Thank you for the information your provide.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd didn't exactly "step aside" voluntarily, he was threatened with a successful leadership challenge from Gillard who had the support of the factions that dominate the ALP.

Further, following the August 2010 election, in order for Labor to form a minority government, Gillard negotiated deals not only with the Australian Greens, but also with three independents: two rural Independent MPs with conservative backgrounds, as well as a former Greens candidate. A fourth rural Independent sided with the conservative coalition (now in opposition).

Also, the stimulus package doesn't rate a mention these days. Yesterday's news (don't believe a word Rupert Murdoch's mouthpiece, The Australian, says). Not even the virulent opposition criticised it much, not even during the election campaign, because Australia has largely avoided the worst of the recession. But the CARBON tax! That's one of Gillard's biggest challenges. Shelving the Emissions Trading Scheme after failing to get it through the upper house is what killed Kevin Rudd. The "$43b National Broadband Network" and the mining tax. Those are the current issues. As well as immigration.

Finland's prime minister, Mari Kiviniemi, was elected by Parliament this summer. Also, Switzerland's rotating presidency is currently held by Doris Leuthard, and a majority of the Swiss Federal Council (Switzerland's collective heads of state) is female for the first time ever.

Johanna Sigurdardottir is NOT the first openly gay head of state. As you correctly state, she is the prime minister of Iceland - which is the country's head of government.

The head of state is Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the President of Iceland.

I realise that in the US the President is both the head of government and the head of state. In many other countries this is not the case. A publication like FP should really get such details right.

While I found it highly informative to see a roundup of female leaders of the world in one place, I found it somewhat antiquated that a majority of the summaries seemed to include whether or not the leader had children and if there were any interesting marital details to report. We don't generally see this information in relation to male leaders, nor do we call them 'Iron'. Sarah Palin noted as much in an interview. When she was asked how she would care for her children if elected to office, she stated that such a question to a male candidate would be unlikely. I believe that placing importance on a woman's familial status or deriding female leaders as "iron" when strong leadership is given perpetuates stereotypes that are no longer helpful. Women can contribute to positive world development regardless of their background or leadership style. I look forward to a day when our contributions are the primary issue discussed rather than leadership style, clothing and familial status.

I am always inspired how more women are reaching to a higher status in politics. Even tho males represent a large number in parliament, women are gradually increasing. I feel that this is necessary to have an equal number of both male and female, because you need views from both sides. Men are not very sensitive in understanding a woman's point of view, but this is changing due to many of these women pushing to be at the stop.

Coincidence?

I'll grant the possibility...