How have women in politics changed America and the world?

Given the hoopla surrounding Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton's historical political ascendance, why does the U.S. rank so low among countries for percentage of women holding national office? In a one-hour special, NOW's Maria Hinojosa talks to women leaders around the world and here in the United States for an intimate look at the high-stakes risks, triumphs and setbacks for women leaders of today and tomorrow.

Among these women are President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, the first woman leader in Latin America who did not have a husband precede her as president, and former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen, now in a tight race for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

We also travel to Rwanda, where, 14 years after a horrific massacre left nearly one million people dead, women make up nearly half of parliament, and to Manhattan, where ambitious high-school girls are competing in a high-stakes debate tournament.

"Women, Power and Politics" also is about the personal journey of mother and award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa as she strives to answer the question, "What does to mean to be a woman in power?"

Watch a preview and excerpt of this special program on NOW's Web site. In addition, the NOW site at www.pbs.org/now  will feature Web-exclusive commentary from noteworthy women, including Maria Bartiromo, Sandra Cisneros and Tina Brown; a personal essay from Maria Hinojosa; an interactive debate over Sarah Palin's candidacy; as well as opportunities for all women to post and share their stories of ambition, success and discouragement.