• by Larissa Faw , March 30, 2016

Although women comprise more than 50% of the U.S. population, few run for public office. Now, non-profit She Should Run and agency Geometry Global are introducing “See Joan Run,” a new campaign to encourage more women to run for political office.

The concept is a satirical spin on the classic Dick and Jane early reader series by asking "in a hard-hitting, tongue in cheek way," why there are so many men in political office and offers the alternative scenario of a woman successfully running.

People can buy the hard cover book in two Chicago bookstores and through SheShouldRun.org, on Amazon.com as a $.99 Kindle download or as a pdf version from the group's website.

The book is supported with a social media effort that recommends people conduct book readings and post them online and challenge friends and colleagues to do the same. People are also encouraged to nominate women they believe should run for political office on the She Should Run website. 

She Should Run and its partners are also taking a grassroots approach by reaching out to their own networks as well as people of influence like TV showrunner Shonda Rhimes and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright with the help of DC-based PR Agency SKDKnickerbocker.

"Their hope is people will be inspired to get the book, read it and share either a reading or a picture with the book, naming other “Joans” to keep the story moving from person to person," the agency stated.

Since the campaign launched, there has been a 300% increase in nominations on the sheshouldrun.org website.