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It was said that Chile was not ready to vote for a woman, it was traditionally a sexist country. In the end, the reverse happened: the fact of being a woman became a symbol of the process of cultural change the country was undergoing.

There has been a cultural shift. It is difficult to measure all that right now, but Chilean women have seen my presidency as a source of pride. Women are performing in jobs in Chile now that 20 or 30 years ago nobody would have dared to imagine.

When given the chance, women have proven they will participate in the electoral process.

So many other countries have had female leaders, in fact the U.S. ranks 61st in female representation in government and I think it is startling and sign of a change that needs to be made.

I look forward to the day when there are more women politicians accepted in their own right and not as 'women politicians.'

If more women are in leadership roles, we'll stop assuming they shouldn't be.

At present, our country needs women's idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.

I do think if all politicians were women, the world would be a better place.

Growing up in politics I know that women decide all elections because we do all the work.

There are some voters who are rather traditional and have some reservations about electing a woman leader. But the younger generation are excited to have a woman leader for the country. They think it is somewhat trendy.