See Jane Run
How Women Politicians Matter for Young People
David E. Campbell and Christina Wolbrecht’s stimulating political science treatise See Jane Run is about the impact of women politicians on society.
The book posits questions about the parts that women politicians play in American democracy—whether they foster more positive opinions about women’s political abilities, whom they influence, and what form their influence takes. The answers draw on extant literature on the subject and polls, as well as surveys and statistics conducted for this project and elsewhere. For instance, the question of whether “women politicians lead young people to have more egalitarian attitudes about gender” is answered, in part, by teenagers whose responses are analyzed based on their gender and party affiliation. The results are explained in lay terms and are illustrated by graphs reflecting their tangible patterns, such as how women political role models change girls’ minds about democracy as a whole, or how Republican boys often become invested in politics as a direct opposition to women politicians. Of course, the patterns aren’t foolproof: Women who don’t believe other women should lead, and conservative men who think they should, are represented.
The book does an excellent job of analyzing the nuances of each scenario. While exploring the impact of women politicians in general, for example, it also examines whether race plays a role in said impact. And the book’s treatment of boys who become more politically active in response to women in politics shows that some react negatively to what they perceive as threats. The result is a comprehensive, well-considered look at the various impacts of women politicians on society.
See Jane Run is an engaging political science treatise that examines the role of women role models in politics.
Reviewed by
Carolina Ciucci
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
