ACTION
>>> BEHIND THIS HEADLINES FOR
THIS FATHER'S DAY HOW WOMENS
EQUALITY ELEVATES MEN.
>>> WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY.
A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND CULTURE
TRENDS.
UP FIRST, GENDER ISSUES IN THE
2020 ELECTIONS.
ACCORDING TO A JUNE MORNING
CONSULT POLL, 14% OF DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS RATE WOMENS ISSUES AS A
TOP PRIORITY.
THAT'S UP FROM 6% IN MAY.
AN INCREASE FOLLOWS A JUMP IN
THE NUMBER OF STATES PASSIONING
LAWS SEVERELY LIMITING WOMENS
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WHICH HAS IN
TURN SPARKED A GROWING NUMBER OF
AMERICANS WHO WANT TO DEFEND
ABORTION RIGHTS AGAINST THE
STATE ONSLAUGHT.
HARRIS WANTS TO PUT A CHECK ON
THE ABILITY OF ANY STATE TO
ENACT LAWS CONTRADICTING ROE
WHILE GILLIGRAND IS IMPOSING
FUNDING TO ACCESS TO
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CENTERS IN
EVERY STATE BUT WITH SIX WOMEN
RUNNING FOR THE NOMINATION THERE
HAS BEEN A FOCUS ON OTHER
MATERNAL ISSUES SUCH AS EQUAL
PAY AND MA TERN MORTALITY.
>> WILL WOMENS ISSUES FINALLY
PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN THE 2020
ELECTION MORE SO THAN IN RECENT
YEARS.
>> BONNIE, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN THE PROLOGUE.
IT IS WOMEN WHO ARE CHIEFLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR FLIPPING THE
HOUSE THIS YEAR.
>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME
ALTHOUGH I THINK THEY'VE PLAYED
A BIG ISSUE BEFORE BACK IN 92.
WOMEN'S VOTES DID SWING THE
ELECTION AWAY FROM GEORGE BUSH
THE FIRST SO IT'S NOT THE FIRST
TIME BUT IT'S TIME TO SEE IT
MORE.
>> MILLIONS OF WOMEN MARCHING IN
THE STREETS ARE NOT WRONG AND I
THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE
GENDER BE DECISIVE IN THIS
PRIMARY.
>> WELL, CERTAINLY GENDER ISSUES
ARE IMPORTANT BUT ALL ISSUES ARE
WOMENS ISSUES AND THAT GOES FROM
HEALTHCARE DOWN TO THE ECONOMY
AND I THINK THOSE WILL STILL
TRUMP SOME OF THESE
GENDER-RELATED ISSUES.
>> RIGHT.
BUT THE STEREOTYPICAL IF YOU
WILL WOMANS ISSUE WHICH, YOU
KNOW, WAXES AND WANES IN TERMS
OF IMPORTANCE RIGHT NOW IS
EXTREMELY MORONITY NOT BECAUSE
ANYTHING THE LEFT IS DOING BUT
BECAUSE THE RIGHT IS SO
AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO GET ROW
OVERTURNED.
IS THAT -- ROE OVERTURNED.
IS THAT WHY WOMENS ISSUES ARE
MORE IMPORTANT?
>> IT'S CERTAINLY WHY THEY'RE ON
THE FRONT PAGE.
I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE PARTICULARLY
WOMEN THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT IS
THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
DISAPPEAR.
BUT WE ARE STILL VERY FAR OUT
FROM 2020 AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN
IN THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF
WOULD BE REMARKABLE.
PARTICULARLY IF SOMETHING
NEGATIVE HAPPENS IN THE ECONOMY
OR SOMETHING HAPPENS ON THE
FOREIGN POLICY SCENE THAT NO ONE
EXPECTED.
WHILE RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE
THESE ARE BIG ISSUES, I HESITATE
TO SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE
DECISIVE FACTORS IN 2020.
>> BUT THE ABORTION ISSUE, THIS
IS NOT -- THIS WAS NOT A GOOD
MOVE IN THESE STATES TO --
>> BY THE RIGHT YOU MEAN.
>> BY THE RIGHT WHO ARE TRYING
TO PROP UP THE ABORTION ISSUE.
THE ABORTION ISSUE IS A FAIRLY
SETTLED ISSUE IN OUR COUNTRY.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A TURN
AROUND ON ABORTION AND BY COMING
FORWARD WITH THE MOST EXTREME
VERSIONS OF ABORTION, WHAT THAT
HAS DONE IS TAKE AN ISSUE WHICH
HAS NOT REALLY BEEN TOP TIER FOR
DEMOCRAT
DEMOCRATS.
REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD ABORTION A
TOP TIER ISSUE AND NOW THEY'RE
MAKING IT A TOP TIER FOR
DEMOCRATS AND THAT'S WHAT I FIND
AMAZE SGLG THE HEARTBEAT BILL
WAS -- WHEN IT HIT GEORGIA.
ALABAMA, THAT WAS A WHOLE OTHER
THING.
PAT ROBERTSON THINKS IT'S TOO
EXTREME.
I WOULD SAY THAT MAKES IT TOO
EXTREME.
>> BUT WILL YOUR PARTISAN VOTERS
AGREE WITH YOU?
DO YOU SEE REPUBLICAN MODERATE
REPUBLICANS STRAYING TO THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE BECAUSE OF THE
EXTREME ACTIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS
RIGHT IN THE SOUTH?
>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF
CAMERA.
I'VE SEEN SOMETHING VERY
INTERESTING.
SINCE GOVERNOR NORTHERN MADE
THOSE COMMENTS ABOUT POST BIRTH
ABORTIONS, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A
LOT OF PRO-CHOICE REPUBLICANS
HORRIFIED IN SEEING THEM RETHINK
THEIR POSITION ON ABORTION AND
BE LESS ACTIVE ON IT BECAUSE OF
IT.
THEY HAD A REALLY CHILLING
EFFECT ON PRO-CHOICE
REPUBLICANS.
>> THAT'S A DISGUSTING
MISCHARACTERIZIZATION OF WHAT
THE GOVERNOR SPOKE ABOUT AND
THAT KIND OF RHETORIC ENCOURAGES
VIOLENCE AGAINST ABORTION
PROWIREDS AND THERE SHOULD BE NO
DISCOURSE LIKE THAT.
>> NOTHING I SAID WAS
INFLAMMATORY.
>> TO GO BACK TO --
>> WAIT A SECOND.
WHAT DO YOU SAY THAT HE SAID?
>> WELL, WHAT ANNE JUST SAID WAS
POST BIRTH ABORTION.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A
PROCEDURE.
>> HE ADDRESSED IT.
>> THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A
PROCEDURE.
>> HE ADDRESSED IT.
>> THE GOVERNOR MADE COMMENTS
ABOUT HORRIFIC SITUATIONS THAT
SOME FAMILIES FACE WHERE
CHILDREN ARE BORN VERY MUCH
WANTED AND LOVED CHILDREN ARE
BORN AND THEY CANNOT SURVIVE AND
IT'S AN NEO NATAL HOSPICE
SITUATION AND THAT HAS BEEN
TURNED AROUND.
THE PRESIDENT IS GOING AROUND
THE COUNTRY MAKING UP LIES AND
MAKING IT ESSENTIALLY CASTING
DOUBT ON EXPECTANT PARENTS GOING
INTO THE LABOR AND DELIVERY ROOM
AROUND THE NATION.
IT'S DISGUSTING.
IT HAS NO PLACE IN DISCOURSE BUT
I WANT TO GO BACK --
>> WAIT.
I WANT TO SAY ONE THING THOUGH
AND I WANT TO GET ON TO THE
INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES AND WHERE
THEY ARE ON THIS ISSUE BUT I'VE
TALKED TO MANY MODERATE
REPUBLICANS NOT ONE OF THEM IT'S
INTERESTING HAS BROUGHT UP --
HAS BROUGHT UP THAT ISSUE BUT
THEY'RE ALL SAYING BECAUSE --
IT'S LIKE THAT KIND OF -- THEY
DID NOT SEE THAT.
THEY DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO
THAT.
WHAT THEY ARE FOCUSING ON IS ALL
THESE LAWS AND THEY'RE SAYING
I'M GOING TO BE FORCED TO VOTE.
USUALLY I'M INDEPENDENT.
I'M GOING TO BE FORCED TO VOTE
DEMOCRATIC BECAUSE THE PARTY HAS
GONE SO CRAZY.
>> YEAH.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT.
ALL THOSE LAWS ARE GOING TO GET
OVERTURNED AND NOT GO FORWARD
BUT TO SAY BE INFLAMMATORY.
I DIDN'T MAKE UP THESE COMMENTS.
WE HAVE VIDEO OF WHAT HE SAID
AND I WAS SHOCKED.
I GOT LETTERED.
I TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST
HORRIFIED AND IT SURPRISED ME
HOW MUCH IT MOVED PEOPLE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BACK TO WHERE I INTERRUPTED.
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
THE REAL ISSUE THAT'S FACING
THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A RADICAL ANTIABORTION
MOVEMENT THAT IS DEEPLY OUT OF
STEP WITH THE OPINIONS OF THIS
COUNTRY.
REPUBLICANS ARE DRASTICALLY
OVERREACHING AND THE REAL ISSUE
IS THAT THEY HATE WOMEN.
THEY HATE WOMEN.
>> NO THEY DON'T.
>> THEY DO.
>> THAT'S TERRIBLE.
>> THE ALABAMA BILL WHEN IT WAS
BEING PASSED WAS FASCINATING.
ONE THING BROUGHT UP IT WAS THE
QUESTION ABOUT WHAT ABOUT IVF?
DOES THIS APPLY TO AN EMBRYO IN
A LAB AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
VOTED FOR THIS BILL SAID NO
BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN A WOMAN'S
BODY.
THIS TRULY IS A DEBATE ABOUT
WOMEN AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN
SOCIETY.
>> IT'S A DEBATE THAT DOESN'T
NEED TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE
MORNING AFTER PILL HAS REALLY
SOLVED THIS ISSUE.
SO NOBODY GOES TO A HOSPITAL NOW
TO HAVE AN ABORTION.
REPUBLICANS SHOULD GET OFF OF IT
AND DEMOCRATS I THINK WENT ON
THIS ISSUE SIMPLY BECAUSE MOST
AMERICANS HAVE LONG FIGURED OUT
THERE'S GOING TO BE DIVISION BUT
WE'RE FOR THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
>> I HAVE BEEN TRACKING THIS
ISSUE.
I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW
OFTEN YOUNG WOMEN STILL TURN TO
SURGICAL ABORTION.
AND THE MOST RECENT REPORT SAYS
THERE'S STILL MORE THAN A
MILLION SURGICAL ABORTIONS PER
YEAR SO MAYBE THERE ARE ALSO
ANOTHER MILLION WHICH MEANS THE
NUMBER IS GROWING FROM
1.2 MILLION TO I DON'T KNOW THE
FACTS ABOUT THE MEDICAL -- THE
PHARMACEUTICAL ABORTIONS WHERE
YOU TAKE A BILL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SURVEY
ON THAT BECAUSE I'M ALMOST SURE
THAT TODAY'S YOUNG WOMEN KNOW
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU MAY
BE PREGNANT AND IT'S CERTAINLY
NOT TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S THREE
MONTHS.
SO I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT
YOUNG WOMEN ARE DEPENDING FOR
THE MOST PART ON SURGICAL
ABORTION.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T THINK
THAT THIS RIGHT MUST BE
PRESERVED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NOW WE ALL KNOW THE HYDE
AMENDMENT BARRED FEDERAL FUNDS
FROM GOING FOR ABORTION EVEN IN
MEDICAID CASES.
THIS WEEK JOE BIDEN FORMER VICE
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN REVERSED HIS
POSITION ON THE HYDE AMENDMENT.
IS THIS AN INDICATION THAT AMONG
DEMOCRATIC VOTERS YOU BETTER BE
STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE PRO
CHOICE?
>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK ACTUALLY THE FACT THAT
HE FLIPPED IS GOING TO HURT HIM
WORSE THAN WHAT HIS POSITION WAS
BUT I THINK TO GET TO THE
PRIMARIES, HE HAD TO.
>> WHY WOULD IT HURT WORSE?
>> IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
>> IF EVEN ANITA HILL SAID SHE
WOULD PROBABLY VOTE FOR HIM THIS
WEEK.
>> YEAH.
WELL, I WILL SAY THIS.
IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, THERE
ARE A LOT OF POSSIBILITY
DISHEARTENED TRUMP REPUBLICANS
THAT MAY NOT NOW VOTE FOR HIM
BECAUSE OF THAT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PRO-LIFE
REPUBLICANS THAT SUPPORTED HIM
BECAUSE HE HAD THAT POSITION SO
IT WILL BE INTERESTING BUT I
THINK IT COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR
HIM.
>> TENTH ABORTION MOVEMENT IN
THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN COMPLICIT
IN SUPPORTING -- HAS SOMETHING
TO ANSWER FOR BUT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT BIDEN AND THE HYDE
AMENDMENT I THINK IT SHOWS THE
INCREDIBLE MUSCLE THAT THE
ABORTION RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAS
DEVELOPED AND IT ALSO TRACKS
WITH PUBLIC OPINION.
WHAT WE SEE IS THAT DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS AND THIS IS 2018.
NOT 2018.
THEY MOVED DECISIVELY WHERE IT
WAS A BIGGER ISSUE IN SUPPORTING
A CANDIDATE.
THEY WANT CANDIDATES TO SUPPORT
ABORTION RIGHTS.
>> ELIZABETH WARREN HAS STARTED
MOVING UP IN SOME POLLS.
SHE'S NOW NUMBER TWO AFTER BIDEN
AHEAD OF BERNIE IN SOME POLLS.
IS THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF
PRO-CHOICE AMERICANS EITHER WANT
TO SEE A WOMAN IN OFFICE NEXT
TIME OR SEE HER BRAND OF PRO
CHOICE AS MORE SO THAN SANDERS,
SANDERS HAS NOT DEVELOPED A HUGE
FOLLOWING AMONG WOMEN ORIENTED
WOMEN.
WOMEN WHO CARE FIRST AND
FOREMOST ABOUT WOMENS ISSUES.
>> I THINK IT'S BROADER THAN
THAT.
I THINK HER APPEAL IS THAT SHE
BRINGS IDEAS TO THE TABLE.
ON THIS ISSUE BUT ALSO ECONOMIC
ISSUES.
WHILE I DON'T AGREE WITH ANY OF
THEM SHE'S PUTTING FORWARD SOME
PLANS AND IDEAS THAT SAY LET'S
CHALLENGE THE NORM.
LET'S PULL THINGS FURTHER TO THE
LEFT AND I THINK FOR PRIMARY
VOTERS THAT'S GREAT.
FOR GENERAL VOTERS,
INDEPENDENTS, NOT SO GREAT.
>> AND YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT
WARREN.
DO YOU THINK THAT SHE -- WHICH
CANDIDATE ARE YOUR PEOPLE WHERE
YOU ARE ON CHOICE WHICH IS YOU
STAND UP FOR THE CHOICE IN JUST
ABOUT EVERY INSTANCE RIGHT?
SO PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH YOUR
PLACING THAT MUCH IMPORTANCE ON
THE CHOICE ISSUE WHO ARE YOU
STANDING BEHIND?
>> I MEAN, THE FIELD IS
FANTASTIC BY AND LARGE WITH THE
GLARING EXCEPTION OF BIDEN BUT
WE SAW THIS RECENT CHANGE ON
HYDE WHICH IS WELCOME.
I THINK ON THE QUESTION OF
WARREN SPECIFICALLY, I
PERSONALLY AM VERY PROUD TO
SUPPORT HER CANDIDACY.
I THINK SHE IS THE NOT BIDEN
CANDIDATE MOST LIKELY TO ADVANCE
AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO CULL
THIS FIELD DOWN SO WE CAN HAVE A
MORE SERIOUS DEBATE.
>> LAST WORD, ELEANOR.
>> VERY PAS POLICY ORIENTED.
VERY LEFT.
I WORRY ABOUT THAT IN THE
GENERAL ELECTIO.
>> I ACTUALLY SAID ON THIS SHOW
LAST TIME I WAS ON SHE WOULD BE
THE ONE TO WATCH.
THAT SHE'S THE BEST OF THE
FEMALE CANDIDATES.
>> INTERESTING.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
FROM WOMEN FOR PRESIDENT TO
WOMEN ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
>> PRESIDENTIAL DAUGHTER AND
ADVISOR IVANKA TRUMP IS THE FACE
OF A NEW TRUMP WHITE HOUSE
INITIATIVE.
A STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND
SECURITY THAT WAS ROLLED OUT
THIS WEEK.
THE PLAN WHICH HAS BIPARTISAN
BACKING IS AIMED AT INCREASING
WOMENS POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
IN PEACE AND SECURITY BY GIVING
THEM ROOM AT THE NEGOTIATING
TABLE.
IF APPROVED, ALL FEDERAL
AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS WORKING
ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES WILL
HAVE TO INCLUDE MORE WOMEN IN
GLOBAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION,
COUNTERTERRORISM, DISASTER
RECOVERY, AND SAFETY FOR WOMEN
AND GIRLS.
THE STRATEGY STEMS FROM THE
WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY ACT
PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 2017.
RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND WOMENS
PARTICIPATION IN SOLVING THESE
ISSUES CREATE MORE STABLE
CONDITIONS FOR THEIR COUNTRIES.
>> ANNE STONE, IN BETWEEN BEFORE
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN OFFICE
AND MAYBE SINCE BUT YOU WERE
WORKING WITH THE STATE
DEPARTMENT DOING A LOT OF
INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL SPEAKING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ON THIS VERY ISSUE.
>> YES.
>> IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL?
>> I THINK IT WILL AND IT'S LONG
OVERDUE.
AND DOES IT NEED APPROVAL FROM
HIM?
CONGRESS?
WHAT?
>> I THINK HE'S ALREADY GIVEN
HIS APPROVAL.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS GOING TO GET
BEHIND IT.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS FORMER
AMBASSADOR -- HAD A STUDY
COMMISSION SHOWING THAT WOMEN
ARE HARD WIRED FOR PEACE.
WE ARE THE PEACE MAKERS.
AND WE RECOGNIZE IN FACT THE
U.N. HAD RESOLUTION 1025 THAT
WOMEN WERE ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE
PART OF ANY PEACE MAKING AND
IT'S OFTEN IGNORED BUT IT'S
CRITICAL BECAUSE WE ARE THE
PEACE MAKERS.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> IT STEMS FROM A STATUTE AND
OF COURSE AS YOU IMPLEMENT IT
YOU CAN ONLY DO --
>> STATUTE PAST 2017.
-- PASSED 2017.
>> RECENTLY PASSED STATUTE.
WHOEVER IS PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED
TO CARRY IT OUT AND HE'S DOING
THE RIGHT THING BUT I'M VERY
FRUSTRATED.
>> WHY?
>> BECAUSE EVEN IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, MUCH LESS IN
THE WIDER WORK THAT GOES ON FOR
PEACE, WOMEN ARE STILL CREEPING
AROUND THE EDGES AND I CERTAINLY
HOPE THIS PROVIDES A WAY FOR
WOMEN TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD
AND TO SAY MORE.
MORE OF THIS.
LET ME SEE THE EVIDENCE THAT
YOU'RE REALLY IMPLEMENTING THIS
STATUTE AND I THINK IT'S VERY
GOOD THE PRESIDENT HAS MOVED
FORWARD WITH IT.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, IT'S EXCITING.
I'M GLAD WE CAN ALL AGREE HERE.
WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING AND
THAT WOMEN BRING TO THE TABLE IS
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RADICALIZATION.
I THINK THEIR HUSBANDS AND SONS
AND NEPHEWS.
I THINK THAT THEY CAN BRING TO
CONFLICT DISCUSSIONS TO AFTER
CONFLICTS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED TO
IDENTIFYING THOSE PEOPLE THAT
SHOULD BE ON OUR RADAR.
THAT KIND OF INTELLIGENCE IS
VERY HARD TO CULTIVATE AND SO
I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE
ADMINISTRATION STEPPING FORWARD
AND DOING THIS AND TO THE LARGER
POINT ABOUT WOMEN AND THE
ADMINISTRATION, I HOPE TO SEE
MORE PEOPLE.
I MEAN, WE HAD A FANTASTIC U.N.
AMBASSADOR THAT WAS A WOMAN AND
NOT JUST PUTTING WOMEN IN PLACES
FOR JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED A
WOMAN IN A SEAT, A QUALIFIED
WOMAN AND I HOPE TO SEE MORE OF
THEM.
>> WE DON'T SEE PEOPLE IN PLACE
MUCH LESS WOMEN.
AS MAJOR POSTS ARE BEING HELD
NOW BY ACTING.
NOBODY WANTS TO BE PART OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
THEY THINK THEY WILL LOSE.
THEY HAVE REPUTATIONS.
>> WELL, I'VE HEARD THAT IN THE
LEGAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE I WAS
TOLD BY MANY LAWYERS WHO WERE
INTERVIEWED FOR WHITE HOUSE
COUNCIL JOBS PRESIDENT TRUMP
DOESN'T PAY HIS BILLED SO THEY
WANTED TO STAY AWAY FROM THOSE
JOBS.
HE WAS A CLIENT OF MINE IN THE
80S AND HE PAID HIS BILLS JUST
FINE.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF LOYAL
PEOPLE WAITING IN THE WINGS TO
BE APPOINTED.
THEY'RE IN HOLDING PATTERNS
EITHER BECAUSE OF THE SENATE OR
BECAUSE OF THINGS OF
PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
WANT TO SERVE THIS GUY.
I CAN GIVE THEM A LIST OF NAMES.
THEY CAN CALL ME.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT
NOMINATIONS.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE ISSUE.
SINCE THE END OF THE RWANDAN
GENERAL SIZE WHICH WAS 20 PLUS
YEARS AGO, WE'VE KNOWN THAT
HORRIBLE WAR AND WE HAVE KNOWN
THAT IT WAS THE WOMEN BECAUSE
THE MEN WERE ALL DEAD AT THAT
POINT WHO SAT DOWN AND
NEGOTIATED.
THEY NEGOTIATED ON THE OPPOSITE
SIDE OF THE TABLE WITH PEOPLE
WHO HAD MURDERED THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND ONLY WOMEN CAN DO THIS.
WHY IS IT -- WHY ARE WE STILL --
WHY IS THIS STILL SOMETHING THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE?
WHY ARE THERE NOT ALREADY WOMEN
IN ALL INTERNATIONAL
NEGOTIATIONS?
>> BECAUSE OUR MEDIA DOESN'T
GIVE ENOUGH ATTENTION.
LOOK AT THE FEMINIST MAJORITY
FOR YEARS DID STUFF OVER SEAS.
IT GETS NO COVERAGE.
THE DOCUMENTARY PRAY THE DEVIL
BACK TO HELL ABOUT HOW WOMEN
CAUSED THE PEACE AND GOT CHARLES
TAYLOR TO GET THE HECK OUT OF
LIBERIA.
THERE ARE CASES ALL OVER BUT THE
MEDIA NEVER COVERS IT.
THEY NEED TO CELEBRATE THAT AND
PUSH THAT OUT THERE AND THAT
WOULD GIVE WOMEN MORE STANDING.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> I THINK ONE THING THAT OFTEN
GETS LEFT OUT OF THIS DISCUSSION
IS NOT JUST THAT WE NEED TO
INCLUDE MORE WOMEN IN THE PEACE
BUILDING PROCESS AND PEACE
MAKING PROCESS BUT ALSO
SPECIFICALLY WOMEN WITH
DISABILITIES AND I SAY THAT
INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT RAPE AND VIOLENCE IS USED
AS A WEAPON AGAINST WOMEN AND IN
PARTICULAR THAT IMPACTS WOMEN
WITH DISABILITIES MORE AND ALSO
CAUSES DISABILITY WITHIN WOMEN.
SO I HOPE THAT WE'LL BE
EXTREMELY INCLUSIVE IN THIS.
THIS HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT
INTERNATIONAL ISSUE THAT RISES
FAR ABOVE ANY CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION.
>> BUT HERE'S A CHALLENGE.
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT WHICH
SHOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ALL
WOMEN NEGLECTED TO -- FEMALE
GENITAL MUTILATION.
HEINOUS CRIME.
AND IT EVEN --
[CROSS TALK]
>> 500,000 WOMEN AND GIRLS IN
THIS COUNTRY ARE FACING THAT.
>> YES.
>> SO I AGREE WITH YOU.
WE NEED TO TACKLE THE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN OVERSEAS AND
PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH MERE IN
THIS COUNTRY.
>> THAT IS ONE THING THAT I'LL
NEVER UNDERSTAND.
WOMEN DOING THAT TO THEIR
CHILDREN.
IT'S HORRIBLE.
>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES.
DOES FEMINISM HELP MEN?
WE SPOKE TO ALEXANDER DECROW WHO
SAYS FEMINISM LEADS TO A BETTER
ECONOMY AND HELPS LIBERATE MEN.
>> IT'S A TOPIC WHICH IS ABOUT
WOMEN.
SO BY DEFINITION ONLY WOMEN ARE
ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT IT IF THE
AND THEN VERY OFTEN THE SOLUTION
TO GENDER EQUALITY HAS ALWAYS
BEEN PUT IN THE DIRECTION OF
WOMEN HAVE TO SOLVE IT
THEMSELVES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF
FEMINISM, IT MEANS EQUAL RIGHTS
AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WOMEN AND MEN.
SO BY DEFINITION WE MEN SHOULD
ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
>> HE IS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
OF BELGIUM HAVING ASSUMED OFFICE
AS MINISTER OF FINANCE LAST
YEAR.
>> WE WOULD THINK WE'RE THERE.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE GENDER EQUALITY WILL BE
ACHIEVED.
I AM CONVINCED THAT AS MUCH IN
BELGIUM AS IN THE WHITE IT'S NOT
A MATTER OF TIME.
IT'S A MATTER OF POLICY.
AND IT'S A MATTER OF US MEN AND
THE ROLE OF US MEN IN CREATING
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE MEN AND
WOMEN HAVE FULL OPPORTUNITIES TO
DEVELOP THEMSELVES IF SOMETHING
THAT IS NOT GOING TO COME BY
ITSELF.
>> HE HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK
CALLED THE AGE OF WOMEN.
WHY FEMINISM ALSO LIBERATES MEN.
>> A LOT OF MEN SEE IT AS
RECREATE SPACE FOR WOMEN TO TAKE
A STEP FORWARD THEN WE BY
DEFINITION WILL HAVE TO TAKE A
STEP BACK WHICH IS THE ZERO SUM
GAME APPROACH AND I THINK THAT'S
WRONG.
IT'S NOT A ZERO SUM GAME.
>> HE ARGUES THAT FEMINISM IS
ALLOWING MORE AND MORE WOMEN TO
BE PRODUCTIVE.
>> WHAT IS THIS ABOUT IN THE END
IS IT IS SUCH A WASTED
OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE HALF THE POPULATION
WHICH IS OFTEN HIGHLY DEDICATED
WHICH HAS ALL TALENTS AND WE
CONSIDER THAT WE CAN -- WE'RE
OKAY WITH NOT USING THAT TALENT.
WE'RE OKAY WITH NOT GIVING
OPPORTUNITIES TO THAT AT THAT --
THAT LENT.
>> A -- TALENT.
ASIDE FROM THE SOCIAL AND MORAL
REASONS FOR FEMINISM, HE ARGUES
THE DOLLARS AND CENTS APPROACH
HAS MERIT.
>> I'M NOT OBSESSED BY GROWTH
MEMBERS AND GDP AND SO ON BUT
WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THAT
WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
PEOPLE CAN HAVE A GOOD LIFE
BALANCED LIFE AND REALIZE THEIR
DREAMS.
I USE THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S AN
ARGUMENT THAT YOU COULD USE
TOWARDS MEN WHO OFTEN SEE
FEMINISM AS A THREATENING THING
WHERE I THINK THAT IT'S ACTUALLY
LIBERATING THING AND IT MAKES IT
JUST BIGGER.
>> SO DO YOU AGREE WITH DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER DECROW THAT
FEMINISM LIBERATES MEN?
>> HOW WONDERFUL THAT HE'S USING
HIS PLATFORM TO SHINE A LIGHT ON
THE URGENT NEED FOR GENDER
EQUALITY.
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
YES.
FEMINISM IS A POLITICAL MOVEMENT
FOR EQUALITY FOR WOMEN AND
GIRLS.
>> IF MEN SPEAK UP, SPEAKING TO
MEN, WE HAVE A SPECIAL KIND OF
ABILITY IN THE SAME WAY THAT
DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
STARTED BY BLACKS BUT IT GOT TO
BE A NATIONAL MOVEMENT THAT
EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE PART
OF -- FULL PARTICIPATION OF
WOMEN THROUGHOUT CENTURIES.
IT CHANGES THE MINDSET.
I'VE HAD MEN COME UP AND GO MY
GOD I CAN NEVER LOOK AT A WOMAN
THE SAME WAY AGAIN AFTER THEY
HEAR THESE THINGS THEY DON'T
KNOW WOMEN DID AND I SAID THAT'S
EXACTLY THE POINT.
IT'S WONDERFUL THIS GUY IS DOING
IT.
FINALLY.
WE NEED MORE OF IT HAPPEN.
AND THE CREDIT SECRET AS I TELL
PEOPLE DO YOU THINK A MAN WHO IS
IF YOU WANT TO USE THE WORD
LIBERATED IF HE THINKS ABOUT
HIMSELF LIKE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO
BE THE BREADWINNER AND HE CAN BE
AN ARTIST AND NOT MAKE ANY MONEY
AND BE MARRIED TO A WALL STREET
SCION AND LET HER EARN ALL THE
MONEY.
ARE THOSE WAYS OF LIBERATING MEN
IN YOUR MIND A GOOD IDEA?
>> SURE.
IF IT MAKES SENSE FOR HIM AND
HIS FAMILY THAT'S CERTAINLY
GREAT.
I THINK IT'S THE FREEDOM TO
DOOSE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.
WHEN IT COMES TO FEMINISM I
THINK WHAT SOME CONSERVATIVES
HAVE PUSHED BACK ON IS THAT
THERE'S TENSION.
THERE'S BEEN INTENSE TENSION
BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN AND IT
PLAYS OUT IN A WAY THAT MAKES
MEN FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MONDAY
STORES AND THAT WOMEN FEEL THEY
NEED TO BE FEARFUL OF EVERY MAN
IN THEIR LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE
CAREFUL ABOUT.
BUT WHY IS IT --
>> WHETHER THAT'S COLLEGE CAMPUS
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND WHEN WE LOOK
AT THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE
WITH MOST MEN AND THEY'RE
HEALTHY AND NORMAL AND
RESPECTFUL.
YOU HAVE THOSE BAD APPLES AND WE
DO WANT THOSE BAD APPLES AND THE
MEDIA HAS PAINTED IT AS THOUGH
EVERY MAN IN POWER IS GOING TO
BE A HARVEY WINE STEIN AND I
THINK THAT IS WHAT CREATES THE
BACK LASH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
TERRIFIC.
THANK YOU ALL.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
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