Letters - Is It Progress, or a Lack Thereof? - NYTimes.com Re "Sex and Silicon Valley" (June 3), which described a woman's lawsuit contending sexual discrimination and harassment in the venture capital workplace: Instead of disowning gender stereotypes, the article perpetuated obstacles already in women's paths. At one point, it said that the firm of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is "one of the few exceptions to the venture world's disinterest in hiring women," adding that "a quarter of its 50 partners are female." But a small figure like 25 percent should not be heralded as an indication of progress. As a woman pursuing a career as a physician in the male-dominated field of radiation oncology, I find subtle and blatant obstacles to the advancement of ambitious women. These obstacles aren't there because men fail to understand "why shopping is fun" - a phrase used by one entrepreneur in the article. The path to success is impeded by those who agree that there is a mythical place in which women should be kept. I have worked hard to succeed, and have achieved because of my skills, experience, compassion and perseverance. The continued acceptance of limited opportunities for the advancement of women, unfortunately, impedes my path to success. Marie-Adele S. Kress, M.D. Arlington, Va., June 4