"Even women who profess not to be feminists and part of the movement also feel it's time for women to have their say and be on the center stage. That's a huge gain."
Former Rep. Pat Schroeder, above, a Democrat. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Colorado and ran for president in 1988.
"I've always found women are harder on other women than they are on their male counterparts. ... I've never bought into the theory that they brought Palin onto the ticket to get the disaffected Hillary Clinton voters."
Christie Whitman, above, former Republican governor of New Jersey, who said women are held to a different standard than men when children are involved.
"There's always satisfaction when a woman goes where no woman has gone before. But it would unfortunately be bad for the country. It would be a hollow satisfaction. ... Her policies would injure more women than her example would benefit."
Kim Gandy, above, president of the liberal National Organization for Women
"Sarah Palin has really moved the bar. She has expanded the universe."
Wendy Wright, president of the conservative, biblical-based Concerned Women for America
