A new report from the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society at the University at Albany has found that from 1998 to 2005 the percent of women in state government leadership positions has only risen from 23.1 percent to 24.7 percent. Not very impressive.

"After reporting for almost 10 years these very modest gains for women, I have come to believe it is a very persistent social phenomenon," said Judith Saidel, the study's project director. "The problem does not appear to be going away."

The study examined statewide elected officials, state legislators, high court judges, department heads, and top advisers in governors' offices.

Arizona tops the list with 38.6 percent of women in top positions, followed by Nevada, Vermont, Washington and New Mexico. Women in Mississippi held the lowest percentage of top government jobs, just 12.9 percent. Kentucky, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Dakota rounded out the five states with the lowest female representation.

Ouch.