Some essential ingredients of professional and personal maturation are the ability to accept constructive criticism, the ability to discern your strengths and weaknesses clearly and objectively, and a willingness to improve your strengths and reduce your weaknesses. A woman professional, just like a male professional, must have a sturdy ego to continue to put forth ideas that may be ignored and, particularly in a scientific career, to be able to withstand the fairly frequent questioning of her work that is an important part of the scientific process. Learn to accept your shortcomings and to make a realistic assessment of them. Other women, including your mother, and enlightened male colleagues can be helpful in promoting your self-image. Finally, forget past offenses.
Men have to learn, too.
For older men, especially those reared in a household where the mother never worked outside the home and whose wives never did either, the adjustment to having a woman as a co-worker can be difficult. Above all, the goals you should seek in your career are personal fulfillment and happiness. In relations with others, it is important to be yourself, to make decisions and act in a way that is right for you. Giving up your womanhood should not be a prerequisite for success.