Women Running for High Offices

In her article (Opinion, March 24), “Why Is High Office a U.S. Male Bastion?” exploring why women are still represented with such a small percentage in Congress, Kay Mills omitted one important factor.

She feels women who would like to make high elective federal office a career ought to start running or preparing themselves to run at a much earlier age. But there is an obvious reason why most women can’t do this: It is an all but impossible task while they’re raising a family. This is an important difference to what many men can do.

In the beginning of the feminist movement women fooled themselves into believing they could really do all the things men do equally well if only given the opportunity. But things are different for most women, certainly for those who want to combine husband, family and career. Many women now begin to realize that it can’t be done, or at least that very significant adjustments and frequently sacrifices need to be made.

This does not mean that women cannot do many things equally well as men do, but it does mean there are intrinsic limitations for those women who also want to raise a family.

Not mentioned, either, were the genuine problems that arise if couples do not want to be separated for extended periods of time and that in many, if not most, cases it may be more difficult for husbands than for wives to transplant to Washington and seek new careers or continue established careers there. This, too, frequently is a greater problem for younger than for older women.

It is understandable to deplore that not more women are in Congress, but it is also easy to overlook the very real problems that arise for women who want to become members at an earlier age or want to prepare themselves at an earlier age for a career in Congress.

IRMGARD LENEL

Santa Monica