6 Nov 2004

Attitudes to women changing, says American Samoa candidate

8:40 am on 6 November 2004

An unsuccessful candidate in American Samoa's congressional election says women are gradually making inroads on the political front.

Aumua Amata Coleman says only one of eight women running for public office was successful in this week's ballot.

But Aumua says the numbers show that voters are changing their attitudes about female candidates.

"Our people are becoming more open to the idea of having both men and women aspire to high leadership positions, because after all, more than half of the voters are women, and by not including them, we are actually excluding half of the problem-solvers, who could, who should otherwise be engaged."