Increased numbers of women in science can only be a good thing. Not simply because it is grossly unjust for women to be unable to experience the challenging but also hugely intellectually rewarding experience of participating in scientific resource in half.  sWhat's more, women bring new ways of thinking and a broader range of ideas to the table, which is crucial for science to flourish. All scientists have a responsibility to be feminists and encourage women to participate in science and fight the barriers that exist. However, this is often more easily said than done. There are several proposed reasons for why women are discouraged from participating in science at a ranger of levels -form primary school children to professors. Among other things, these include a lack of role models and support network  -as well as harassment and bullying but also less obvious barriers, for example, unconscious biases in job interviews and letters of reference.  In the end, the way to tackle prejudice against women is to increase awareness of the particular challenges faced by female scientists and to put systems in place that promote equal opportunities. Meanwhile, we need outstanding female role models to show unequivocally that women can compete on the same intellectual level as men and encourage other women to follow their lead  Together we can create the level playing field which is so desperately required.