Monday, August 11, 2008; A14
The extent to which younger women saw Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as a victim of sexism during the presidential primary season may be debatable ["For Younger Women, Clinton Is No Martyr," Health, Aug. 5]. What is not, however, is the effect the senator's campaign has had on a new generation of women who are looking to enter and lead in the political arena.
Women such as Kristy Pagan, who was cited in the column, are coming out in droves to learn the nuts and bolts of political leadership. In May, Pagan joined the ranks of more than 2,000 diverse women across the country who participated in "Go Run," the White House Project's training for women so that they can run for political office.
They are a passionate, intelligent and politically savvy group of people who are ready to lead -- alongside men -- and positively transform the landscape of American politics.
Regardless of political affiliation, Ms. Clinton did a huge service for women across America by normalizing women's leadership on a scale we have never before seen. Now women can see themselves as real competitors for all levels of political leadership. In a country that ranks 71st in the world for women's political representation, it is about time we support them in their ascent.
MARIE C. WILSON
New York
The writer is president and founder of the White House Project, which works to advance women's leadership.
