Many readers took us to task for the cover image on the January issue of Happi. They’re right; the cover was in very poor taste and was offensive (See Letters to the Editor, p. 10). As one reader noted:

“I would like to express my displeasure with the cover image for the January 2018 issue of Happi magazine. I will not go into details about all the reasons why I am personally offended by this cover image…I am very disappointed that Happi magazine chose such an image for the magazine cover to represent a female laboratory scientist at work.”

The writer is correct. We made a mistake in selecting the image and never intended to suggest that was our interpretation of women chemists.

Another reader chastised us for the cover’s timing:

“It’s an especially tone deaf image given current events. It’s hard enough for women in STEM to be taken seriously without things like this.”

Correct again. And as our full-time editorial staff has six daughters between us, we should be very much aware of how difficult the workplace can be for women.

And finally:

“Sexualized images are the norm in social media, but to see it in an industry standard resource is off-putting. It demonstrates disrespect to the women in the field and doing research, undermining our place in the industry and how we are approached or considered.”

We meant no disrespect to our readers, nor to their tremendous work in the household and personal products industry. We apologize for publishing the image on the January 2018 cover and we want to assure you that such an image will never again appear in the magazine or on the website.


Tom Branna
Editorial Director
[email protected]