????我們可以鼓勵女性積極投身社會并張開雙臂歡迎她們,，但這并不會消除各種文化中一些已經傳承千年的、對待女性的做法,，它們一直強化著女性主要作為撫育者的角色（我指的并不只是養(yǎng)育孩子）,。要克服這一點，就需要全世界有意識地持續(xù)努力,。它在實踐中意味著什么呢,？主要是以下幾點：

????? 男性支持這種觀點，即他們的女性另一半有能力作為平等的合伙人作出經濟上的貢獻,，有能力養(yǎng)家糊口,。

????? 把要不要孩子的選擇權真正還給女性。這就要求消除對那些選擇不要孩子的女性的非議,，讓她們真正獲得生育的選擇權,。

????? 把是否照顧年邁雙親的選擇權還給女性。女性相對長壽,，經濟壓力也較大,，這意味著她們往往不得不照顧年邁的雙親和公婆。

????? 對那些選擇要孩子及照顧家里老人的女性提供社會和經濟支持,，這需要各類企業(yè)和政府幫一把,。

????從理論上來說，上述情況現在都存在,。我之所以說是理論上,，是因為如果它們確實存在，我們?yōu)槭裁催€要對女性中沒能涌現出馬克,、斯蒂夫,、杰夫和埃隆這樣充滿創(chuàng)意的財富創(chuàng)造者大惑不解呢？請告訴我,，如果整個社會對待女性的心態(tài)一直沒有改變,，這怎么可能呢？！

????不過,，盡管現實中女孩和婦女聽到的說法各有不同,，但我還是要不揣冒昧地說，只有女孩和婦女才會真正明白下面這番話的深意,，因為她們從青少年開始直到長大成人,，每天都會聽到這話：“到了年紀就找個合適的伴侶，因為我們擺脫不了生理規(guī)律,，給家庭賺錢的同時,，也要養(yǎng)好孩子?！倍鶕幬幕尘暗牟煌€會加上這么一句：“同時也別忘了對老爸老媽和公婆的責任啊,。”

????我還要不揣冒昧地說,，有些人（不是所有人）會一直把這類說法掛在嘴邊,，四處嘮叨。她們往往是些上了點年紀的婦女,，可悲的是,，其中還包括我們自己的母親！我說這話不是想要指責誰,，只是要指明我們這一生所要面對的到底是什么樣的人和事,。

????這就是讓女性在養(yǎng)大成人和投身社會過程中總是尋求穩(wěn)定而不是風險的諸多因素之一。一開始就選擇工程學（這是大學里的小眾學科）然后開始創(chuàng)業(yè)（這意味著收入不穩(wěn)定）,，這本身就是有風險的,。選擇這條充滿風險的道路說明我們是異類（這不算什么壞事）。其他人則在一邊待著,，看著我們會如何克服各種艱難險阻,。如果沒能打造一個價值十億美元的公司，也沒研發(fā)出什么創(chuàng)新技術,，會不會有人對我們指指點點,？我們會不會覺得自己痛失了做個好媽媽的機會？又或者我們有能耐做到家庭事業(yè)兩不誤嗎,？

????而與此同時,，男人全力以赴地干事業(yè)卻仍是這個社會可以接受的做法。

????We can encourage women to participate and welcome them with open arms, but that won't undo the thousands of years of ongoing cross-cultural practices that reinforce a woman's primary role as a nurturer (and I am not just talking about nurturing children). To overcome this requires a constant and vigilant effort globally. What does this mean in practice? It means the following:

????? Men supporting the notion that their female significant other can contribute as an equal partner financially or be the bread-winner of the household.

????? Really leaving the choice of having children up to women. This requires eradicating the unspoken judgment passed on women who choose not to have children and truly having the right to choice.

????? Really leaving the choice of taking care of elderly parents up to women. Longevity coupled with financial strain often mean that women are left to care for elderly parents and in-laws.

????? Having supportive social and economic practices for those who do chose to have children and take care of aging family members, which will need to be reinforced by somebody such as companies or governments.

????In theory, all of this exists today. I say in theory, because if they actually existed, why would we be still left wondering why women aren't more innovative wealth-creators a la Mark, Steve, Jeff, and Elon? Please tell me how this is possible without a sustained change in society's mindset towards women?!

????However, as status quo goes there is a mixed message being sent to girls and women, and I will take liberty in saying that only girls and women will truly understand this because they experience it daily from young through adolescence and into adulthood: "Find the right partner by a certain age, because we are still controlled by biology, and nurture your children while still contributing to the family financially." Depending on your cultural background add, "Please don't forget about your obligations to your aging parents and in-laws."

????I will also take liberty in saying that some, not all, but some people, who continue to reinforce and propagate this mixed message are an older generation of women, which sadly, often include our own mothers! I'm not saying it to place blame, but to merely point out who and what we face throughout our lives.

????This is one of the factors that has led females to being bred and socially conditioned to seek stability, not risk. There is an inherent risk involved in first choosing to pursue engineering (being the minority in college) and then entrepreneurship (being financially unstable). Those of us who have chosen a risky path are merely anomalies (not a bad thing). The rest are waiting and watching to see how we will overcome the personal risk we've taken. Will we be castigated if we fail to build a billion-dollar company and innovative technology? Or will we feel like we missed out on motherhood? Or will we be able to balance both?

????Meanwhile, it is still socially acceptable for men to focus wholeheartedly on their career.