astronomer Maria Mitchell pioneered women’s science education. (via explore-blog)













