>>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE
CONTRARY, IS THERE GENDER BIAS
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY?
THEN, MARRIED VERSUS UNMARRIED
MOMS AND HOUSEWORK.
A SURPRISING RESULT OF A NEW
SURVEY.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES, SAFE
TRAVELS AS WOMEN TRAVEL SOLO
INTERNATIONALLY IN RECORD
NUMBERS, WE TELL YOU WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STAYING SAFE.
HELLO AND WELCOME TO TO THE
CONTRARY.
UP FIRST, WOMEN RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT.
WITH A DIVERSE FIELD OF 21
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES, A PINK WAVE IN 2018,
AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN ARE THE
MOST LOYAL VOTERS IN THE PARTY.
WHY ARE WHITE MEN LEADING THE
PACK?
A MORNING CONSULT POLL THIS WEEK
SHOWS JOE BIDEN IN THE LEAD WITH
40% FOLLOWED BY BERNIE SANDERS
AT 19%, THEN ELIZABETH WARREN
AND KAMALA HARRIS IN THE SINGLE
DIGIT SES.
THESE NUMBERS HAVE STAYED
CONSISTENT AMONG DIFFERENT
POLLS.
ALSO CONSISTENT IS POLLING DATA
SUGGESTING DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
VOTERS SUPPORT FEMALE CANDIDATES
BUT THEY'RE SKEPTICAL THAT A
WOMAN CAN BEAT DONALD TRUMP.
POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY IT'S NOT
SURPRISING BECAUSE VOTERS HOLD
FEMALE POLITICIANS TO A HIGHER
STANDARD THAN MEN AND THEY HAVE
TO WORK HARDER, DEFEND POLICIES
MORE, AND BE MORE LIKABLE.
>> SO LATIFA LYLES, WHY ARE
WOMEN NOT BREAKING THROUGH?
>> I WOULD SAY THEY'RE WORKING
THROUGH.
WE'RE WORKING IN A SYSTEM THAT
SIGNIFICANTLY FAVORS WHITE MEN
CONSISTENTLY.
>> WOMEN ARE BREAKING THROUGH IN
THIS MOMENT.
WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE AT OUR
FINGERTIPS THAN WE USED TO.
I THINK WOMEN ARE CONTINUING TO
PUSH BACK AND WE'LL SEE THE
POSITIVE EFFECT THAT IS TO COME.
>> I JUST HOPE WE CAN CHANGE
BECAUSE IT IS WORRY SOME AND THE
MOST WORRISOME PART IS POLLS
SHOW THAT MEN ARE AHEAD.
>> IT CAN BE WOMEN AND VOTERS
STILL SUPPORT THE CANDIDATES NOT
BASTED ON GENDER BUT THE ISSUES
AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY SOME WOMEN
STRUGGLE TO BREAK THROUGH.
>> OKAY. BUT CAN YOU -- ON WHAT
ISSUE WOULD YOU PREFER AS A
VOTER JOE BIDEN TO KAMALA
HARRIS?
NO.
AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME MOST
DON'T KNOW SO IT'S MORE NAME
RECOGNITION AND CULTURAL BIASES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BUT WHY DIDN'T THE ME TOO
MOVEMENT CHANGE THIS ALREADY?
WHY DIDN'T SECOND WAVE FEMINISM
CHANGE IT?
THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM.
>> AND BONNIE, IT'S WORSE BY THE
FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC BASE IS
SO DECEMBER PAT TO DEFEAT --
DESPERATE TO DEFEAT TRUMP
BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WHOEVER IS
GOING TO BE TRUMP AND PEOPLE
TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS NOT THE
MOMENT TO TAKE A RISK.
AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT MYSELF.
I LOVE ELIZABETH WARREN.
I THINK SHE'S THE RIGHT CANED
CANDIDATE.
BUT I DON'T THINK SHE'S
ELECTABLE.
IS IT TRUE OR NOT?
>> AND BUSH, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS
SEEN TO BE BUSH THE SECOND, WAS
SEEN TO BE, YOU KNOW, LIKABLE.
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT.
BUT LIKABILITY IS A PROBLEM AND
DO YOU THINK KAMALA HARRIS, IS
SHE LIKABLE?
IS ELIZABETH WARREN OR OTHERS?
>> IT'S A DIFFERENT SET OF
LENSES WE SHARE WHEN WE LOOK AT
FEMALES VERSUS THE MALES BECAUSE
THAT NOTION OF LIKABILITY GOES
BACK TO THE BUSINESS WORLD OF
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
WHEN YOU CAN SIT AND HAVE A BEER
WITH SOMEONE.
DO YOU WANT TO SIT AND HAVE A
BEER WITH YOUR PRESIDENT?
IS THIS HILLARY CLINTON'S FAULT?
>> OH, I DON'T WANT TO FAULT
THAT.
>> MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY SHE
WASN'T LIKABLE.
SHE'S BRILLIANT.
SHE'S A LOT OF THINGS BUT SHE'S
NOT WARM AND FUZZY.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE A TOUGH TIME
WITH THAT BECAUSE I NEVER
SUPPORTED HILLARY CLINTON
POLITICALLY OR FINANCIALLY BUT
SHE WAS THE EPITOME OF WHAT MY
MOTHER RAISED ME TO BE WHICH WAS
STRONG AND ACCOMPLISHED AND PUT
YOURSELF OUT THERE AND KEEP
PRESSING ON.
BUT, YEAH, THERE WAS THAT
ELEMENT OF DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU
COULD SIT DOWN WITH HILLARY?
NO SHE HAD A SET OF ASPIRATIONS
THAT WERE POLITICAL IN NATURE
BUT TO FAULT HER FOR THAT I
THINK IS GOING TOO FAR.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THE MEDIA
PLAYS A ROLE HERE.
I MEAN, THE SPREADS OF BETO
O'ROURKE TRYING TO BOOST HIS
LIKABILITY.
I THINK IT MAKES IT HARD WHEN
YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS BUSHING BETO
ONE DAY AND THEN BERNIE THE NEXT
AND NOT GIVING ATTENTION TO
WOMEN WHO I WILL TOTALLY
DISAGREE WITH THE POLICIES FROM
ELIZABETH WARREN BUT SHE'S
PUTTING POLICIES OUT THERE.
>> SHE'S BEEN WORKING VERY HARD
AND ARGUABLY THE LONGEST ON THE
ROAD DOING THE TRADITIONAL GRASS
ROOTS WORK TO GET ELECTED AND AT
THIS POINT -- I WOULD ALSO SAY
PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A
BEER WITH HER.
I THINK SHE'D BE INTERESTING TO
HAVE A BEER WITH.
>> DID YOU SEE THE VIDEO THOUGH?
>> SHE DID THAT VIDEO.
[LAUGHTER]
>> YOU DIDN'T WANT TO COME IN
FOR THAT BEER.
>> BUT I THINK THAT THE MOMENT
THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW IS SO
TELLING ABOUT THE INSECURITY TO
HAVE SO MANY CANDIDATES FROM SO
MANY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS SHOWING
UP WITH CREDENTIALS, WITH HARD
WORK, ROLLED UP SLEEVES.
WE'RE IN A BUOYANT OF CRISIS OF
CONFIDENCE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE
WE'RE JUST -- WE ARE OVERFLOWING
WITH FOLKS WHO VICE PRESIDENT A
GOOD MESSAGE AND COULD RUN FOR
OFFICE AND BEAT TRUMP BUT I
THINK THERE'S SO MUCH
INSECURITY.
>> AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
I'M GLAD TO SEE MORE ARTICLES
ABOUT IT.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE NOW
REFLECTING THEMSELVES, AM I
DOING THIS?
AM I PLAYING THIS GAME?
AND THIS IS NOT OVER.
WE'RE JUST STARTING.
WHO KNOWS.
>> WHAT I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT AS
CRITICAL IS WHO IS GOING TO BE
THE BEST DEBATER?
DOES EVERYBODY THINK JOE BIDEN
IS GOING TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP IN
A DEBATE AND KAMALA HARRIS
COULDN'T?
>> I'M GOING TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE
THESE ARTICLES ON SUCH A BIG
FIELD BECAUSE PUTTING MY
STRATEGIST HAT ON FOR A MOMENT I
WANT TO SEE WHO CAN TAKE THE
PRESIDENT ON.
LIKE, THIS IS NOT A MOMENT FOR
EVERYBODY RUN TO THE POOL LIKE
SUMMER CAMP JUST STARTED.
THIS IS BEAT THE GUY IF YOU
DON'T LIKE HIM THAT MUCH.
SO BE SMART ABOUT IT.
ONE OLD WHITE GUY VERSUS ANOTHER
OLD WHITE GUY PRESENTS THE BEST
CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT REMOVES
THOSE LAYERS.
I KNOW IT'S NOT POLITICALLY THE
SAVVIEST AND NICEST TO SAY BUT
IT'S TRUE.
BIDEN HAS THAT TELLS YOU LIKE IT
IS THING AND TRUMP --
>> MANY HAVE THAT.
>> I REMEMBER INTERVIEWING A
DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST WHEN OBAMA
WAS RUNNING AND THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT HIS VEEP AND
BECAUSE HE'S OF COLOR I WAS TOLD
SOMETHING LIKE IT'S GOT TO BE
WHITE MILK.
YOU KNOW.
IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING VERY
WHITE BREAD.
SOMETHING NOT OFFENSIVE TO
ANYBODY BECAUSE RUNNING A
PRESIDENT OF COLOR IS GOING TO
OFFEND SOME PEOPLE AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE SAY WE NOW HAVE TRUMP
BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS GOT OBAMA
ELECTED.
>> FRANKLY I DON'T THINK THE
QUESTION OF DEBATES IS -- I
DON'T REMEMBER TRUMP WINNING A
DEBATE.
DO YOU?
I DON'T FEEL LIKE IN THE LAST
ELECTION CYCLE HE CAME TOGETHER
VERY WELL AT ALL IN THE DEBATES
AND NOW WE'RE LIKE WHO CAN BEAT
HIM ON THE ISSUES.
HE DOESN'T GO TO TASK ON ISSUES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THIS IS ABOUT HOW MESSAGING
WORKS.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO HEARTS AND
MINDS.
AND YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE JUST AS
SAVVY AS THE NEXT PERSON.
>> THE LAST DEBATE PARTICULARLY
HE WAS FOLLOWING HER AROUND AND
YELLING.
HOW DOES A WOMAN DEAL -- WOULD
YOU DEAL EFFECTIVELY -- WOULD
YOU TURN AROUND AND START
FOLLOWING HIM AND SCREAMING AT
HIM?
IS.
>> YEAH.
THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THIS
IS ABOUT POTENTIALITY AND ABOUT
GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE.
AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE BIAS
THAT WE'RE SEEING AND THE PEOPLE
NOT RECOGNIZING THE FULL
POTENTIAL OF THE FEMALE
CANDIDATE IS THEY MAY BE THE
BEST CANDIDATE TO GO AFTER
TRUMP.
IF WE DO NOT LOOK AT IT THROUGH
THE BIAS OF HILLARY CLINTON LOST
BECAUSE SHE WAS A WOMAN OR A
WOMAN CANNOT REALLY PUT TOGETHER
A STRONG FIELD OPERATION.
>> IT IS ABOUT THE ISSUES THIS
TIME.
AND I THINK YOU CAN SPEAK TO
THAT BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS
STRONG.
>> EXACTLY.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
PRESIDENT TRUMP COMING TO THE
TABLE WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF
BEING PRESIDENT.
THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A
STELLAR ECONOMY AND DATA TO
PROVE THAT IT WAS NOT JUST OBAMA
ERA POLICIES.
TALKING ABOUT THE DEBATE, AT THE
TIME TRUMP DIDN'T GET INTO
ISSUES BUT IT WAS HOW HE WAS
ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
SIMPLISTICALLY TO AMERICAN
PEOPLE WHO FELT LIKE EVERYONE
TALKED OVER THEM AND TALKED
ABOVE THEIR HEADS.
I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF
THE CANDIDATES ON THE LEFT YOU
HAVE PROFESSORS, LAWYERS, THEY
WILL BE GUMPRECHTTUALS AND
THAT'S GREAT BUT THEN YOU HAVE A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT
SOMETHING SIMPLE AND BOILED DOWN
AND IF THEY CAN'T MATCH THAT
SIMPLICITY AND THE FIRMNESS OF
THE PRESIDENT THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO BE THE BEST CANDIDATE AND I
THINK THE DIMENSIONS ARE MORE
THAN JUST --
>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
SORRY.
WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT
THIS ISSUE.
FROM WOMEN IN PRESIDENTIAL
POLITICS TO MOMS AT HOME.
>> IF YOU ASSUME MARRIED MOMS DO
LESS HOUSEWORK THAN SINGLE MOMS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PARTNER
AROUND TO HELP OUT, YOU WOULD BE
WRONG.
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY THE
UNIVERSITIES OF MARYLAND, TEXAS,
AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHEN IT
COMES TO DOMESTIC WORK, MARRIED
MOMS DO MORE.
LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT.
MARRIED AND SINGLE MOMS SPEND
EQUAL AMOUNTS OF TIME CARING FOR
CHILDREN.
THE SURVEY IS REFERRING TO OTHER
THINGS SUCH AS COOKING, LAUNDRY,
AND HOUSE CLEANING AND ONLY IN
HETERO SEXUAL MARRIAGES.
WHY?
RESEARCHERS SAY MOTHERS MARRIED
TO MEN TRY HARDER TO MEET OLD
FASHIONED GENDER EXPECTATIONS OF
PROVIDING HOME COOKED MALES,
CLEAN HOMES, AND CLEAN CLOTHES.
THE RESEARCHERS EVEN ADJUSTED
THEIR FINDINGS FOR DIFFERENCES
IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, RACE,
AND NUMBER OF CHILDREN, OR OTHER
EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS AT HOME.
THEY REPORT MARRIED WOMEN SPEND
AN AVERAGE OF JUST FEWER THAN
THREE HOURS DAILY ON HOUSEWORK
COMPARED TO JUST LESS THAN TWO
AND A HALF HOURS FOR UNMARRIED
WOMEN.
A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 32 MINUTES
EACH DAY.
RESEARCHERS CALL MARRIAGE A
GENDERED INSTITUTION.
WHAT DO MARRIED MOMS GIVE UP?
LEISURE TIME AND SLEEP.
>> I PRESUME YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT
BEING A NEW MOM.
DO YOU AGREE THAT MARRIED MOMS
IN HETERO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS
AND VERY FORWARD ABOUT THIS IN
THE SURVEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO
WANT TO BE THE PERFECT MOM
WHEREAS SINGLE MOMS CAN DO IT
THEIR OWN WAY BECAUSE NOBODY IS
ELSE IS AROUND?
>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK MOMS WANT TO BE THE BEST
MOMS MEANING MAKING SURE THE
KIDS ARE READY FOR SCHOOL, TEETH
BRUSHED, BELLIES FULL.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
DOES -- WANTING TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS DONE THE RIGHT
WAY, DONE MY WAY.
AND I DO WHEN SPEAKING WITH
OTHER NEW MOMS WE ALL SAY THE
SAME THING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING
IS RUNNING THE WAY WE WANT IT TO
RUN.
BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK
THAT IT'S SOCIETIAL IMPOSED FROM
SOCIETY.
I THINK IT'S JUST MAYBE THE TYPE
A IN US.
>> I THINK THE PRESSURE TO
CONFORM TO A STEREOTYPE IS
STRONGER THAN OTHER ESPECIALLY
THE DATA SHOWING HOW THIS BEARS
OUT FOR WORKING MOMS AND
NONWORKING MOMS WHO ARE MARRIED
AND THAT THERE'S THIS PRESSURE
IF YOU'RE WORKING TOO THAT
YOU'RE NOT FITTING THE MOLD SO
I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND WORK
EXTRA HARD BECAUSE I'M WORKING
FROM 9:00 TO 5:00 AND I THINK
THAT DATA POINT IS VERY TELLING
IN THAT THE BACK LASH STILL TO
BE A FULL TIME WORKING MOM IN
TODAY'S WORLD IS STILL MET WITH
A LITTLE BIT OF SKEPTICISM.
>> SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER?
>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS YOU DO
WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.
AND THERE'S THIS CULTURE OF
MARRIAGE IS VERY MUCH BASED --
COUPLES HAVE TO COWHAT MAKES
SENSE FOR THEM.
WOMEN ARE DOING A LOT OF THE
CATCH UP BECAUSE OF THE STIGMAS.
>> I GLUE UP IN A HOUSEHOLD
WHERE MY MOTHER WAS VERY
CONSCIOUS OF IT, OF THE ROLES
AND VERY DEMANDING OF MY DAD
WHICH WAS VERY RADICAL IN PUERTO
RICO.
SUPER TRADITIONAL.
I DISAGREE WITH YOU.
IT'S TRADITION.
IT'S NOT MALICIOUS.
IT'S JUST TRADITION.
THE THING IS THAT IT'S PUTTING A
LOT OF STRESS IN WOMEN THAT FEEL
THEY HAVE TO BE LITTLE MISS
PERFECT.
I HAVE TO CLEAN AND COOK AND ALL
THESE THINGS AND ARE NOT DMANGD
OF MEN TO SHARE IN THE BURDEN.
SO I THINK THIS IS THE KEY HERE.
WHY WITH ALL THE AWARENESS THAT
WE HAVE THAT SURVEYS STILL SHOW
THAT THE WOMEN ARE CARRYING THE
BURDEN.
WHY ARE THEY NOT ASKING AND WHY
ARE THE GUYS NOT OFFERING?
>> BECAUSE THE POPULATION, THE
GENERAL POPULATION IS ONE THING
AND WHAT YOU SEE PORTRAYED IN
THE MEDIA IS QUITE ANOTHER.
DO YOU THINK -- DO YOU AGREE
WITH THEM THAT MARRIAGE IS A
GENDERED INSTITUTION?
IN OTHER WORDS IT'S MORE
ENTRAPPING IN TERMS OF MAKING
PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY THINK
TRADITION REQUIRES OF THEM THAN
BEING SINGLE?
>> IT CAN BE BUT I THINK IN MY
GENERATION I REMAIN COMPLETELY
ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT I
SEE SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN
THROUGH FRIENDS AND EVEN
ACQUAINT TENSES TALK OPENLY
ABOUT REAPS. I KNOW I'M IN A
TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE WHERE
UNFORTUNATELY MY HUSBAND IS A
MAJOR BREADWINNER NOW BUT HE
SAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE
BIG BUCKS, I WANT TO BE THE STAY
AT HOME DAD.
BUT HE MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR ME.
CERTAINLY ROLES ARE BEING
CHALLENGED IN THESE NEW
GENERATIONS BUT WHAT I'M WORRIED
ABOUT I'M THE FOREVER OPTIMIST.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
SOCIAL MEDIA ON MOTHERS WHETHER
THEY'RE STAY AT HOME OR WORKING.
IT'S BECAUSE OF --
>> IT'S THE AVAILABILITY OF
CREDIT AND NOW EVERYBODY HAS AN
iPHONE OR ANDROID THAT'S SUPER
COMPLEX AND THEY CAN SEE RIGHT
AT THEIR FINGERTIPS WHAT ANOTHER
MOM IS DOING.
SHE HAS A GREAT STROLLER.
SHE'S OUT TO DRINKS AND DINNER.
THE PICTURES DON'T TELL THE
WHOLE STORY.
EVERYBODY'S STRIVING FOR THIS
PERFECTION AND YOU MAY HAVE
MOTHERS THAT --
>> THAT'S NOT NEW.
TEN YEARS AGO WE DID A STORY
ABOUT SOMEBODY SURVEYED THE
AVERAGE INCOME OF FAMILIES ON
TELEVISION AND IT WAS 200 GRAND
A YEAR WHICH OF COURSE IS WAY
ABOVE THE AVERAGE INCOME OF THE
AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY AND SO
YOU -- IT MAY BE TRUE IN SOCIAL
MEDIA.
IT'S ALSO TRUE IN TELEVISION.
SO THIS IS NOT A NEW INFLUENCE.
>> THE AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT.
YOU CAN GO OUT WITH OUR AM
EX-AND GET THE SAME SHOES THAT
ANYBODY CAN HAVE.
>> I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS
IT'S NOT JUST SOME OTHER PERSON
ON TV.
IT'S MY FRIEND.
IT'S THE WOMAN IN THE MOMMY
CIRCLE.
THE MOM THAT PICKS UP THEIR
DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL AND WHAT
SHE'S POSTING.
I THINK THOUGH TO THE QUESTION
ABOUT HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS WILL,
FLEXIBILITY IN THE WORK PLACE I
THINK IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR
HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT SO WHEN YOU
CAN WORK FROM HOME ALL OF A
SUDDEN YOU KNOW MOMS AND DADS
CAN START TO DO A LOT MORE OF
THE CHORES AND SHARE THE CHORES
WHERE YOU DON'T FEEL THEY'RE
CRUNCHED TO GET IT DONE AT THE
BEGINNING AND END OF THE DAY AND
THAT STRESS LEVEL DECREASES.
WE HAVE POLLED MEN AND WOMEN AND
RESOUNDINGLY FOUND THAT THEY
WANT NOT JUST FLEXIBILITY IN THE
WORKFORCE AND IN WORK PLACE BUT
ALSO CHILD CARE AND HOW DO WE --
HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT PLAY A
ROLE IN THIS BUT I THINK
FLEXIBILITY IS HUGE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME ON THIS ONE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES.
TRAVELING SOLO.
WOMEN ARE VISITING FOREIGN
COUNTRIES ALONE MORE OFTEN THAN
EVER THEY ARE FREQUENTLY
MOTIVATED BY A SENSE OF
ADVENTURE AND EXCITEMENT.
BUT THAT EXPERIENCE COMES WITH
RISK.
AND HARROWING TALES OF SURVIVING
VIOLENCE ABROAD.
>> I WAS ASSAULTED BY A ROMAN
CITIZEN AND IT WAS QUITE
PHYSICAL, THE ASSAULT.
HE WAS TRYING TO RAPE ME.
HE LOCKED ME INTO HIS APARTMENT.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD EXPRESSED A
NONDESIRE NOT ONLY TO NOT HAVE
SEX BUT TO END THE NIGHT
ULTIMATELY I WIND UP MAYBE SIX
HOURS AFTER MEETING HIM HANGING
OFF A SIX STORY BUILDING
FIGHTING HIM OFF AND THEN
ESCAPING.
SHE SAYS SHE HAD TO CLIMB ACROSS
ROOF TOPS AND DOWN SIX STORIES
TO ESCAPE HER ATTACKER.
>> IT WAS 2:00 OR 3:00 IN THE
MORNING WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE
HOTEL.
THE EMBASSY DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL
8:00 OR 9:00 SO YOU JUST HAVE TO
SIT THERE AND WAIT.
WHICH WAS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE MY
ASSAILANT KNEW WHERE I WAS
STAYING SO I FELT UNSAFE FOR
THOSE FIVE OR SIX HOURS.
I HAD THE POLICE IN MY ROOM
SCREAMING AT ME TO GO WITH THEM
FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT I DIDN'T
HAVE AN INTERPRETER.
SO NOW I HAVE THE POLICE YELLING
AT ME IN MY ROOM AT 3:00 IN THE
MORNING, I DON'T HAVE
INTERPRETERS.
>> HER FRUSTRATION WITH THE LACK
OF SERVICES FOR VICTIMS HAS BEEN
ECHOED BY OTHER SURVIVORS AND
ADVOCATES.
PATHWAYS' MISSION IS TO HELP
PROVIDE THEM.
>> WE WILL GIVE THEM VOUCHERS TO
MOVE TO A NEW HOTEL.
WE'LL GET THEM ARRANGEMENTS AND
UBER TO GET THEM TO A PLACE TO
GET A RAPE KIT OR HOSPITAL
VISIT.
WE'LL INTERACT WITH THE POLICE.
PROVIDE TRANSLATION SERVICES.
EVERYTHING THAT THEY WOULD NEED
TO NAVIGATE THOSE SYSTEMS.
>> BUT JUST HOW RISKY IS IT TO
TRAVEL ALONE?
THE TRUTH IS NO ONE QUITE KNOWS.
>> WE KNOW THAT WOMEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY FACE VIOLENCE
IN PUBLIC SPACES MEN DON'T FACE.
WE SAW A RISE IN SOLO FEMALE
TRAVEL IN GENERAL BUT ALSO NO
STRAY AT THISESICS AVAILABLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR
WOMEN WHO TRAVEL ABROAD.
WE DID NOT SEE FIGURES OUT THERE
FOR NUMBERS OF ATTACKS.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS
QUITE CONCERNING TO US.
>> YOU KIND OF GREW OUT OF
SOMETHING WE WERE SEEING ALMOST
DAILY TOWARDS TEND OF THE YEAR
LAST YEAR.
THESE STORIES OF WOMEN WHO OFTEN
WERE QUITE YOUNG, WESTERN WOMEN,
TRAVELING ALONE AND HAD BEEN
ATTACKED OR IN SOME CASES
KILLED.
>> SHE SAYS THE ARTICLE WASN'T
MEANT TO SCARE FEMALE TRAVELLERS
BUT TO HELP THEM PREPARE TO
MANAGE THE RISK.
>> SO WHETHER THAT'S LEARNING
SELF-DEFENSE SO YOU FEEL MORE
PREPARED IN THESE PUBLIC SPACES
WHERE YOU MIGHT BE THREATENED OR
WHETHER THAT IS CARRYING A GPS
TRACKER SO THAT YOUR FRIENDS AND
FAMILY CAN KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT
ALL TIMES OR WHETHER THAT'S
CHOOSING A HOLE TELL OR AIR B&B
THAT HAS SECURITY FEATURES.
>> BUT NO MATTER HOW WELL
PREPARE AID WOMAN IS THERE'S NO
GUARANTEE AGAINST BEING
ATTACKED.
>> ONE THING THAT WE WANTED TO
EMPHASIZE WITH THIS STORY AS
WELL IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS
IS PART OF A BROADER FABRIC OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
THIS IS JUST A THREAD IN THAT
BROADER FABRIC.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
ATTACKS ON FEMALE TRAVELLERS,
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND HOW
NORMS AND SOME OF THE CULTURAL
ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE MAKE CAN
ACTUALLY FACTOR INTO THIS TYPE
OF VIOLENCE.
>> SO MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE
TRAVELING ABROAD ALONE BUT
SHOULDN'T THE TREND BE IN THE
OTHER DIRECTION?
JOIN A GROUP IF YOU WANT TO STAY
SAFE?
>> WELL, THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I'M GLAD
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE
INCREASING NUMBER OF WOMEN ARE
TRAVELING ALONE.
THE FACT IS THAT MOST WOMEN
SURVIVE AND DON'T HAVE THESE
EXPERIENCES.
WE'RE VERY AWARE WHEN WE TRAVEL.
BUT IT HAPPENS AND I THINK
PEOPLE NEED TO BE PREPARED.
IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS
THE SAFETY ISSUE.
KNOW HOW TO GET READY.
YOU KNOW --
>> SAFETY AND LANGUAGE.
>> SAFETY, LANGUAGE.
>> YOU COULD GETTED ATTACKED IN
YOUR HOMETOWN AND IT'S NOT LIKE
WE LIVE IN A VIOLENCE FREE
COUNTRY OURSELVES BUT AT LEAST
YOU KNOW THE COPS.
YOU'RE IN THE SAME LANGUAGE.
ET CETERA.
>> THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT
YOU'RE HIGHLIGHTING WHICH IS
IMPORTANT IT'S GIVING TIPS FOR
WOMEN THAT ARE TRAVELING BY
THEMSELVES.
AS YOU KNOW I DO INTERNATIONAL
WORK.
I TRAVEL A LOT.
A LOT BY MYSELF AT LEAST TO GET
THERE AND GET TO SOME OF THE
MEETINGS THAT I GO TO.
I'M SO AWARE OF HOW I DO THINGS,
VERY AWARE OF SAFETY BUT THINGS
CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE SOME
COUNTRIES ARE VERY UNSAFE.
IT'S UNSAFE FOR THE WOMEN OF
THESE COUNTRIES AND EVEN MORE
FOR A FOREIGNER.
>> I THINK EVERY COUNTRY CAN BE
UNSAFE.
IT'S JUST ABOUT KNOWING YOUR
SURROUNDINGS.
I'VE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY ALONE
PRIOR TO MEETING MY HUSBAND AND
I WAS HAPPY TO DO SO.
WHEN I SAW MEN HIKING ALONE I
GREW UP IN WILD WONDERFUL WEST
VIRGINIA I THOUGHT I COULD DO
ANYTHING FROM GOING TO A CITY TO
THE MOUNTAINS.
I WAS NEVER SCARED BUT NOW IN MY
MID-30S, I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS
NOW TOO.
I WAS JUST RECENTLY ON A TRIP
WHERE I WAS GOING TO BE ALONE
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN A
FOREIGN COUNTRY AND I REMEMBER
GETTING READY FOR IT AND BEING
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I WORE
AND HOW REALLY CLOSE FITTING MY
DRESS WAS.
AND JUST HOW I WAS GOING TO
OPERATE AND I JUST THOUGHT TO
MYSELF TEN YEARS BACK I WOULD
NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT.
AND I DID NOT DRINK ANY DRINKS
BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT WHAT IF
SOMEBODY TOUCHES THAT DRINK.
SO IT'S ABOUT BEING AWARE.
IT'S INCUMBENT UPON WOMEN.
I HAD A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN
INDIA ON AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
TO INDIA WHERE A MAN WAS
PLEASURING HIMSELF ACROSS THE
AISLE FROM ME.
>> YOU DIDN'T CALL THE FLIGHT
ATTENDANT?
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS
HAPPENING FOR 30 MINUTES.
WHEN I REALIZED, I FELT SO
VIOLATED AND ANGRY I WENT TO THE
STEWARDSES AND THEY TOOK THEIR
TIME TO MOVE ME.
ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
I REMEMBER FEELING SO WEIRDED
OUT AND SCARED IN THOSE MINUTES
AND COULDN'T BELIEVE.
I'M STILL HAVING A MOMENT WHERE
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED TO
ME TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN
ORGANIZATION WHERE OTHER WOMEN
MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING
I THINK COULD HAVE GIVEN ME SOME
COMFORT BUT I WAS FURIOUS AT THE
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.
>> AT THAT POINT WHEN YOU'RE
FLYING IT'S ON THE AIRLINE I
WOULD THINK.
>> THEY WERE WOMEN AND THEY
COULD NOT EVEN --
>> WHAT THIS RAISES FOR ME AS
SOMEBODY IN A COUNTRY WHERE
PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN OF COLOR
ARE TOO ALSO WE POLICE OURSELVES
AND HOW WE MOVE AROUND IN SAFETY
AND COMMUNITIES.
I THINK LOTS OF COHORTS AND
FRIENDS THAT I HAVE WHO ARE
WOMEN OF COLOR TRAVELING TAKE
THAT APPROACH TO WHERE WE DON'T
TRAVEL IN OUR BACKYARDS
SOMETIMES BY OURSELVES BECAUSE
WE'RE AFRAID OF BEING, YOU KNOW,
ATTACKED OR SINGLED OUT OR THERE
ARE CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
THAT WOMEN OF COLOR DON'T TRAVEL
TO FOR THAT REASON.
THERE'S AN APPROACH AND ALWAYS
HAS BEEN FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN
PARTICULAR IN MOVING INTO
UNKNOWN SPACES.
>> SO YOU THINK THEY'RE SAFER?
WOMEN OF COLOR MAY BE SAFER?
>> I THINK THERE'S A PRIVILEGE
TO FREE MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY
THAT WHITE PEOPLE HAVE THAT
PEOPLE OF COLOR DO NOT HAVE AND
TRAVELING ABROAD MYSELF TO SOUTH
ASIA WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WAS ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT I DID FIRST
WAS TO SAY WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR A
BLACK PERSON TRAVELING IN SOUTH
AN ATHAT WHERE THERE'S NO BLACK
PEOPLE AND THERE WERE RESOURCES
AND WEBSITES AND BOOKS IN SOME
CASES ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT BUT
THE EXPECTATION FOR SOME OF US
IS THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE
AN ASSUMPTION THAT I HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE TO GO AS I FREE WHERE
I WANT TO GO FIRST AND FOREMOST
AS A PERSON OF COLOR AND THEN
THE DEAL IS RIGHT NOW WE LIVE IN
A SOCIETY WHERE WOMEN HAVE TO
THINK TWICE ABOUT EVEN WALKING
TO OUR CARS AFTER WORK.
THOSE THINGS COME TO MIND FOR ME
FOR SURE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL.
GREAT SHOW.
GREAT JOB.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
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