>> BONNIE: THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY: FIRST, PAYCHECK FAIRNESS, PAID LEAVE AND CHILDCARE PROPOSALS TO WOO WOMEN VOTERS.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: ONE YOUNG LADY'S QUEST TO BECOME AN EAGLE SCOUT.

>> BONNIE: HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, WOMEN'S WORK AND POLITICS.

>> BONNIE: REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY CAMPAIGNING FOR WOMEN'S VOTES EVEN THOUGH ELECTIONS ARE 18 MONTHS AWAY.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND DEMOCRATIC MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN ANNOUNCED A $700 BILLION PLAN HELP MOTHERS RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

HER PLAN WOULD OFFER FREE CHILD CARE TO FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN TWICE THE POVERTY LINE OR LESS THAN $51,000 ANNUALLY FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

E'D PAY FOR IT BY LEVYING A 2% TAX ON NET WORTH OF MORE THAN $50 MILLION AND AN ADDED 1% TAX ON NET WORTH ABOVE $1 BILLION.

ANOTHER 2020 HOPEFUL, KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, HAS REINTRODUCED THE FAMILY ACT.

THE BILL WOULD GUARANTEE UP TO 12 WEEKS OFF, WITH UP TO TWO-THIRDS PAY, FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

A REPUBLICAN PAID LEAVE ALTERNATIVE, WRITTEN BY SENATORS MARCO RUBIO OF FLORIDA AND MITT ROMNEY OF UTAH, WHICH ALLOWS NEW PARENTS TO BORROW AGAINST THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE.

THE BILL WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PULL FORWARD UP TO THREE MONTHS OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO USE FOR LEAVE FOLLOWING THE BIRTH, OR ADOPTION, OF A CHILD.

THEY'D IN RETURN GET LOWER SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WHEN THEY RETIRED TO PAY BACK WHAT THEY HAD USED FOR CHILD CARE.

MEANWHILE, THE HOUSE PASSED THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT WITH THE AIM OF CLOSING THE GENDER WAGE GAP.

THE VOTE WAS SPLIT ALONG PARTY LINES, WITH ONLY SEVEN REPUBLICANS JOINING 235 DEPUTIES IN FAVOR.

>> SO GENEVIEVE WOOD, REPUBLICANS FOR PAID FAMILY LEAF.

WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> YOU SOUND SO SURPRISED.

IT IS FOR 2019.

THEY SHOULD BE FOR FAMILY LEAF.

THE QUESTION IS WHO SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT.

>> THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AND WE SEE A BACK DOOR PLAN TO KILL SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN WHITE HOUSE WHO IS INTERESTED IN TRYING TO BUILD BRIMS ON THE ISSUE AND REPUBLICANS ARE SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING FORTH THEIR OWN PROPOSALS.

>> CHIPPING WAY SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT THE ANSWER TO OUR FAILURE TO JOIN THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS ALWAYS IVANKA TRUMP'S DOING?

>> I'M SAYING I WORKED WITH CONSTITUENTS THE LAST SIX YEARS ON THEHILL AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT TO DO SOMETHING IN A SPACE IS CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY PARTICULARLY FOR SENATORS AND REPUBLICANS.

THE FAMILY ACT IS MOVING FORWARD IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE OF DEPUTIES INTEREST IN THE ISSUE IS ALLOWING THEM TO RESPOND TO THE PROPOSALS THAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW ON THE TABLE.

>> BUT ERIN IF YOU'RE POOR ENOUGH TO HAVE TO BORROW AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY THINK IT ALLOWS ONLY 3 MONTHS AND BABIES USUAL LIVE A LITTLE LONGER THAN 3 MONTHS, SO -- THEN IF -- HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT YOUR RETIREMENT WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY, THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A CHUNK OUT EACH MONTH FOR PAY BACK.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A SNEAKY PLAN OUT OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DISIMAGINE SOCIAL SECURITY FOR YEARS.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE GET SICK WHEN THEY GET OLD.

WE MAY HAVE THIS IDYLLIC IDEA OF RETIREMENT.

AT THIS AGE I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING I LIKE WITH MY WE HAVE LIFE.

THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS OFTENTIMES.

THIS IS A WAY OF PEOPLE HAVE UNKNOWNS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO STOP WORKING AND WHEN THEY MAY BE INJURED AND TO DEFER THAT AND IT IS NOT JUST DEFERRAL.

I NOTICE THIS VERY SNEAKY BILL ALSO JUST SAID HOW ABOUT WE CAN ALSO REDUCE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

WE SHOULD NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.

>> >> BONNIE: GENEVIEVE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE AGREEMENT HERE.

I DON'T THINK IT IS BACK DOOR TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY BUT A BAD WAY OF GOING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SOCIAL SECURITY I THINK AS ALL OF US KNOW IS NOT ON SOLID FINANCIAL FOOTING RIGHT NOW.

>> >> BONNIE: IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN ADDITION TO ONE LEG OF A THREE-LEGGED STOOL BUT -- >> MANY AMERICANS IT IS THEIR ONLY LEG.

WE HAVE GONE THE OTHER DIRECTION.

SOCIAL SECURITY WAS CREATED ORIGINALLY FOR A MUCH SMALLER POPULATION WHO READED REALLY NEEDED HELP TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

BASICALLY ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS ARE PULLING SOMETHING OUT OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU HAVE A SHAKY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT IS ALREADY NOT FUNDED CORRECTLY AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SAY PEOPLE COME IN AND TAKE MONEY OUT OF IT.

I'M ALL FOR LOOKING AT WAYS LET'S LOOSEN REGULATIONS ON PEOPLE'S PRIVATE 401(K) IF YOU WANT TO DO IT EARLY AND NOT BE PENALIZED.

CURRENTLY ONE I THINK OUT OF THREE AMERICANS WANT PAID FAMILY LEAVE HAVE IT FROM THEIR EMPLOYER.

IT IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN WHAT GOVERNMENT PAID LEAVE WOULD BE.

WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO ENCOURAGE MORE OF THAT NOT GO AFTER THINGS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS THAT DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

>> BONNIE: YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THIS YOU SAY WITH -- ON FAMILY LEAVE FOR REPUBLICANS FOR SIX YEARS.

BUT UP UNTIL QUITE RECENTLY FAMILY -- REPUBLICANS ARE NOT OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT PAID FAMILY LEAVE UNTIL IVANKA TRUMP SURFACED.

SO BUT WHY -- THIS IS A HUGE CHANGE IN POLICY FOR THE PARTY.

>> I THINK THE RECOGNITION AMONGST REPUBLICANS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH WE ME TO TO DO SOMETHING IN THE SPACE WHERE THE PRIVATE SECTOR HASN'T SUCCEEDED.

THE STATISTICS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACCESS TO PAID LEAVE ARE DRAMATIC.

THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HAVE FOR THEIR EMPLOYER IS NOT A GOOD ASSUMPTION OR ACCURATE.

IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE HELPED FACILITATE TO SOME EXTENT THERE IS A NEED IN SOME CAPACITY FOR FEDERAL SOLUTION AND SOME SORT OF FEDERAL BACKSTOP FOR THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION THAT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR EMPLOYER.

WHAT I WILL I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF WORK AROUND PULLING RESEARCH AND TWO THING I SAY ONE WE FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS INDEPENDENCE AND DEMOCRATS SUPPORT AWE COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF PROPOSES OUT THERE BY REPUBLICANS NOW FOCUSED ON PAID PARENTAL LEAVE GIVING FORM OF A STOP IN THE NEAR TERM.

THE OTHER POINT -- >> SAYING MOST REPUBLICANS NOW WANT PAID FAMILY LEAVE -- >> 75%.

>> BONNIE: TAKING CARE OF A FAMILY MEMBER.

>> THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

75% RECOGNIZE THAT.

WHAT IS INTERESTING WHEN YOU PULL -- >> BONNIE: 3 MONTHS AGAINST YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU.

>> THERE IS ONE IN OUR POLLING DATA THE THING THAT PULLED THE LOWEST IN PAID FOR IN TERMS OF AN OPTION TO PAY FOR A PROPOSAL WAS TO PAY FOR IT AND THE OTHER POINT I'LL MAKE ON THE CARE GIVING FRONT AS BABY BOOMERS RETIRE AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE FACED WITH CHOICES TAKING CARE OF AN AGING PARENT OR FAMILY MEMBER OR OWN PERSONAL MEDICAL NEEDS I THINK REPUBLICANS AN CONGRESS ARE STARTING TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISPACE OF THAT PUZZLE IN ADDITION TO THE POD PARENTAL THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> BONNIE: FEMALE VOTERS PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A VERY LARGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WANT TO DO AND WHAT THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE WANT TO DO AND WHAT I GUESS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GOING LONG WITH.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE GOVERNMENT TAXES HIGH -- HIGH-END INDIVIDUALS TO PAY FOR -- TO PAY FOR POOR PEOPLE'S OR MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE'S CHILD CARE AND AS FAR AS THE DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED AND THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO JUST LET YOU BORROW AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY FOR 3 MONTHS.

>> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THING GOING ON HERE BOTH FROM REPUBLICANS AN DEMOCRATS AND THEY REALIZED THAT -- >> BONNIE: THE WHOLE POINT IS 2020, ROUTE?

SO THAT -- HOW MANY WOMEN ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEIR PROGRAMS?

>> I DID NOT SURE WHEN THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT YET BUT THEY WILL.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE WAS THE REPUBLICAN PLAN AROUND THEIR FAMILY LEAVE PLAN IS SET FOR WOMEN.

SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THEM MAY BE THE ONLY OPTION THAT THEY HAVE INTO THEIR OLDER YEARS.

THEY ARE OFTEN LEFT BEHIND AS THE ONLY SURVIVOR AND SO THEY WILL BEGIN TO PAY ATTENTION WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO WIDDLE AWAY AT WHAT IT ALREADY IS A VERY TENUOUS BENEFIT AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES IS GOING TO BE TO HIGHLIGHT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO WOMEN.

I WAS OBVIOUSLY MOST EXPRESSED WITH THE CHILD CARE PROPOSAL FROM ELIZABETH WARREN BECAUSE RIGHT NOW CHILD CARE IS ONE OF THE SINGLE LARGEST EXPENSES BEHIND HOUSING FOR MOST FAMILIES AND PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN.

IN MARYLAND WOMEN PAY -- FAMILIES PAY TWICE AS MUCH FOR CHILD CARE AS THEY DO FOR AVERAGE COLLEGE TUITION.

AND SO THIS REALLY SPEAKS TO THE CONCERNS THAT WOMEN HAVE AND THE RECOGNITION THAT REPUBLICANS AN DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE COMPETING FOR WOMEN'S VOTES.

>> I THINK THAT THE DEBATE HAS TO BE I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT VOTERS CARE ABOUT THIS.

AND CITIZENS CARE ABOUT THIS AND -- >> BONNIE: IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE TO FOLLOW.

>> IT IS COMPLICATE TO FOLLOW.

THE DEBATE NEEDS TO BE LOOK WE NEED BRING DOWN THE COST OF CHILD CARE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE REGULATIONS WE PUT ON THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY THAT MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE.

THAT MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH IT.

MAIN IT IS.

WE NEED THAT DEBATE TO HAVE NOT LIKE SHALL WE TRY TO LOWER THE COST OF CHILD CARE.

OF COURSE WE SHOULD.

BECAUSE IT IS KEEPING WOMEN IN MANY CASES OUT OF THE WORKFORCE OR MAKING OUT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO -- >> BONNIE: BUT REGULATIONS ARE THERE FOR -- SOME OF THE LAW WAS PASSED IN REACTION TO SOME DISASTER THAT HAPPENED.

TAKE AWAY THE RANTS BUT -- BUT TAKE WAY REGULATIONS FIRST OF ALL I DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CUT THE COST OF CHILD CARE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE BY ANY STRETCH OF THE -- >> THOSE ARE THE STUDIES AND THE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES WE OUGHT TO BE HAVING.

I DON'T THINK IT OUGHT TO BE WHO IS FOR OR AGAINST LOWERING COST OF CHILD CARE.

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE.

>> POT FORWARD.

>> BONNIE: ERIN.

>> SOMEBODY THAT JUST BROUGHT A CHILD INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OUT OF DAY CARE THE LAST THING I WANT IS A HEYER RATIO OF STUDENTS TO TEACHERS RIGHT NOW OR TO LOOK AT STRIPPING WAY REGULATIONS ABOUT THE HEALTHY FOOD.

AS BONNIE POINTED OUT I DON'T THINK OF THAT IS GOING TO LOWER THE COST.

I THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

I THINK THAT CHILD CARE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I TOO WAS EXCITE BY SENATOR WARRENS PROPOSAL.

>> BONNIE: MORE THAN SENATOR GILIBRAND IN?

>> SENATOR GILIBRAND'S PROPOSAL IS EXCITING AND SHE IDENTIFIED NOT JUST PARENTAL LEAVE WE NEED TO PROVIDE TO ALL EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR CARE GIVING.

PEOPLE MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EVENT OF THEIR OWN.

I THINK WHAT IS INGENIOUS ABOUT THAT PLAN ACTUALLY IT DOESN'T ADD SUBSTANTIAL COST AND IT DOESN'T DEDUCT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY.

WE'RE TALKING MAYBE FOUR BUCKS A WEEK BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.

THAT IS AFFORDABLE.

>> BONNIE:LET GET TO THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT WHICH THE HOUSE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

I ASSUME THAT MEANS IT WON'T GET THROUGH THE SENATE BUT IF THERE WERE LAWS TO PAY PEOPLE IN THE SAME JOB WITH THE SAME CREDENTIALS, EVENLY, WOULD THAT GET RID OF THE NEED FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE BECAUSE WOMEN WOULD THEN BE EARNING MORE MONEY?

>> WELL, IT WOULDN'T GET RID OF THE NEED BUT CERTAINLY HELP.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT SECURITY.

YOU GET THOSE EARNINGS IN EARLY BECAUSE YOU'RE PAID THE SAME AS SOMEBODY ELSE WHO IS DOING THE SAME JOB THEN IT MEANS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD YOUR INCOME AND TO BUILD YOUR RETIREMENT SECURITY AND SO IT GOES TO A WHOLE SET OF ISSUES THAT MAY LOWER SOME COSTS BUT IT STILL WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEED FOR QUALITY AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE CHILD CARE AND FAMILY LEAVE.

>> BONNIE: DO YOU THINK IF THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT OR LAW OR IF THERE WERE EQUAL PAY I READ RECENTLY A STUDY THAT SAID WOMEN EARN $81,000 LESS OVER THEIR LIFETIMES BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, PAY GENDER DISCRIMINATION.

I ACTUALLY FOUND THAT REALLY LOW FIGURE.

BUT I THINK IT IS WAY MORE IN REALITY.

>> WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

I DISAGREE WITH THE WAY SOME OF THOSE SUMS COME TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU HAVE WOMEN WITH THE SAME BACKGROUND, SAME EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND WORKFORCE AND SAME JOB YOU SEE MEN AND WOMEN MAKING THE SAME NUMBERS.

SO I DISAGREE THAT THERE IS A DISPARITY WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT.

IN FACT, YOUNG WOMEN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 147 OUT OF THE 150 LARGEST CITIES IN AMERICA YOUNG WOMEN COMING OUT OF COLLEGE ARE MAKING 8% MORE THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPART.

WE BETTER BE CAREFUL WHAT WE WISH FOR HERE IF WE'RE GETTING ON THE OTHER SIZED IT.

OH MY GOODNESS IT HAS NOT BEEN THAT MANY YEARS SINCE I WAS WORKING IN THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY AND ONE TOMB I ASKED A PERSON WHY I HAD A MALE COUNTERPART WHO HAD THE SAME JOB AND I ASKED WHY I HAD NEVER BEEN PROMOTED WHILE I WAS THERE.

I SUCCEEDED IN MY JOB AND WE WON AWARDS AND THIS WAS GREAT.

MY FRIEND THIS WAS AFTER I LEFT THE ANTICIPATION JUST LOOKED AT ME AND SAID DUH, YOU'RE A GIRL.

IT JUST SET ME BACK EVEN MYSELF AS A FEMINIST SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN OUT AND ABOUT YOU THIS READIZE THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO YOU WHILE THEY'RE HAPPENING.

OF COURSE I'M NOT IN MY 20S ANY MORE BUT NOT BEEN THAT LONG.

NO, I DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

>> WHILE THOSE NUMBERS ARE TRUE IN THE EARLY YEARS THEY THEN QUICKLY BEGIN TO DECLINE OVER THE COURSE OF A WOMAN'S LIFE SO YOU REALLY -- >> ONLY IF WE MAKE DIFFERENCE" DIFFERENT CHOICES.

>> YOU ALSO TO HAVE LOOK AT THE DISPARITIES WITH BLACK WOMEN, WITH HISPANIC WOMEN.

THE ONLY WOMEN WHO SURVIVE THOSE NUMBERS ARE ASIAN WOMEN.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS OVER THE COURSE OF A WOMAN'S LIFETIME AND OVER THE COURSE OF HER -- >> AND THE CHOICES SHE MY KNOWLEDGE THE LIFETIME IN HER CAREER.

REALITIES IF MEN AND WOMEN DO THE SAME JOB PUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF HOURS IN HAVE THE SAME EDUCATIONAL TYPE BACKGROUND GOING INTO IT THEY ARE MAKING THE SAME.

IF SOMEBODY A MAN OR WOMAN TAKES TIME OFF MAYBE THEY'RE GOING TO BE WITH A SICK PARENT OR MAYBE THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF CHIRP AND THEY COME OUT OF THE WORKFORCE YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU LOSE TIME IN THAT SPACE.

IF YOU COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES IT IS THE SAME.

>> BONNIE: LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

OR TO THE CONTRARY.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: THE BOY SCOUTS ARE NOW FULLY ACCEPTING GIRLS.

HAVING WELCOMED GIRLS INTO THE CUB SCOUTS PROGRAM LAST YEAR, THE BOY SCOUTS NOW WILL ACCEPT GIRLS INTO THEIR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN RENAMED SCOUTS BSA.

WE SPEAK TO SYDNEY IRELAND, WHO IS TRYING TO BECOME ONE OF THE FIRST GIRLS TO ACHIEVE THE RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT.

>> WHEN SHOW COD MY OFFICE THEY WERE CHANGING THEIR POLICY GOING FORWARD WE WENT TO THE FEARLESS GIRL DOWN AT WALL STREET.

AND CELEBRATED.

SHE'S DEFINITELY A FEARLESS GIRL.

SHE'S BROKEN DOWN A BARRIER FOR OTHER YOUNG WOMEN THAT COME AFTER HER.

SHE'S A ROLE MODEL ALREADY.

I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF HER.

>> SYDNEY: I'M WAITING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE NATIONAL BOY SCOUTS, AND I REALLY HOPE THEY RECOGNIZE MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OTHER YOUNG WOMEN THAT COMPLETED RANK AND REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.

>> BONNIE: SYDNEY IRELAND IS TRYING TO BECOME ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE EAGLE SCOUTS IN THE BOY SCOUTS PROGRAM, WHICH IS NOW CALLED SCOUTS BSA.

TO ACHIEVE THE RANK, THE SCOUT MUST EARN BADGES, SERVE AS A TROOP LEADER FOR SIX MONTHS, PARTICIPATE IN A CONFERENCE, AND COMPLETE A SERVICE PROJECT.

IRELAND HAS COMPLETED THE TASKS, BUT ONLY UNOFFICIALLY FOR THE MOMENT.

>> SYDNEY: WHEN I WAS 11, I UNOFFICIALLY ACHIEVED THE ARROW OF LIGHT, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARD IN THE CUB SCOUTS, AND THEN I REALLY WANTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM.

AND I, I REALIZED THAT GIRLS WEREN'T OFFICIALLY ALLOWED TO BE IN THE PROGRAM.

AND I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME FROM ACHIEVING THE EAGLE SCOUT AND IT WASN'T FAIR THAT ONLY MEN GOT TO ACHIEVE THAT.

>> BONNIE: IRELAND WAS NEW YORK MALONEY'S GUEST FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS THIS YEAR.

>> CAROLYN: I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING HER AND HER FAMILY, AND THEY REACHED OUT TO ME.

SHE REACHED OUT TO ME WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE BOY SCOUTS.

SO I JOINED HER PLIGHT, WRITING LETTERS, MAKING PHONE CALLS, ADVOCATING FOR HER TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AND TO BE AN EAGLE SCOUT.

AND SHE HAS COMPLETED THE WORK TO DO THAT.

>> THE BOY SCOUT'S CHANGE HAS BEEN CHALLENGED ON TWO FRONT.

ONE HAS COME FROM THE GIRL SCOUTS A SIMILAR BUT ENTIRELY SEPARATE ORGANIZATION.

SOME EXPERTS HAVE WONDERED WHETHER THE BOY SCOUT'S MOVE COULD BE THE DEATH NOW FOR THE GIRL SCOUTS BUT REPRESENTATIVE MALONEY, A FORMER GIRL SCOUT, TOLD US THOSE CONCERNS ARE OVERBLOWN.

>> CAROLYN: THE GIRL SCOUTS ARE ALIVE AND WELL, THRIVING AND GROWING, AND IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, BUT I GUESS YOU CAN SPEAK, WHY DID YOU WANT THE BOY SCOUTS AND NOT THE GIRL SCOUTS?

>> SYDNEY: YEAH, THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME FROM BEING A BOY SCOUT, AND THERE ARE GREAT ONES IN THE GIRL SCOUTS AS WELL, AND I THINK IT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION FOR SOME GIRLS.

BUT FOR ME THE BOY SCOUTS WAS THE SUITABLE OPTION, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT CHOICE FOR WOMEN.

>> BONNIE: THE OTHER BACKLASH AGAINST THE BOY SCOUTS' DECISION CAME FROM TRADITIONALISTS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION WHO REJECTED THE BIG CHANGES THE ORGANIZATION HAS MADE.

ACCORDING TO IRELAND'S FATHER, SHE HAS EVEN RECEIVED TARGETED HARASSMENT FROM SOME SCOUT MASTERS.

>> SYDNEY: WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SEE CHANGE SOMETIMES, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY NOW WITH YOUNG WOMEN BEING ABLE TO BE FULL MEMBERS OF SCOUTS.

AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE OF SCOUTING BECAUSE SO MANY AMAZING LEADERS COME OUT OF SCOUTING, AND THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR THEM A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

AND I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THE EAGLE AWARD AND HAVE OTHER YOUNG WOMEN ACHIEVE THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS HONOR.

>> BONNIE: SO FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA EDWARD, FIRST OF ALL I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU SORRY.

FIRST OF ALL, SINCE SHE WENT INTO THE BOY SCOUT'S SHOULD SHE NOT ACCEPT OR ACCEPT SUCH DISCRIMINATION AND SECONDLY I DON'T THE GIRL SCOUTS JUST CREATE AN HONOR THAT IS EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS FOR GIRLS WHO WANT TO GET IT AND WON'T HAVE TO BE FIGHTING TO GET IT.

>> DONNA: I'M GOING TO CONFESS I WAS A GIRL SCOUT.

ONCE A GIRL SCOUT AND ALWAYS A GIRL SCOUT.

IF SIDNEY WANTS THIS FOR HERSELF SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IT.

THE EAGLE SCOUT IS HIGHEST AWARD AND AS A GIRL SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT.

THE GIRL SCOUTS HAVE A GOLD AWARD.

WHEN YOU LOOK, WHEN YOU COMPARE THE REQUIREMENTS, THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE GOAD AWARD ACTUALLY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EAGLE SCOUT.

IT NEEDS TO BE PROMOTED AND ELEVATED, TOO, FOR THE GIRLS WHO WANT TO PURSUE GIRL SCOUTS THAT IS GREAT.

IF SIDNEY AND OTHER GIRLS WANT TO PURSUE THE EAGLE SCOUT AWARD WHICH DOES OPEN UP DOORS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND KIND OF A FRATERNITY OF EAGLE SCOUT AWARD THROUGHOUT INDUSTRY, MILITARY, YOU NAME IT, AND SO IT IS A PRESTIGIOUS HONOR AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT IF SHE'S ALLOWED INTO THE BOY SCOUT'S.

>> BONNIE: BUT SINCE THE GIRL SCOUTS HAS THE GOLD AWARD AS YOU DESCRIBED IT, WHY ISN'T THAT AT -- SCENE AS PRESTIGE IS AS BEING AN EAGLE SCOUT AND SECONDLY, YOU SAY THAT GIRL SCOUTS ARE THRIVING.

I HEAR DIFFERENTLY FROM A FRIEND WHO IS ON THE BOARD OF A REGIONAL GROUP THAT THIS IS HURTING THEM.

THE FACT THAT GIRLS CAN JOIN THE BOY SCOUT'S.

>> DONNA: I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE YET SEEN OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF GIRLS JOINING THE BOY SCOUT'S.

THE GIRL SCOUTS IS A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION.

I HAVE DIFFERENT VISIT TROOPS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE IN FACT THRIVING AND THEY'RE ENCOURAGING GIRLS TO GO INTO STEM FIELDS.

THEY'RE ENCOURAGING GIRLS TO BE LEADERS.

I THINK THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A ROLE FOR GIRL SCOUTS AND THERE WILL BE AWE SELECT NUMBER OF GIRLS WHO WILL WANT TO JOIN THE BOY SCOUT'S.

>> I'M A LITTLE OUT OF MEW DEPTH I WAS NOT A GIRL SCOUT BUT I DO THINK SIDNEY IS A TRAILBLAZER AND I APPLAUD HER TOASTER GO AROUND WHAT WAS COMFORTABLE FOR HER THAT.

IS WHAT SHE WANTED TO PURSUE BOY SCOUT'S.

I'M SENSING SHE HAS DISCRIMINATION AS MANY HAVE TRYING TO BASE INTO BOY BASED NETWORKS IF YOU WILL BUT YOU LIKE SHE'S IN A POSITION TO HAVE THAT CHOICE AND WE'RE REMOVING SOME OF THE GENDER BASE ABOUT GIRLS THEY DON'T WANT TO FISH OR TIE KNOTS.

AND MAYBE WE'LL HAVE BOWS THAT WANT TO SELL COOKIES, TOO.

>> BONNIE: THAT IS ANOTHER DISCRIMINATION.

DID THE BOY SCOUT'S HAVE TO SELL COOKIES FOR -- >> THEY SELL POPCORN AND STUFF.

>> NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IT ENTAILS I GET THE SENSE AT LEAST THERE IS OPPORTUNITY THAT MAYBE ARE DIFFERENT THAT APPEAL TO SIDNEY MORE SO THAN BEING A PART OF THE GIRL SCOUTS.

>> WELL, I'M REPORTING FOR DUTY HERE AS A GIRL SCOUT TROOP LEADER MARRIED TO AN EAGLE SCOUT.

I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM 100% ON TEAM SIDNEY HERE TO SEE HER SITTING NEXT TO REPRESENTATIVE MALONEY AND WEARING AN ERA YES BUTTON WHILE SHE MAY BE ONE OF THE FIRST EAGLE SCOUTS IN THE COUNTRY I THINK IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

I'M ALMOST TEARING UP THINKING ABOUT IT.

SO I THINK IT IS NOT AN EITHER OR IT IS AN AND AND THE QUESTIONS ON THE COOKIE, I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE THAT.

THESE COOKIES ARE INCREDIBLY POPULAR.

I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT IS EXCITED FOR THE BOY SCOUT'S POPCORN.

I'M NOT SURE.

THIS IS TEACHING GIRLS BUSINESS SKILLS.

ACTUALLY IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SO IT IS ISN'T THAT IS LIKEABLE FILLING A NICHE THAT PEOPLE WANT AND LIKE AND THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO GO OUT DOOR-TO-DOOR AND KNOCK ON DOORS AND MAKE MONEY.

>> BONNIE: BUT IN THIS DAY AND ANAL I'M NOT SO SURE KNOCKING ON DOORS IS, YOU KNOW, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T OPEN DOORS ANY MORE BUT MAYBE THEY DID 20, 30 YEARS AGO.

BUT THEY'RE GETTING MUCH MORE SECURITY CONSCIOUS NOW.

BUT, ALSO, IT'S A DISCRIMINATION TO ME BECAUSE THE BOYS DON'T HAVE TO SELL SOMETHING TO GET THEIR FUNDING.

THEY'RE FUNDED BY DONORS BY GRANTS WHATEVER IT IS BY GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THE GIRLS HAVE ALWAYS TO DO GO OUT THERE AND BEG FOR THEIR MONEY AND I KNOW GIRL SCOUTS WHO HAVE SEEN THIS AS A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR BUT THESE ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE SET UP IN TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAYS.

ULTIMATELY WHAT I SEE THE COOKIE PROGRAM DOING IT IS TEACHING GIRLS GRIT.

THESE ARE SKILLS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SET GOALS FOR OURSELVES TO SAY, OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND GET THIS.

I'M GOING TO NETWORK.

I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO ACHIEVE WHAT I SET OUT TO ACHIEVE.

I'M NOT SURE IT IS NECESSARILY DISCRIMINATION IN THE SENSE THAT BOY SCOUT'S AND GIRL SCOUTS WERE NOT FOUNDED BY THE SAME PERSON WHO SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS AND MAKE THE GIRLS PAY FOR THEMSELVES.

>> I WAS A BROWNIE.

I SOLD THE MOST COOKIES IN MY TROOP EARLY ON.

>> BONNIE: GOOD BUSINESS WOMAN.

>> RIGHT THERE.

AND BOY SCOUT'S DO HAVE TO DO SOME FUNDRAISING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.

LOOK I THINK THIS IS ALL FINE.

THE ONE THING THAT DOES BOTHER ME WHEN I LOOK AT GIRLS AND THINK AND I SEE THEM THINKING LIKE SOMEHOW IT IS ONLY -- I'M ONLY REALLY ACHIEVING IF I GET THE AWARD THAT EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THE BOYS AWARD.

WHY ISN'T THE GOLD AWARD AS PRESTIGIOUS AS THE EAGLE SCOUT?

>> BONNIE: BECAUSE IT JUST -- >> TO RAISE IT UP.

I JUST DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE THE ONLY WAY I'M GOING TO BE EQUAL IS IF I DO WHAT HE'S DOING.

WHY SHOULDN'T HE TRY TO GET THE GOLD AWARD.

>> BONNIE: AND IF YOU OWNED IN -- IF A WOMAN -- YOU'RE THE FIRST WOMAN ON AN NFL FOOTBALL TEAM, YOU DON'T EXPECT DISCRIMINATION WHEN YOU GET THERE.

THERE IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT WRONG WITH YOU.

BUT WE WILL CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION.

>> BONNE: THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

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