FOUNDATION AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> BONNIE: THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY."

FIRST, PREDICTING THE POWER OF THE WOMEN'S VOTE.

THEN BRETT KAUF NAU TAKES HIS SEAT ON THE SUPREME COURT AS BOTH SIDES GEAR UP FOR A BATTLE IN ROE V. WADE.

>>> AND BODY POSITIVITY.

WE TALK TO KARA RICHARDSON WHITELY ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF BEING.

>> BONNIE: HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE, WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY," A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, WOMEN AND THE MIDTERMS.

ONCE AGAIN WOMEN VOTERS ARE THE FOCAL POINT OF EARLY VOTING GETTING UNDERWAY.

DEMOCRATIC WOMEN TELL POLLSTERS THEY WILL BE VOTING IN HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.

MUCH OF THE EXPECTED SURGE IS BEING FUELED BY THE CONFIRMATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH TO THE SUPREME COURT.

A CNN POLL SHOWS A 30-POINT GENDER GAP GOING INTO THE MIDTERMS.

NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF REGISTERED WOMEN VOTERS SAID THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS, A THIRD SAID THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE REPUBLICAN.

AMONG MEN, 50% ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE REPUBLICAN AND 45% DEMOCRATIC.

AND A POLITICO-MORNING CONCERT POLL FOUND 3 OUT OF 4 DEMOCRATS SAY THEY ARE VERY MOTIVATED TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER VERSUS 68% OF REPUBLICANS.

TAYLOR SWIFT AS IT TURNS OUT IS A ROCK STAR NOT ONLY IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS BUT ALSO IN GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

BUZZFEED NEWS REPORTS THAT AFTER THE ARTIST EXPRESSED HER SUPPORT FOR TWO DEMOCRATS AND ENCOURAGED HER 112 MILLION INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS TO REGISTER TO VOTE, 65,000 PEOPLE REGISTERED IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD.

SO ELEANOR, WE ARE NOW THREE WEEKS OUT FROM THE ELECTIONS, DO YOU PREDICT MORE REPUBLICAN OR MORE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN WILL BE MOTIVATED TO GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE?

>> TELLELEANOR: BONNIE, WOMEN HAVE BEEN SURGING SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE.

ON NOVEMBER 6th, THEY'RE ABOUT TO GO OVER THE TOP.

>> GUEST: I HAVE SEEN THE WOMEN ENERGIZED AND SUSTAINEDABLE, BUT THE WOMEN ARE STOMPING MAD, TOO, JUST LIKE THE WOMEN ON THE LEFT.

SO I THINK WE'LL SEE A SURGE IN BOTH PARTIES IN WOMEN TURNING OUT.

>> GUEST: AFTER THE KAVANAUGH TESTIMONY AND EVERYTHING RECENTLY, THE ONLY THING KEEPING ME HANGING ON IS THIS HOPE THAT WOMEN ARE JUST GOING TO STORM THE POLLS.

OTHERWISE, I THINK I'M JUST GOING TO GO INTO A HOLE.

>> GUEST: I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER, TO, THE POINT-SPREAD IS EVEN WIDER, THE YOUNGER YOU GO.

SO WOMEN UNDER 35 LEAN BLUE FAR MORE HEAVILY THAN WOMEN, THAN WOMEN OVER 35.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> BONNIE: THERE WAS ALL THIS TALK WHEN OBAMA RAN FOR PRESIDENT, THE YOUNG PEOPLE CAME OUT LIKE CRAZY, THE EXIT POLLS SHOW DIFFERENTLY, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST MOTIVATED FACTOR, IS IT KAVANAUGH OR IS IT TRUMP?

AND WHICH WOMEN, RED OR BLUE, WILL RESPOND TO IT?

>> GUEST: IT'S TRUE THAT HISTORICALLY, THE 18 TO 35s, IN THE MIDTERMS THEY WERE AT A 20% RATE.

IT'S PRETTY PATHETIC.

SO IF THAT CHANGED THIS YEAR, IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF TRUMP AND KAVANAUGH.

AND IT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL IF IT CHANGED.

>> GUEST: YEAH, THIS COULD BE A BREAKTHROUGH.

THESE MILLENIALS COULD BREAK THROUGH THEIR AGE GROUP OR THE AGE GROUP OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE THEM.

AND I THINK THERE ARE TWO FACTORS.

I THINK TRUMP HAS BEEN WAKING THEM UP ALL OF THIS TIME, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND IN THE CASE OF OF KAVANAUGH, THIS IS SEXUAL ASSAULT.

AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE WOMEN FEEL PRESSURE MORE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT CAMPUS LIFE AND HOW THESE ISSUES ARE SURGING AMONG YOUNG WOMEN, I THINK KAVANAUGH HAS DONE THEM, A, QUOTE, FAVOR.

>> BONNIE: DO YOU THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE IT BACK AFTER NOVEMBER 26th?

>> WHICH 23 SEATS TO GO AND WE HAVE MAYBE TRIPLE THAT AVAILABLE TO US.

I THINK WE'LL GET BACK THE HOUSE FOR SURE.

THE SENATE SEEMED MORE PROBLEMATIC, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING ALREADY, BONNIE, IS THAT THE BUMP THAT KAVANAUGH GAVE AWAY -- THE DEMOCRATS ARE ONCE AGAIN SHOWING A SURGE.

AND I BELIEVE WE'LL SEE IT IN THE SENATE.

IT WILL TAKE LONGER TIME, IT'S A MUCH HARDER HOUSE, IT'S A MUCH CLOSER HOUSE, BUT WATCH THE SENATE.

AND DON'T WRITE THE SENATE OFF.

>> GUEST: ISN'T IT HARD, YOU'RE A POLITICAL CONSULTANT, ISN'T IT HARDER TO SAY TO PEOPLE, WELL, WE WON, NOW GET OUT AND VOTE!

THAN IT IS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE LOST, YOU GUYS HAVE -- YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN HANGING BACK AND YOU CAN'T HANG BACK ANYMORE, YOU'RE GOING TO START LOSING YOUR RIGHTS.

>> GUEST: YEAH, TRADITIONALLY, THE MIDTERMS ARE ABOUT THE CURRENT PARTY IN POWER, BUT THE TRUMP RALLIES ARE INCESS TANT.

THERE ARE SO MANY RALLIES.

AND HE GETS THE BULLY PULPIT AND SOAP BOX TO STAND ON, AND ESSENTIALLY SPREADS MISTRUTHS AND FALSEHOODS AND FILLS HIS BASE WITH THE WORRY THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE COMING FOR YOU.

THEY ARE ENDANGER YOUR WAY OF LIFE.

LOOK WHAT THEY DID TO THIS INNOCENT MAN.

THAT'S TRUMP'S PLAYBOOK AND HE'S GOING TO RUN IT RAGGED THE NEXT 20-SOME DAYS.

>> BONNIE: ARE REPUBLICAN WOMEN ANY MORE SENSITIVE TO HAVING BEEN SEXUALLY ACCOSTED OR ASSAULTED OR RAPED EVEN THAN -- SO THEY -- THEY FELT FOR KAVANAUGH DURING THE HEARINGS, AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL FOR DR. BLASEY FORD.

WHY IS THAT?

>> GUEST: OKAY, SO TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT DR. BLASEY FORD AND EMPATHY FOR HER, WHAT I HEARD FROM THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN THE AFTERMATH, IT WAS VERY MUCH SUSAN COLLINS' RESPONSE ON A SUNDAY SHOW, WHEN I HEARD HER RESPONSE I WAS NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE A NUMBER OF THE HIGHLY-EDUCATED REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WHO GREW UP IN THE ELITIST MIDATLANTIC AREAS HAVE GIVEN ME.

AND I PUSHED BACK AND SAID -- WELL, THEY WENT FURTHER AND SAID, DOESN'T SHE SEEM UNHINGED TO YOU?

AND I SAID, SHE'S SITTING IN FRONT OF CAMERAS, SHE WOULD BE UNHINGED.

WE BELIEVE HER, BUT WE DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS BRETT KAVANAUGH WHO DID IT TO HER.

>> GUEST: CAN I SAY SOMETHING?

THAT IS SO OFFENSIVE.

SUSAN COLLINS SAYING THAT AND THE REPUBLICANS, YOU'RE SAYING, I BELIEVE YOU BUT DON'T BELIEVE YOU.

BECAUSE DR. FORD SAID I'M 100%.

>> BONNIE: DID SHE LOOK UNHINGED TO YOU.

>> NO, THAT IS SO OFFENSIVE.

CAN WE SEE WHO LOOK UNHINGED?

AND THREW A TANTRUM?

>> GUEST: IF A WOMAN HAD BEHAVED LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

BY THE WAY, THIS WASN'T A CRIMINAL TRIAL, THIS WAS AN INTERVIEW FOR A JOB PROMOTION.

I MEAN, UNBELIEVABLE.

>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT CRIMINAL TRIAL, THAT'S WHAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT ARE DOING ON BOTH SIDES, BUT THE RIGHT ESPECIALLY IS USING DUE-PROCESS AND SAYING THAT HE WAS DENYING THAT RIGHT.

BUT IF YOU SPEAK TO SOME LEGAL MINDS WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD, THEY SAY, IF YOU WANT TO GET LEGAL ABOUT IT, AND I'M SURE YOU WOULD WEIGH IN WITH YOUR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE, BUT HER TESTIMONY -- I GUESS THE WORD SHE GAVE IN THE PRIVATE MEETING SHE HAD WITH THE COUNSELOR OR MARRIAGE COUNSELOR IT WAS, SOME MANY YEARS AGO, SAYING IT WAS BRETT KAVANAUGH THAT ASSAULTED HER, THAT COULD BE TAKEN AS EVIDENCE IF THIS WERE A COURT OF LAW.

BUT IT WASN'T.

>> BONNIE: RATHER THAN REHASHING -- AND I WANT TO BRING ALICE IN HERE, BLUE WAVE OR RED WAVE OF WOMEN IN NOVEMBER?

>> I THINK JUST THE FACT THAT WOMEN DO FAVOR DEMOCRATS THIS YEAR SUGGESTS THAT -- THE PINK WAVE IS BLUE.

BUT ALSO -- >> THAT MAKES PURPLE.

>> GOOD POINT.

WELL, NOT PURPLE IN THE SENSE THAT WE USUALLY USE IT, BUT ANYWAY, I THINK -- I THINK, THOUGH, THAT AS YOU WERE SAYING, THERE'S A REAL CHANCE THAT THE KAVANAUGH CONFIRMATION WE ARE KERFOFFLE, THAT SHOWED THEM WHY THEY DIDN'T LIKE DEMOCRATS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

THE REASON DEMOCRATS ARE SO EMOTIONAL, WHATEVER YOU SAY ABOUT TRUMP, HE'S SUCH A GOOD MESSENGER AND THE SOUND BITES ARE SO GOOD.

>> ABOUT THE WORST MESSAGE YOU CAN SEND IS TRUMP IS ON THE BALLOT.

HE KEEPS SAYING HE'S ON THE BALLOT.

IF YOU THINK THAT DOESN'T REAR UP WOMEN TO SAY, O, REALLY?

I FORGOT THAT FOR A MOMENT, AND PARTICULARLY, THIS NOTION OF -- COMES DOWN TO CREDIBILITY.

>> YES.

>> WHEN A WOMAN SAYS, ON A QUESTION OF ASSAULT, I'M 100% SURE WHO ASSAULTED ME.

I ASK YOU, YOU CAN FORGET A LOT OF THINGS, WOULD YOU FORGET WHO ASSAULTED YOU?

WHEN SHE COMES DOWN TO HAVING A POLYGRAPH, WHICH IS UNNECESSARY, AND OFTEN UNRELIABLE TO TAKE THE RISK OF HAVING A POLYGRAPH, IT COMES DOWN TO BE TREATED FOR AN ASSAULT THAT WENT ON SOME YEARS AGO, WHICH IS IN HER FAVOR.

BECAUSE IT LASTS SO LONG.

ON A QUESTION OF CREDIBILITY, I WOULD ASK THE AVERAGE PERSON TO SAY TO SUSAN COLLINS, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR SUCH A WOMAN TO BE CREDIBLE TO YOU?

AND I TELL YOU, IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT CREDIBLE, WATCH OUT WOMEN OF AMERICA.

NOBODY WILL HAVE THAT KIND OF EVIDENCE OR VERY FEW PEOPLE WILL IN THE FUTURE.

>> THIS IS WHY WOMEN DON'T COME FORTH, BY THE WAY.

>> BONNIE: LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ON TWITTER @BONNIE.

THE NEW JUSTICE HIRED NEW LAW CLERKS, WHICH IS A FIRST FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

MEANWHILE, WITH A COURT THAT IS MAJORITY CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-ABORTION AND PRO-CHOICE ACTIVISTS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE COURT MAY OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.

THAT'S, OF COURSE, THE CASE THAT ESTABLISHED A NATIONWIDE RIGHT TO ABORTION.

ACTIVISTS ALSO WANT TO SEE IF THE COURT UPHOLDS STATE LAWS THAT RESTRICT ABORTIONS.

MEANWHILE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD ANNOUNCED A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PLAN CALLED CARE FOR ALL TO PROTECT ACCESS TO ABORTION.

IT WILL EXPAND SERVICES AT CLINICS IN STATES WHERE ABORTION IS LIKELY TO REMAIN LEGAL AND OFFER WOMEN SUPPORT TO TRAVEL TO THOSE CLINICS.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ALSO SAYS IT WILL WORK TO DESTIGMATIZE ABORTION AND FIGHT FOR PRO-CHOICE LEGISLATION.

ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISTS BELIEVE THERE ARE 13 ABORTION-RELATED CASES THAT COULD FIND THEIR WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT THIS TERM.

>> I COVERED THE SUPREME COURT IN THE LATE '90s, AND IT USED TO BE THE HERERY AMONG REPORTERS, AND EVEN IN TALKING TO THE JUSTICES WHOM WE HAD LIMITED ACCESS TO, THAT THEY WOULD NEVER OVERTURN -- IF THE REPUBLICANS GOT A MAJORITY, THEY WOULD NEVER THROW OUT ROE V. WADE, THEY WOULD JUST PUNCH SO MANY HOLES IN IT THAT IT WAS AS GOOD AS DEAD.

BUT NOW WITH THIS COURT, DO YOU BELIEVE THEY WILL JUST FLAT-OUT OVERTURN ROE?

BECAUSE IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF -- I MEAN, WITH TWO APPOINTEES BY THIS PRESIDENT, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

>> IT'S FAIR TO SEE THAT IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS.

WE KNOW THIS TOWN, IT IS VERY MUCH BUSINESS AS USUAL.

AND I THINK JUSTICE KAVANAUGH, THE NEWEST-SEATED JUSTICE, I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO DO IT.

I'M WITH LEEISA MURKOWSKI, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT HE'S NOT THE TYPE.

AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

HE'S GOT A MIXED BAG OF OPINIONS, BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT HE SEES IT AS PRECEDENT.

AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO OVERTURN THAT.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT HE SAID, THOUGH.

>> HE SAID DIFFERENT THINGSLE.

>> HE SAID HE WANTED TO OVERTURN IT.

HE -- THERE'S ONE OF HIS DECISIONS THAT MUST UPSET ANYONE WHERE EVEN A TEXAS COURT HAD FOUND THAT A JUVENILE COULD HAVE AN ABORTION.

AND HE TRIED TO DELAY THAT ABORTION IN ORDER TO KEEP IT IN HIS VIEW FROM HAPPENING AT ALL.

BUT THAT MAY SHOW THE WAY HE'S GOING TO RESPOND AS AN INCRIMINATE LIST KNOWING WHAT THE COURT IS DOING ALL ALONG, EATING AWAY AT ROE.

AND WATCH JOHN ROBERTS.

JOHN ROBERTS WANTS TO KEEP THE COURT A STABLE INSTITUTION, WANTS TO RESCUE IT FROM WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COURT WHOSE BONA FIDE IS GOING DOWN.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT LAWYERS ARE HANGING ON TO.

HE'S LOOKING AT HIS LEGACY, CLEARLY, WITH THE GAY MARRIAGE DECISION.

FOR EXAMPLE, BEING THE LEAD AUTHOR ON THAT DECISION.

AND SWINGING THE COURT WITH HIS VOTE.

>> AND HE'S NOT A SWING, HE'S NOT A SWING JUSTICE, BUT HE IS THE JUSTICE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

AND YOU'LL HAVE A COURT THAT IS ON THE BRINK, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY LOST CREDIBILITY IN THE WAY THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE DONE.

AND YOU WANT TO HOLD ON TO THIS INSTITUTION AS ABOVE THE FRAY.

>> NOW, DO YOU THINK PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS GIVING UP TOO MUCH BY SAYING THEY WILL ONLY -- THEY WILL MAINLY CONCENTRATE ON 18 OR 20 STATES?

>> I DON'T, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK -- >> YOU DON'T THINK THEY'RE GIVING UP ON ABORTION AS A NATIONAL RIGHT?

>> NO, NO, OF COURSE NOT.

I DON'T THINK PLANNED PARENTHOOD WOULD EVER DO THAT.

BUT I ALSO THINK, I'M NOT WORRIED AFTER SEEING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE KAVANAUGH HEARING, I'M NOT WORRIED SO MUCH ABOUT ROE BEING OVERTURNED.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE MESSAGE THIS IS GIVING GENERATIONS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

WHAT HIS ENTIRE HEARING SHOWED US, THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T COME FORWARD, YOU WILL NOT BE REWARDED.

YOUR LIFE WILL BE DESTROYED.

AND THE MAN IS GOING ON TO HAVE A PROMOTION.

SO I FEEL LIKE HE'S FOREVER GOING TO REPRESENT THAT FOR ME.

I MEAN, I ALWAYS EXPLAIN THE NEWS TO MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE I'M ON IT, AND I TALK ABOUT IT, BUT WITH THIS STORY, I REALLY KEPT IT AWAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT THAT IDEA TO EVEN ENTER HER HEAD THAT IF YOU COME FORWARD, NOT ONLY WILL PEOPLE NOT BELIEVE YOU, BUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES COULD MOCK YOU AT A RALLY.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THAT KAVANAUGH WILL GO WITH THE INFLUENCE?

>> I THINK SUSAN COLLINS HAD IT RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE DEMOCRATS SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT KENNEDY, THAT THIS WOULD DIE.

WE KNOW IT IS LIKELY AS LEGAL EXPERTS KNOW NOW, I GUESS, IT IS LIKELY TO HAVE THE SAME RESTRICTIONS COMING INSTEAD OF A FULL OVERTURN.

>> THAT IS NOT WHAT I HEAR NOW.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I HEAR FROM MY HUSBAND WHO HAS ARGUED A CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH HE WON, BY THE WAY, 9-0, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, AND HE'S IN WITH A BUNCH OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, THEY'RE THINKING THAT KAVANAUGH IS JUST GOING TO BE THE VOTE, UNLESS ROBERT SWITCHES FOR HIS LEGACY'S SAKE.

AND TO SAY, LET'S GET RID OF IT.

HE WAS SO BLATANTLY POLITICAL IN HIS TESTIMONY TO CITE THE CLINTON -- >> THAT WAS CRAZY.

>> THAT WAS OVER THE TOP.

>> YEAH, WHAT CONSERVATIVES WANT FROM IN AN OVERTURN OF RESTRICTIONS HAS BEEN NOT TO ABOLISH ABORTION BUT TO LET THE STATES LEGISLATE IT.

AND SO -- RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION COMING FROM THE SUPREME COURT, ABSENT AND OVERTURN OF ROE V. WADE, HAVEN'T BEEN OVERTURNED AT THE STATE LEVEL ANYWAY.

>> THAT'S KIND THE FALL-BACK -- >> BONNIE: ONE QUESTION TO YOU, ELEANOR, THE WAVE, ONE THING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING WITH THE SUPPOSED BLUE WAVE IS THAT A LOT OF STATE LEGISLATURES ARE GOING TO GO BLUE.

THEREFORE, THESE -- YOU KNOW, VERY DIFFICULT ANTI-ABORTION LAWS LIKE TEXAS HAS COME UP WITH, WHICH GOT THROWN OUT, BUT TELLING THE CLINICS THEY HAD TO BE BUILT TO HOSPITAL STANDARDS, SO ZONING STANDARDS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO PUT CLINICS OUT OF BUSINESS, THAT THOSE -- THAT WITH STATE LEGISLATURES THAT ARE DEMOCRATIC, THOSE PROBLEMS FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD WILL GO AWAY.

>> WELL, THAT'S MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT YOU CAN MAKE, BONNIE.

THE CORRECTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL COULD TAKE PLACE NOW.

BECAUSE THOSE CORRECTIONS ARE THERE, BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT HASN'T ACCEPTED ANY OF THAT.

SO IT'S LEFT IN PLACE ALL KINDS OF HORRIFIC END ROWS, I MEAN, HEARTBEAT OF A FETUS AND YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ABORTION.

SO THOSE WOMEN HAVE ALREADY HAD TO GO TO OTHER STATES.

SO I DO THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATIC WAVE IN THE STATES WILL BE THE FIRST YOU WILL FEEL.

AND THAT THE COURT WILL COME MUCH LATER.

>> BONNIE: BEHIND THE HEADLINES, MORE THAN 30 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S.

CURRENTLY SUFFER FROM AN EATING DISORDER.

THE MOST COMMON EATING DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY RECURRENT EPISODES OF EATING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD, IS ALSO THE NEWEST BEING RECOGNIZED BY PSYCHIATRISTS.

>> BING-EATING DISORDER IS THE MOST COMMON DISORDER, BUT IT'S THE LEAST TALKED ABOUT.

IT'S THE NEWEST EATING DISORDER DIAGNOSIS IN THE DSM-5.

AND YET IT IS 2 1/2 TIMES MORE PREVALENT THAN ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA COMBINED.

>> IN "THE WEIGHT OF BEING," KARA RICHARDSON WHITELY WRITES ABOUT THE STRUGGLES SHE HAS FACED SINCE CHILDHOOD WITH EATING ABILITY HER DISORDER, AND HOW HER PEERS TREATED HER BECAUSE OF HER WEIGHT.

>> I HAVE LIVED AN ENTIRE LIFE OF FAT SHAMING.

I'VE BEEN BULLIED AS A KID.

IN "WEIGHT OF BEING" I TALK ABOUT EVEN BEING SHOT BY A BB-GUN BY TEENAGERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD JUST BECAUSE I'M TAKING A WALK.

I WAS A TARGET.

>> BONNIE: BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE WAS A MOTHER TO FACE THE ISSUE STRAIGHT-ON.

SHE DECIDED SHE NEEDED TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES TO SAVE HERSELF AND HER FAMILY.

>> GUEST: IT STARTS IN THIS MOMENT WHERE I'M AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE WITH MY DAUGHTER, AND I NOTICE THAT MY DAUGHTER'S WEIGHT IS VERY DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE OVERWEIGHT ZONE.

AND I FEAR THAT I'M THE PERSON WHO MAKES THAT HAPPEN, AND SO INSTEAD OF JUST POINTING THE FINGER AT MY KIDS, I POINT THE FINGER INWARD AT MYSELF AND LOOK AT THE THINGS I COULD DO TO MAKE CHANGE IN MY FAMILY.

>> BONNIE: SOME OF RICHARDSON WHITELY'S STEPS WERE SMALL, SUCH AS STARTING A COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOT AND STARTING TO HIKE.

OTHERS WERE MORE COMPLICATED, SUCH AS HAVING STOMACH SURGERY AND GOING TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO SPECIALIZED IN BING-EATING DISORDER.

>> GUEST: AND I STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHT.

AND I ALSO STRUGGLED WITH A LOT OF SELF-WORTH AND KNOWING THERE WAS SOMETHING BEYOND JUST A DIET PLAN TO DEAL WITH WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH.

I MADE A DEAL WITH MYSELF THAT IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE BARIATRIC SURGERY, THAT I WAS ALSO GOING TO TAKE THE THERAPY, THE EATING-DISORDER THERAPY AS SERIOUS AS THE SURGICAL EATING PROCESS.

>> BONNIE: ALTHOUGH BINGE-EATING DISORDER HAS GOTTEN MORE ATTENTION RECENTLY, EXPERTS SAY LITTLE SEEMS TO BE DONE TO PREVENT CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM DEVELOPING NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOOD.

ONE PROBLEM ARE SO-CALLED FOOD DESERTS WHERE PEOPLE LIVING IN POOR COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD.

>> WE AS A NATION STRUGGLE WITH FOOD DESERTS AND ISSUES AS INCOME INEQUALITY AND BEING ABLE TO EVEN FIND THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOOD, TO HELP ONE FEEL HEALTHY AND WHOLE AND NOURISHED.

I HOPE WE START TO CHANGE THAT THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO ALLOW FOOD TO ENTER IN THOSE AREAS WHERE IT'S HARD TO FIND FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLE.

BECAUSE FOR ME PERSONALLY, THAT HAS BEEN REALLY A PART OF MY OWN SUCCESS.

>> BONNIE: TO COMBAT FAT SHAMING, ACTIVISTS HAVE LAUNCHED THE BODY POSITIVITY MOVEMENT WHICH SAYS PEOPLE OF ALL BODY TYPES SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AND APPRECIATED.

RICHARDSON WHITELY SAYS SHE SUPPORTS THE MOVEMENT, BUT ADDS THAT SOMETIMES LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF MEANS GETTING THE HELP YOU NEED.

>> GUEST: THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK N THE BODY POSITIVITY MOVEMENT IS KNOWING WHEN YOU'RE WELL AND WHEN YOU'RE SICK.

BODY POSITIVITY FOR ME MEANT THAT I HAD COURAGE AND THE SELF-WORTH TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> BONNIE: SO THE BODY POSITIVITY MOVEMENT, IS IT THE RIGHT TRACK TO ALLOW -- LET'S FACE IT, IT'S MAINLY WOMEN, YOU KNOW, MORE WOMEN ARE POOR, MORE WOMEN ARE OBESE THAN MEN, IS IT RIGHT TO SAY, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL?

OR SHOULD -- SHOULD YOU SAY, MAKE SURE YOU'RE HEALTHY?

AND, YOU KNOW, GO TO A DOCTOR, GET CHECKED, SEE WHAT YOUR VITAL -- YOU KNOW, HOW YOU'RE DOING, AND WORK TO MAKE YOUR HEALTH THE MAIN POINT?

>> GUEST: YEAH, I TOTALLY THINK SO.

BUT IT'S HARD FOR WOMEN, NOT ONLY BECAUSE WHAT EVERYONE IS TELLING US.

BUT AFTER YOU BECOME A MOTHER, YOU HAVE ONE KID AND ANOTHER.

WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THIS.

IT'S SO FUNNY, I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF THE OTHER DAY, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO LOOK LIKE, AND I WANT TO HAVE THE BODY BACK WHEN I WAS 20, BUT NOW I'M ALMOST 40 AND HAVE TWO KIDS.

THAT'S NOT REALISTIC.

SO IT'S SO FUNNY, I WAS THINKING WITH ALL THE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS I HAD AFTER BECOMING A MOM, I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE MY HEALTH.

WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT THAT WAIST I HAD WHEN I -- MY BODY HAS DONE SUCH AMAZING THINGS SINCE.

SO DEFINITELY HEALTH.

>> WE SEE THIS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE DIET INDUSTRY, THE PIVOT FROM A PARENT TO WELLNESS.

WEIGHT WATCHERS JUST CHANGED ITS NAME FOR A REASON.

AND I THINK THAT'S -- YEAH, IT'S COMMERCIAL, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IN RESPONSE TO THE WAY THE CULTURAL IS SHIFTING.

AND I THINK IT IS RIGHT THAT THE CULTURE IS SHIFTING THAT WAY.

>> THERE'S A BIGGER-THAN-LIFE IMAGE OF A WOMAN SLIM THAT IS A LOT TO OVERCOME.

AND THIS IS A WOMAN THAT HAS TO GROW AND BE LED BY WOMEN.

IF THEY GET OUT IN FRONT WITH IT, THEY CAN SUCCEED, BUT LOOK FOR THAT TO TAKE -- GIVEN HOLLYWOOD AND TV, YEARS.

>> BONNIE: WHAT ABOUT BODY SHAMING?

OBVIOUSLY, THAT NEEDS TO GO, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH A PART OF OUR CULTURE?

>> AND AGAIN, AS LONG AS THE IMAGE OF WHO YOU SHOULD BE, SLIMMER THAN SLIM, BODY SHAMING COMES WITH IT.

>> BONNIE: THEN WE HAVE TO GET THE FASHION INDUSTRY IN ON THIS.

>> THEY WILL NOT CHANGE.

>> THEY SHOW WOMEN THAT LOOK LIKE HANGER.

>> FORGET THAT, LOOK AT BEYONCE AND CARDIB AND TAYLOR SWIFT, KIM KARDASHIAN, THESE WOMEN HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES FINANCIALLY TO MAKE THE BODIES LOOK JUST THE WAY THEY WANT.

KIM KARDASHIAN PRIMARILY THAT, SHE'S INVESTED SO MUCH INTO HAVING WHAT SHE THINKS IS THE PERFECT PHYSIQUE.

WE ASPIRE FOR THAT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN THROWN IN OUR FACES SINCE WE ARE WERE KIDS, GROWING UP IN RURAL AMERICA, I LOOKED AT GLAMOUR.

>> MAKE YOUR BODY A CERTAIN WAY, WHETHER IT WAS THIN BACK IN THE '90s OR HAVE IT BE CURVY AND PERFECT RIGHT NOW.

GO GET SOME WHATEVER THE LATEST TREATMENT IS.

THAT KIND OF THING.

IT'S A SHAME.

>> BONNIE: THANK YOU, ALL.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

WHETHER YOU THINK "TO THE CONTRARY," WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

FOUNDATION AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ONLINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.