Rafaela: Finally, when you're ready to run for office, our student government elections take place each year. Men in this class, I'm calling on you to provide support for the women in your classes and in your lives to run for office. Your support can make a difference. The previously cited study by professors Lawless and Fox found that although young women are less likely than young men ever to consider running for office, they are just as likely as men to respond positively to encouragement to run. When you hear a woman give a great speech in class or show leadership skills in group, tell them they will make a good student body officer, city council member, or even president.

She Should Run is a nonprofit organization that offers resources for women who are interested in running for public office. There is a link for you there, somewhere, to recommend a promising candidate, and they will offer their support. OK, today we looked at the importance of having women run for office. First, we took a look at how women are underrepresented in public office. Next, we considered three reasons why this is true-- encouragement, experience, and confidence. And finally, I appealed for women in this class to run for office, and for men to provide support. Professors Lawless and Fox note that when women run for political office, they are just as likely as men to win their races.

What it takes to get women to run is encouragement, and I'm calling on the women in this class to run, and the men to provide support. When I look at the students in this room, I see future school board members, mayors, and legislators. Perhaps, the first woman President of the United States. Better yet, the fourth or fifth. I'm going to take that back a couple lines because that's the ending. Professors Lawless and Fox note that when women run for political office, they are just as likely as men to win their races.