As the oldest speaker at this Joint Discussion, my lifetime in astronomy spans a larger number of decades than the lives of most of us here, and consequently I have seen great changes in the opportunities, working conditions, status, and rewards for their work that are now available to women, in comparison with the situation as it was 50 years ago. Nevertheless, one has to admit that the answers to two of the questions we have been asked to address have to be a qualified yes: there is still a problem, and there is need for improvement.

The advances that we have seen, especially in the last 20 years, have been recognized throughout the worldwide community as being of immense benefit to astronomy. It is also recognized by the general public that the situation for women in astronomy is much different now from what it was in my early years.