Q: I am a fierce women’s advocate. But sometimes I feel pressure to support women who don’t meet my standards of competence or behavior. How do I manage this—or should my support be unconditional?

A: The desire for gender equality is a historical aspiration woven deep into the fabric of our society. The emotion and energy generated in its pursuit has ebbed and flowed throughout time … and the road that has led us to where women stand today in society … personally and professionally has indeed been a rocky one.