ABSTRACT
On average, women enter politics ten years later than men. They wait for children to grow up, for husbands to become secure in their careers, for the restlessness of middle age to prod them to seek satisfaction outside the home. Jane Swift's Y generation, demographers call it the first where women in substantial numbers are plunging into politics even as they cope with responsibilities of marriage and motherhood. Swift's story is instructive for other young women who whet their appetites for politics by working in someone else's campaign, but fear they cannot run for office themselves without giving up the equally compelling drive to be a wife and mother. Swift's time in office has been marked by sharp ups and downs, personally and professionally. As lieutenant governor, she had a tin ear for what were permissible perks for a public servant and drew criticism for variety of minor ethical lapses, including using state employees as babysitters in a pinch.
