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March 8 is the day when we celebrate women and their achievements. Posters, campaigns, events, all the things that highlight how far we’ve come.
This International Women’s day, let’s read the story of two penfriends. A renowned scientist and a young girl and their unique conversation.
Dear professor Marrielle Franklin,
I hope you are doing well. My name is Riya and I am a high school student. I have a lot of interest in painting, cooking, and science. Out of all the three, I like science the best. I wish to become a great scientist like you one day. Whenever we have science lab sessions, I always try to come up with a few out-of-the-box ideas.
I have read about your work in newspapers and frankly, while I am not able to understand all the science behind it, I am fascinated by the thought that you put into your research. Your work and your journey have inspired me a lot. I have so many questions to ask you but I understand that you probably won’t respond to me.
However, your recent interview - where you were asked about having achieved so much despite being a woman - has made me write to you because I’d really like to know what you think. Why did you say that your struggles have nothing to do with gender? Is it not true that most women face a lot of bias and are at a disadvantage because of their gender?
Historically women had to face a lot more, from not being admitted to institutions as students to being forced to quit their jobs, there have been innumerable struggles.
I am really curious, professor.
Please write to me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Riya
Dear Riya,
It is always a pleasure to interact with young brilliant minds like you. It fills me with joy that my scientific work was able to inspire you. My motivation behind pursuing a career in the sciences had been to help society in a meaningful way. It never occurred to me that it would be my journey that would end up creating a larger impact.
But, here I must confess to you that I don’t agree with the statements that begin with “despite being a woman”. You see I have never seen my gender as a hurdle. I have my parents to thank for that, they never discouraged me because I am a girl. A few of my seniors and colleagues were apprehensive but that faded away once I started succeeding.
It is true that women pursuing a career in the sciences, or even arts for that matter, do find it hard to secure grants and positions. But, that is a problem with society’s perspective. It doesn’t dampen my hopes and neither should it scare you.
What is important is that you stay true to your goals. Aim high and work towards it diligently. You will face hurdles, you will face problems. But everyone faces them. Even men.
The struggles are going to be different for everyone, though. I might have had to write a hundred more proposals for a grant than a man in my position, but he would be facing some other battles that we might not be able to fathom.
I accept that historically women have had to fight for even the most basic rights and we will have to continue to fight those fights. But, never let anyone discourage you. If they fail to see your value, work on finding places that will. If they don’t support you, find your courage and support yourself. Don’t ever be afraid of hardships. They are a part of life. But if you label your hardships as something that has come your way because of who you are, you are lowering your worth.
When women accept into the narrative that there is a bias, that there is a broken rung, that we are going to face challenges because of our gender, is when we actually lose. Because by that time, we already have limited ourselves. And we look at situations with the same lens of bias. Ultimately, we end up frustrated. And that makes us believe we are helpless.
We are not. We shall never be.
As long as you have faith in yourself, you will succeed.
Best wishes to you and your family. I hope we can meet sometime. You have a long way to go. Never be afraid of struggling.
Regards,
Marielle
Your penfriend
P.S. - Call me Elle
Dear Elle,
I’m speechless at this moment. I have been following your work for some time now and it feels like a dream that I am getting this opportunity to interact with you. Thank you so much for your words. I had never looked at struggles as just struggles, a part of our life. I guess we have been made to think that struggles have to be avoided. No one ever told me to not look at my gender as a weakness. It’s an eye-opening realisation that thinking about being at a disadvantage has already made me disadvantaged.
I might not be able to thank you enough for the perspective you have given me.
Sincerely,
Riya
Years later, as our young aspiring scientist stood on the stage with the “Promising Scientist” award, she recalled the letter she had received from her idol and how it had set her on this path. The award had only been given to men before. She wondered how many women might have limited themselves thinking they’d never win it. She smiled and knew what she was going to do next.
Note: the story is a work of fiction.
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