Female physicists, astronomers and mathematicians are up against more than 2,000 years of convention that has long portrayed these fields as inherently male.

China has long portrayed itself as an active proponent of nuclear disarmament and imbued its announcement today with a similar flavor.

Morocco has long portrayed itself as a peaceful place, a fiercely nationalistic oasis of stability largely untouched by terrorism or the civil strife in neighboring Algeria.

Chicago, which has long portrayed itself as a "city of neighborhoods," is at last becoming a city with a real neighborhood downtown.

Mr. Ecevit has long portrayed himself as an advocate for human rights.

Pakistan has long portrayed itself as the true defender of Kashmiris and their call for independence.

American intelligence reports have long portrayed North Korea's leaders as being bent on using unconventional methods, including drug smuggling and nuclear blackmail, to prop up their failing economy.

Taiwan has long portrayed itself as a beacon of hope for the mainland, a view that was laughable during its repressive years.

Like other Scandinavian countries, Sweden has long portrayed itself as a haven for outsiders seeking sanctuary, and its population of nine million people now includes 400,000 Muslims.

Mr. Bloomberg has long portrayed developing the far West Side as the cornerstone of his economic development program, saying that the city will lose convention business without it.