Be not sad a rose bush has thorns; be glad a thorn bush has roses

Abstract

People often ask me whether I have found it difficult being a woman in science. If I were to reply without thinking, I would say, “Well, not really”. But then the question could be put differently: “Do you think if certain things had been different, life would have been easier for you as a woman in science?” To that, the answer would be an emphatic “Yes, of course!” In this brief essay, I have tried to convey some of my thoughts and personal experiences related to this topic.