Despite the continuing existence of barriers to women, a generational change in the traditional ‘male model’ of full-time devotion to science and neglect of personal life is under way. A senior female scientist in an academic department has often been an individual, successful by conventional measures, who chose to adopt the strategy of emulating the ‘male model’ as the only way to survive. Treated as ‘one of the boys,’ she often later has second thoughts about the sacrifices that had to be made to be accepted.

A decade ago, we identified a small number of women faculty members who were limiting their time in the laboratory and attempting to integrate a private sphere with their professional life. Recently, more women as well as an increasing number of younger male faculty members have expressed interest in a less-driven work life but stringency in research funding has intensified the pressure to work more. Even though some report that their satisfaction has decreased under these conditions, the most driven scientists submit an increased number of grant proposals and become even more successful. The conflict between their behavior and the wish to change suggests that transition to a more equal balance between professional and personal life is still a long way from being realized, especially at the higher levels of academic science.

Until quite recently relatively few women were willing to openly articulate the vicissitudes of their professional and personal experience in science.