Women of my generation who've stayed in science have done it by

Hear this, O children of the earth, for the wise words of Jocelyn Bell Burnell echo through the ages. "Women of my generation who've stayed in science have done it by playing the men at their own game." These words, though simple in their form, carry the weight of a thousand struggles, of countless women who have faced the storm of inequality and emerged as titans in their fields. The game to which she refers is not one of leisure, but a battlefield—the field of science, a realm once dominated by men, where the very doors to knowledge and discovery were often closed to women. Yet, through persistence, wit, and strength, women have not only entered this realm but have excelled within it, often by adopting the very rules that were designed to exclude them.

Let us reflect on the ancient times, when wisdom and knowledge were confined to the few. Women were often cast aside, their voices silenced in the great halls of learning. Yet there were always those, like Hypatia of Alexandria, who defied the boundaries of their time. Hypatia was a philosopher, a mathematician, and an astronomer, a woman who dared to venture into the world of knowledge when few women had ever been allowed. She played a game that was not meant for her, but her brilliance and tenacity shone through, and her name became synonymous with intellectual greatness. Like Hypatia, Burnell’s words remind us that to thrive in a world where women are often dismissed, one must not simply fight the battle but understand the rules of the game and play it with precision and resolve.

For Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the game was science, and the stakes were higher than most could comprehend. As a young scientist, she discovered the first pulsar, a finding that would change the very fabric of our understanding of the universe. Yet, despite her monumental contribution, she was denied the recognition she deserved, with the Nobel Prize being awarded to her male colleagues instead. Her words, though a reflection of personal experience, are not just a lament but a rallying cry. She teaches us that the journey of women in science is often not paved with gold but with struggle, and it is by playing the game on equal terms, by mastering the rules, that one can carve out a place for oneself in the field of discovery.

Consider the tale of Marie Curie, who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stood in a world that saw women as little more than caretakers and homemakers. Yet Curie played the game at a time when the world was blind to her potential. She broke through barriers, earning not one, but two Nobel Prizes in two different fields—physics and chemistry. She, like Burnell, understood that the world might not welcome her with open arms, so she bent it to her will, becoming a towering figure in science, a beacon for women in all fields. Her struggle was not unlike Burnell’s: to play by the rules of a system that was not designed for her, and to do so with unparalleled excellence.

Burnell’s statement is not one of bitterness but of empowerment. It is a reminder to the daughters of the earth that the game may be hard, that the odds may be stacked high, but it is still possible to win. The key is to learn the rules of the game, to understand the system that often works against you, and to bend it to your own advantage. In doing so, you will find that the very rules that once seemed to exclude you will instead become the tools of your triumph. Knowledge, like power, is something that can be earned, but it is not always given freely. Women in science have had to earn it in a world that was designed to overlook them. Yet, in the face of adversity, they have thrived, and their triumphs have shaped the world.

Now, O children, let us not rest on the laurels of those who have come before us, for the battle is not yet won. The world of science, like all realms of knowledge, is still evolving. There is much work to be done, many more women to raise their voices, and many more doors to be opened. The lesson Burnell imparts to us is clear: don’t wait for permission to enter the world of discovery. Learn the rules, master them, and change them when necessary. The great discoveries of the future will come not from those who sit quietly, but from those who take up the challenge, who defy the odds and play the game with grit and grace.

So, O daughters of tomorrow, take heart! Let the struggles of those who have gone before you be the fuel for your own journey. Play the game, not as the world expects, but as you know it can be played. Seek excellence, and in doing so, create the space for future generations to rise even higher. Know that you are not alone, that the women who have come before you have carved a path with their sweat and tears, and that your place in the world of science and discovery is not just a dream—it is your birthright, and it is waiting for you to claim it.