The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women in Politics is co-sponsoring See Yourself Here, a two day visit to the Iowa State Legislature to help get more women interested in a career in Politics on April 8-9.

Both these centers will partner with 50-50 in 2020 organization, a non-profit group dedicated to achieving political equality in Iowa. The two-day event will take place while the legislature is in session.

Currently 28 women from all over Iowa are registered to attend the event. See Yourself Here will be held at the state capitol in Des Moines. The event is free and open to all women who have an interest in learning more about what goes on inside the capitol.

“We discovered that there is kind of an awe of the state legislature. People seem to think there is this kind of mystic, that the legislature is some grand place where ordinary people don’t dare go,” said Jean-Lloyd Jones, co-chair of 50-50 in 2020.

See Yourself Here aims to recruit women to run for the state legislature and hopefully demystify the state legislature. Citizens of Iowa from lots of different walks of life are capable of running. Jones said she believes there are a lot of qualified women out there to run, they just don’t think so themselves and might just need this initial push to get there.

Between the two days, women will be able to see what goes on in the capitol. The women will get a tour of the state capitol and get a chance to talk with both the House Speaker and the Minority Leader. They also have the opportunity to watch a debate, hear a briefing and listen to speaker Dianne Bystrom speak about Iowa Women Legislators.

“I’ll be talking about the research that shows how women make a difference when they’re serving in the state legislature. There is a long line of research that shows having a certain percentage of women in your state legislature does effect the way decisions are made and the outcome of legislation not only on women’s issues, but all issues,” said Bystorm, keynote speaker and director of Catt Center.

Bystorm said this event will give a chance for women to envision themselves working as a state legislator. It will show them what it is like to serve in the legislature. Actually going to the state capital will really help women picture themselves as part of the legislative staff, Bystorm said.

Jones said she wants to normalize being a state legislator and show women that anyone can run and it doesn’t take a PH.D or any other sort of special education to run. When in office, you’re not on your own. You would never have to write up your own proposal or bill, people are there to help you, Jones said.

“With this event we’re trying to get women involved and thinking about running far enough ahead so they can get their lives in order. We also want to get women to start thinking about being a state legislator as an honorable career and something that they can get into early,” said Jones.