By Judith A. Ross

Surprisingly, this feeling of sisterhood wasn’t just limited to my encounters with adult women. The hugs and kisses I received from the 12-year-old daughter of my son’s host family made me feel like a revered and much-loved aunt. And then there was our 10-mile trek to Todra Gorge . . .

“Nothing but the Truth” brings together a diverse array of female voices. Consider medical anthropologist Diane Tober, who shares her experiences while conducting fieldwork at a health clinic in Iran. Tober’s assumptions about Muslim women in Iran wearing the hejâb matched my own: that it was oppressive and just one more way for men to dominate women. But, according to Tober’s friend Nargess, that just isn’t so . . .

Then five-turkey family roosting outside our basement window reminds me that this year, Thanksgiving will be markedly different for Paul and me. Like other years, we will be sharing the meal with friends, but for the first time ever, neither of our sons will be at our table.

The landmark 1970s lawsuit not only changed the system at “Newsweek,” it opened the door for similar actions at other publications. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the fiery civil rights attorney, later noted that “because the women were so extraordinary, because the case was so clearly one of blatant, unmitigated discrimination, it made people understand discrimination against women in an important way.”

“At the recent BlogHer conference, I found myself surrounded by thoughtful, vulnerable, honest writers and heard over and over how they are in this because they have to be. Because they love it. For the life that it brings.”

At her first formal evaluation at her factory job in 1981, Lilly Ledbetter’s supervisor told her, “Well, I rank you an 11 out of 12. If you want a better score, you can meet me at the Ramada Inn.”

By Judith A. Ross

Those of us who are old enough to remember President Kennedy’s call to service in the 1960s are still eligible for the Peace Corps; indeed, 7 percent of current volunteers are over the age of 50.

By Judith A. Ross

I spoke to Dr. Ruth Nemzoff, author of “Don’t Bite Your Tongue: How to Foster Rewarding Relationships with Your Adult Children.” She advocates speaking up—but with a few caveats.

By Judith A. Ross

For the most part, our adult sons seem to enjoy spending time with us. So I was taken by surprise last summer when things went awry during a family vacation in Europe.

By Judith A. Ross

When I first encountered Margaret Heffernan in 2005, she’d just published The Naked Truth, about women trying to climb the traditional career ladder. A lot has changed since then.

By Judith A. Ross

Retirement is among the most stressful life transitions, and not just for the retiree. Here are a few tips that have made the process easier for us.

By Judith A. Ross

After 30 years, he’s suddenly home to stay. It’s great. But there have had to be some adjustments.