To the editor,
I’ve just finished reading “Belgian Scientist Shares her Struggles to the Top.” I can relate to Dr. Van Broeckhoven’s intuition about herself as a scientist; I too “know” that I am and will always be a scientist. I greatly admire her for the struggles she has overcome in order to continue with her research, and for her willingness to share her story.
What concerns me about the nature of this article, and is addressed by Dr. Leboy in “Fixing the Leaky Pipeline” is the message that to be a woman scientist, you must work harder than the men, sacrifice your family, and the enjoyment of life.
Even with my conviction that I am a scientist, these “facts” are making me question my desire to continue in academics. Where are the stories about women who have “made it” without giving up so much? They may be few and far between, but to encourage young women to continue in science, you need to seek out those stories and show that things are beginning to change.
Sincerely,
Mary A. Robinson
VMD/PhD Student
University of Pennsylvania
