When I first said some of these things, I was met with a lot of resistance. You have to grind it into their minds and gradually they would come around. As a woman, it should not be difficult if you know your work. Maybe the approach has to be a little different, that's all. You have to command their informal authority - in terms of what you know.
Merit always counts.
Somebody once asked me why, in a woman's University, was I emphasizing so much on technology. People think institutes like this one should focus on social science, home science and pharmacy - that these are the things that are good for women. But I say if empowerment of women is the motto, you have to really make that woman empowered. And if you are ignorant of the technological advances of today, talk of empowerment is only talk, and nothing more. You are a leader only when you can do the job and, more importantly, communicate your ideas across to a third person.