See Jane Run: How Women Politicians Matter for Young People
March 26, 2026
Women elected to public office not only shape policy but also influence young people’s ideas about leadership and democracy. Thank you to those who joined us for an engaging conversation with political scientist Christina Wolbrecht, author of See Jane Run. Drawing from her research, Wolbrecht examined how women politicians serve as powerful role models for future generations, inspiring civic confidence and long-term engagement with democratic life.
The program featured reflections from students on leadership and representation, offering firsthand perspectives on how seeing women in public office shapes aspirations, confidence, and civic identity.
About the Speaker(s)
Christina Wolbrecht
Christina Wolbrecht writes about American politics, political parties, gender and politics, and American political development. Her new book with David E. Campbell, See Jane Run: How Women Politicians Matter for Young People, examines the impact of women candidates on the beliefs and behaviors of American adolescents.
The consequences of expanding voting rights to women are a major focus of Wolbrecht’s research. She is currently studying the impact of women’s suffrage on women’s access to local governance and on state legislative politics. Wolbrecht’s earlier work on the effect of women’s suffrage on American elections produced two books: A Century of Votes for Women: American Elections Since Suffrage and Counting Women’s Ballots: Female Voters from Suffrage Through the New Deal.
She has also published articles on women’s representation, education policy, and other topics in outlets including the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, Perspectives on Politics, and Political Behavior.