On political front, women's gains eroding.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Ten years after a record number of women were elected to political office in what became known as the Year of the Woman, the dramatic gains have largely subsided.

In California next week, men are expected to replace the two women who now hold statewide office but can't run for re-election because of term limits. It would mark the first time in nearly 40 years that men hold all of the state's top offices.

Although once seen as a solution for women looking to break into politics by requiring men to give up their seats, term limits may have begun to work against women by forcing them out faster than there are viable female candidates to replace them.

"The process by which women get into office is slower, and now we're seeing big losses every election cycle of women who are term-limited out," said Debbie Walsh ...