In my career I have never felt that my being a woman was an obstacle or an advantage. I guess I've been oblivious.
I do feel very strongly that this is one of the things which people need encouragement to sort out, because I have this very strong feeling that everybody is probably a genius at something, it's just a question of finding this.
Further, a defensive policy involves the loss of the initiative, with all the consequent disadvantages to the defender.