Essex? The only way is ... success!

I’m head of maths, but can’t shake the dippy blonde tag

EMMA COX, 39, is head of maths in an all-boys’ state Catholic secondary school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. She lives with husband Danny, 33, a risk manager, and their children Jamie, eight, and Eden, 15 months. Emma says: I’m very proud of my essex roots and I would never want to move away. But the stereotypes make me roll my eyes and despair. I’m blonde, I love glamorous clothes and my favourite holiday destination is Dubai. So far, so essex, if you believe the stereotype. But as head of maths in a secondary school, I earn a living from using my brain. The first time I became aware of the stereotype was on a family holiday to Tenerife with my parents when I was 15. Whenever we told other British teenagers there that we were from essex, they’d say: ‘Where are your white stilettoes?’ even when I won a place at King’s College London to study for a maths degree, I couldn’t shake the stereotype. Already in a minority as a woman studying maths, people couldn’t get their heads around the fact that I was also from essex. Imagine that, an essex girl who excelled at maths! I have quite a strong essex accent, which probably made me an easier target. But I constantly felt that I had to prove I’d earned the right to be at a very good university. Perhaps because I still live and work in essex I haven’t had to fight against the stereotype in my career the way I’d have had to if I’d moved away.

But the stereotype still follows me. When I meet new people, I can see their surprise when I tell them, in my best Canvey Island accent, that I’m head of maths in a secondary school.

As a full-time working mum, I like to look classy and well-groomed when I go out, but I certainly don’t have time to swan around shops and beauty salons for hours. I’m too busy working really hard showing the next generation of essex girls (and boys) how to go out and prove their worth to the world.