"If my legs were getting me the money, thank you legs" - Jane Goodall on being objectified early in her career

Dr. Jane Goodall appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast hosted by Alex Cooper on 21 May, where she talked about different topics, from her first marriage to her difficulties she faced being objectified early in her career. During the conversation, Goodall said:

"If my legs were getting me the money, thank you legs"

Jane Goodall, who celebrated her 91st birthday last month, revealed that although it was overwhelming in the beginning, she learnt to use the experience to her advantage.

More about Jane Goodall's interview, as an environmentalist, reveals details about her early career

During her conversation with Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Jane Goodall recounted how many of male colleagues were visible jealous of rising fame, adding that they used to gossip about how she apparently got the money from National Geographic, wanting her to be on the cover just because she had 'nice legs':

"Well, some of the jealous male scientists will say, 'Well, you know, she's just got this notoriety, and she's getting money from Geographic. And they want her on the cover, And they wouldn't put her on the cover if she didn't have nice legs."

Jane Goodall further added that it was, in fact, her mother, novelist Margaret Myfanwe Joseph, who wrote under the pen name Vanne Morris Goodall, who inspired her to look at the difficult situation from a different angle and use it to her advantage. She said:

"She said, if you really want to do something like this, you're going to have to work really hard. Take advantage of every opportunity. And if you don't give up, hopefully you find a way."

Jane Goodall also shared that she wished her mother were alive to witness her journey, which she credited her mother with making it happen. She added:

"And I wish mom was alive, and maybe she's listening. The number of people who said, Jane, I want to thank you. You've taught me because you did it. I can do it too."

In the interview, Dr. Jane Goodall also discussed the moment he met her ex-husband, Hugo Van Lawick, while studying Chimpanzees. She said:

"They wanted to make a film and they wanted good photographs, so they sent Hugo van Lawick and I really didn't want him to come. I hadn't met him because I just wanted to be there with the chimps, you know. I didn't want anybody and I was afraid they'd be scared of him and, you know, all my hard work would be undone."

She also added perspective on why she thinks their marriage did not last. The former couple married in 1967 and were together for ten years, until their divorce in 1974. She said:

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"He had to go on with his career and he got some money to do films on the Serengeti, and I couldn't leave Gombe. I had to stay… I couldn't leave Gombe, and so it slowly drifted apart. And it was sad."

During the conversation, Jane Goodall also talked about her pioneering research on Chimpanzees, and how, even at her age, she continues to travel so frequently, adding that she does so to inspire others in any way she can.

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