>>TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>>I LOST SO MUCH OF MY IDENTITY BECAUSE I MY MOM 24/7 ON THIS ALL I CAN DO NOW.

>>THE PANDEMIC IS FORCING THOUSANDS OF WOMEN IN RHODE ISLAND TO STEP AWAY THEIR JOBS.

>>MY JOB WAS TO HELP THOSE PATIENTS THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

SO MY HEART WENT INTO IT, MY FAMILY AND THE PATIENTS I WAS WITH.

>>IT'S NOT IMPORTANT TO HAVE WOMEN IN POLITICS, IT'S IN CENTRAL -- IT'S ESSENTIAL.

>>YOU SHOULD DO IT YOU HAVE NO CHANCE.

>>YOU WILL FACE SEXISM AND DOUBLE STANDARDS SO WOMEN SHOULD JUST KNOW THAT.

>>EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A VERY LITTLE TENTATIVE VOICE AT FIRST BECAUSE YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT DOING IT, GO IN AND ROAR THE TRUTH.

IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

[APPLAUSE] LONG, LONG OVERDUE.

♪ ♪ >>GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, I AM MICHELLE SEND AGO.

IN 1791, ALEXANDER HAMILTON WAS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO DEVELOP INDUSTRY.

HE ADVOCATED FOR SOMETHING THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN EUROPE FOR MANY YEARS, THAT WOMEN AND EVEN CHILDREN BE BROUGHT INTO THE LABOR FORCE.

BY THE 1820'S, TEXTILE MILLS IN NEW ENGLAND BEGAN TO DO JUST THAT, HIRING WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 35.

THE WOMEN WERE PAID BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR DOLLARS PER WEEK.

IN THE CENTURY SINCE, WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE CERTAINLY MADE STRIDES AND, IN RECENT YEARS, THEY HAVE MADE UP NEARLY HALF OF THE WORKFORCE IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS PROGRESS TO BE MADE SURROUNDING PAY EQUITY ISSUES AND GETTING MORE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES BUT THERE HAD BEEN SOME POSITIVE MOVEMENT.

THEN CAME 2020 AND THE ARRIVAL OF COVID-19.

IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT NEARLY 5.5 MILLION WOMEN LOST THEIR JOBS, ABOUT ONE MILLION MORE JOB LOSSES THAN MEN.

EXPERTS CALL THIS A SHE SESSION, FEMALE DOMINATED INDUSTRIES LIKE HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL WERE AMONG THOSE HARDEST HIT WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

MORE WOMEN THAN MEN HAVE STEPPED AWAY FROM THE WORKFORCE TO SUPERVISE REMOTE LEARNING AND CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AFTER MANY DAYCARE CENTERS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE.

EXPERTS FEAR THE GAINS THAT WOMEN HAVE MADE IN THE LAST DECADE COULD BE WIPED OUT AND LEAD TO A BIGGER GENDER WAGE GAP.

>>I DIDN'T SEE HOW I COULD PUT THAT ON SOMEONE ELSE, TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, WATCH MY CHILDREN AND DEAL WITH OUR LIVES AT HOME.

>>LORI HAS BEEN A HAIRSTYLIST FOR 16 YEARS.

SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH HER THIRD CHILD BACK IN JUNE WHEN HAIR SALONS WERE ALLOWED TO REOPEN.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND AGREED IT WAS BEST FOR HER NOT TO GO BACK TO WORK DURING HER LAST TRIMESTER.

>>I DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING A HAIRSTYLIST, BEING IN SOMEONE'S FACE, WHILE I WAS PREGNANT.

I DIDN'T SEE A PURPOSE TO GO BACK FOR EIGHT WEEKS TO START WORK, RISKING ME GETTING COVID >>I'M FINE.

>>SHE TREASURES THE EXTRA TIME SHE'S GETTING TO SPEND AT HOME WITH HER CHILDREN.

MOMENTS LIKE THIS, WATCHING HER THREE-YEAR-OLD SON'S LEAD IN THEIR WARWICK BACKYARD.

-- SLED IN THEIR WARWICK BACKYARD.

>>BUT LEAVING A JOB SHE ENJOYED TO STAY HOME WITH HER FAMILY IS ALSO TAKEN AN EMOTIONAL TOLL.

>>IT WAS HARD, DEFINITELY WHEN I WAS PREGNANT AND THE PANDEMIC HIT, I WENT THROUGH REALLY BAD DEPRESSION.

I WASN'T ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, I COULDN'T LEAVE AND NO ONE COULD COME OVER AND HELP WITH MY OTHER TWO KIDS.

>>WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO IS LOSING THEIR JOBS OR HAVING TO STEP BACK FROM THEIR JOBS, IT IS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED WOMEN AND PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR.

>>KELLY IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE WOMEN'S FUND OF RHODE ISLAND, A NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

>>MANY RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE, HAVE ALL BEEN IMPACTED NEGATIVELY BY THIS ECONOMY AND THOSE INDUSTRIES HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO WORK IN THEM.

>> THERE WERE OVER 30,000 FEWER WOMEN EMPLOYED IN RHODE ISLAND IN DECEMBER THAN IN MARCH COMPARED TO 700 FEWER MEN.

DURING THAT TIME, 16,000 WOMEN IN THE STATE LEFT THE WORKFORCE WHILE 2800 MEN ENTERED THE WORKFORCE.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU THAT WOMEN ARE LEAVING IN DROVES AS MEN ARE ENTERING IN PRETTY BIG NUMBERS?

>> IN OUR CULTURE, IT GENERALLY FALLS TO WOMEN, NOT ALWAYS BUT GENERALLY TO BE THE FAMILY CARETAKERS.

LATER ON, THE FACT THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THERE IS A HEALTH ASPECT AS WELL WHERE OUR SISTERS OF COLOR HAVE TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS CATCHING COVID AND WHAT THAT MAY MEAN FOR THEM.

>> ANNA RIVERA WORKED PART-TIME AT AS AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY WHEN COVID-19 BEGINS READING IN MARCH.

SHE QUICKLY QUIT HER JOB.

>> I HAD TO DO IT BECAUSE OF MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

BEING ASTHMATIC AND HAVING DIFFICULTIES IN THE PAST WITH BRONCHITIS, I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK IT.

I SAT DOWN AND SPOKE TO MY HUSBAND WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS BETTER OFF ME STAYING HOME.

THERE YOU GO.

>> SHE SAYS THE TIMING WORKED OUT WELL AND SOON AFTER SHE LEFT HER JOB AS A CERTIFIED >>.

STILL, SHE FREQUENTLY THINKS ABOUT HER DECISION TO LEAVE WORK.

>> MY JOB WAS TO HELP THOSE PATIENTS THAT NEEDED IT THE MOST.

AGAIN, I HAD TO THINK SO MY HEART AND MY FAMILY AND THE PATIENT'S I WAS WITH.

>> ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT DECISION?

>> FOR MY FAMILY, YEAH, BUT I THINK ABOUT MY PATIENTS A LOT.

I LEFT THEM BEHIND AND I HAD TO.

>> ACCORDING TO A 2020 WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE REPORT BY MCKINSEY AND COMPANY, ONE IN FOUR WOMEN ARE CONTEMPLATING DOWNSHIFTING THEIR CAREERS ARE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

IT'S NOT JUST WOMEN WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

MANY WOMEN SAY THEY FEEL BURNT OUT SINCE THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN WORK AND HOME HAVE BLURRED.

THE STUDY ALSO SAYS THAT IT WOMEN CONTINUE TO LEAVE THEIR JOBS IN LARGE NUMBERS, THE GAINS THEY'VE MADE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES COULD BE ERASED.

>> EVEN IN NORMAL DAYS, WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A GENDER WAGE GAP AND ALSO A GENDER RACIAL WAGE GAP.

AND THAT CONVERSELY IMPACTED THE GENDER AND RACIAL WEALTH IMPACT.

>> IN THE UNITED STATES, WOMEN EARN $.81 FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT MEN MAKE.

THAT DISPARITY IS EVEN GREATER FOR WOMEN OF COLOR.

>> A BLACK WOMAN WILL MAKE $.76 ON THE WHITE WOMAN'S DOLLAR IN RHODE ISLAND.

A LATINA WOMAN WILL MAKE LESS THAN $.50 ON THE WHITE WOMAN'S DOLLAR WHICH IS ALREADY SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN A WHITE MAN'S DOLLAR.

AND BEFORE COVID, WE SAID THAT GENDER WAGE GAP COULD CLOSE IN AS EARLY AS 50 YEARS.

NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE SO MUCH SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER.

>> GIVE ME A HIGH FIVE.

>> MONEY WAS ONE OF THE REASONS SHAYBNA LEFT HER PART-TIME JOB AT A LIQUOR SURE -- STORE.

>> HE WAS MAKING MORE MONEY THAN I WAS.

>> MONEY WAS NOTHING ONLY ISSUE.

SHE ALSO HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HER ONE-YEAR-OLD SON AND HELP HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WITH SCHOOLWORK IN PAWTUCKET.

HER DAUGHTER HAS BEEN LEARNING REMOTELY SINCE LAST MARCH.

MOMS HAVE LONG BEEN COMING TO THE RESCUE.

>> THE LUNCH LADY, THE PRINCIPAL, THE TEACHER, IN SOME CASES, YOU ARE DOING PHONE CHATS WITH THE DOCTOR SO YOU ARE A NURSE.

>> AS WOMEN TAKE ON EVEN MORE RESPONSIBILITIES AT HOME, SHE SAYS THERE IS A GREATER URGENCY NOW TO INVEST IN CHILDCARE WHICH WAS UPENDED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> IN MANY COUNTRIES, THERE ARE SAFETY NETS.

CHILDCARE IS PART OF THE SAFETY NET FOR THE WHOLE POPULATION.

IN THE U.S., WE DON'T HAVE SAFETY NETS, WE HAVE WOMEN, THAT'S WHO WE DEPEND ON PRETTY MUCH 100% OF RHODE ISLAND'S CHILDCARE INDUSTRY IS OWNED AND STAFFED BY WOMEN.

MANY OF THOSE WOMEN ARE UNABLE TO EVEN TAKE HOME A LIVING WAGE.

EVEN WHEN WE ARE PAYING THESE NOT GREAT WAGES TO THE WOMEN WHO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY, IT'S SUPER EXPENSIVE FOR PARENTS TO PROVIDE FOR CHILD CARE.

THE MORE WE ENABLE PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO WORK BY PROVIDING AND INVESTING IN THE CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BETTER OUR ECONOMY WILL BE AS A WHOLE.

>> IN RHODE ISLAND, PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN'S -- WHOSE CHILDREN ARE DOING DISTANCE-LEARNING OR CENTERS THAT HAVE CLOSED, THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS THROUGH THE TEMPORARY CAREGIVER INSURANCE PROGRAM.

>> THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE IN RHODE ISLAND NOW, YOU CAN ONLY GET 60% OF YOUR SALARY FOR UP TO ONE MONTH OF TIME OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

FOR SOMEBODY AT THE LOWEST END OF THE ECONOMIC SCALE, THEY CANNOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

IT'S JUST NOT DOABLE FOR THEM.

WHY CAN'T THEY GET 100% OF THEIR SALARY?

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF WE COULD EXPAND THAT TO THREE MONTHS?

>> DO YOU WORRY IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE ONCE YOU GO BACK?

>> YES.

NUMBER ONE BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN OF COLOR.

IT'S VERY HARD TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR THAT WHEN YOU GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR, IT'S THE WHOLE BEING INVISIBLE THING.

AS A WOMAN OF COLOR, I HAVE GOTTEN HIRED PLENTY OF TIMES AND WHEN I DO SPEAK UP, I HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M ALMOST INVISIBLE, LIKE I AM NOT THERE.

THEY DON'T TAKE MIKE SUGGESTIONS INTO CONSIDERATIONS.

>> GETTING WOMEN BACK TO WORK IS NOT JUST GOOD FOR HER FAMILY.

IT'S ALSO BENEFICIAL TO THE ECONOMY.

MCKINSEY AND COMPANY ESTIMATES THAT GLOBAL GDP GROWTH COULD BE $1 TRILLION LOWER IN 2030 THEN IT WOULD BE IF WOMEN'S UNEMPLOYMENT SIMPLY TRACKED THAT EVENT IN EACH SECTOR.

>> WAY FOR ME.

>> UNTIL SHE IS ABLE TO RETURN TO WORK, SHE WAS FINDING WAYS TO CUT COSTS.

>> MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO BUY SNEAKERS AND CLOTHES AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT A PRIORITY.

I CAN'T BUY THAT STUFF OR I CAN'T TAKE HER TO DAVID AND BUSTERS ON THE WEEKEND OR IF SHE WANTS TO GO TO THE MALL WITH HER FRIENDS.

I CAN'T GIVE HER THE EXTRA 40 BUCKS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHERE I CAN PUT THAT $40.

>> IT'S MORE OF A PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK MENTALITY THAN BEFORE?

>> BEFORE, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A CUSHION.

>> SHE SAYS FINDING OTHER MOMS STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME ISSUES HAS BEEN A BIG HELP.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ALONE AND YOU NEED PEOPLE TO LEAN ON.

>> BOTH WOMEN WERE SINGLE MOTHERS AND THEY RECOGNIZE THE RESPONSIBILITIES BECOME EVEN GREATER WHEN YOU ARE A SINGLE-PARENT.

RIVERA SAYS SHE KNOWS OF SINGLE MOMS WHO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN HOME ALONE DOING DISTANCE-LEARNING WHILE THEY ARE AT WORK.

>> THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE MAKING MONEY.

SO THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR KIDS ALONE.

THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY GOT TO DO TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR KIDS HEADS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THAT RIVERA FEELS SHE IS MISSING OUT ON MUCH NEEDED MONEY.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS GIVEN UP PART OF HER IDENTITY.

>> IT'S A STEP OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER ADULTS RATHER THAN JUST THE KIDS AT HOME.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD FOR ME.

I AM A MOM 24/7 AND THAT'S ALL I CAN DO AND I WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK TO BEING MYSELF, GOING BACK TO THE GYM.

>> IT'S TOUGH TO NOT HAVE SOMETHING FOR MYSELF.

THAT'S TRULY MINE.

AND TO MAKE MY OWN MONEY AND FEEL LIKE I'M CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN JUST MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS FED AND CLEAN AND HAPPY.

>> WHAT WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR ABOUT HOW SOON YOU GET BACKTO THE WORKFORCE?

>> WHEN THINGS START TO GO BACK TO NORMAL, WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO CONSTANTLY TELL MY CHILD TO WASH HIS HANDS, TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR MASK.

I DON'T SEE THAT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

>> EARLY VOTING IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IN RHODE ISLAND ON MARCH 2.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO PASS A $15 MILLION BOND THAT WOULD INVEST IN CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING FACILITIES.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE MONEY WOULD ALLOW THEM TO CREATE MORE CHILDCARE SEATS OF GREAT EXISTING SPACE AND BUILD NEW EARLY LEARNING FACILITIES.

IN NEW ENGLAND WOMEN CURRENTLY COMPRISE ALMOST 35% OF ITS LEGISLATURES, MORE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THE REGION ALSO BOASTS TWO OF THE NATION NINE WOMEN GOVERNORS AND THE ONLY PAIR OF U.S.

SENATORS IN HISTORY WHO WERE ALSO GOVERNORS OF THEIR STATE.

SENATORS JEANNE SHAHEEN AND MAGGIE HAAS AND -- MAGGIE HASSAN OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

WE BRING YOU A PORTION OF A DOCUMENTARY BY A PBS PRODUCER.

THE X FACTOR LOOKS AT SOME OF THESE TRAILBLAZING WOMEN FROM FIRST-TIME CANDIDATES TO SEASONED VETERANS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF THEIR STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

>> AN UNPRECEDENTED GROUNDSWELL OF WOMEN ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WOMEN LIKE ME, WAKENED BY THE RESULT OF THE 2016 ELECTION.

>> I HAD BEEN A SUPPORTER OF HER HILLARY CLINTON FOR SO LONG AND I WAS SO EXCITED THAT SHE WAS RUNNING JUST FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

OVER TIME, THAT BECAME SO UGLY IN THE NASTINESS THAT WENT ON BECAUSE SHE WAS A WOMAN AND PEOPLE STILL THOUGHT THAT WAS OK.

I JUST WAS ANGRY.

I WAS SAD BUT I WAS REALLY ANGRY.

THAT REALLY MOTIVATED ME TO SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AFTER THE ELECTION, SHE WENT ON A BOOK TOUR.

>> THANK YOU FOR NOT GOING QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] >> I VIEWED THIS BOOK AS MUCH ABOUT RESILIENCE AS ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

WHEN A WOMAN RUNS, SHE HAS TO WORK EXTRA HARD TO CONVINCE OTHER WOMEN THAT SHE CAN DO THE JOB THAT SHE IS RUNNING FOR AND WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS, NOT ENOUGH.

I SORT OF THOUGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE WOULD SAY, YEAH, WE REALLY DO WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS CALM AND COMPOSED IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

[APPLAUSE] >> I WENT UP TO HER AND SHE GAVE US HUGS AND I SAID TO HER, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I AM RUNNING FOR OFFICE NOW BECAUSE OF THIS.

SHE JUST SAID GET OUT THERE AND KNOCK ON DOORS.

[KNOCKING] >> I WAS RUNNING AGAINST A THREE TERM INCUMBENT.

HE IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

>> I HATE WOMEN.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T ATTEND A DOG AND PONY SHOW WHICH IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN, I WOULD DO IT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.

>> PEOPLE WERE LIKE THAT'S GREAT, SOMEONE IS CHALLENGING HIM BUT YOU KNOW, NO WAY.

IT'S A LONG SHOT.

IT'S LIKE YOU SHOULD DO IT BUT YOU HAVE NO CHANCE.

HE IS OLDER, HE IS WEALTHY, HE HAD BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

I WAS 36 WHICH PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS VERY YOUNG.

I HAD TWO LITTLE KIDS.

IT WAS JUST A HUGE LONG SHOT AND WE SAID WE WILL RUN THIS GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN SO I STARTED KNOCKING ON DOORS.

>> HI THERE,.

>> A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF KNOCKING ON DOORS PROBABLY EVERY DAY AND PEOPLE HAD TOLD ME THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CONSERVATIVE, YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT ABORTION.

WE CAN PROTECT RHODE ISLAND WOMEN, WE CAN PASS A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACT AND >> YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT GUNS.

YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT.

THAT WILL TURN PEOPLE OFF AND I SAID NO, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND NOT TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I CARE ABOUT.

I KNEW PEOPLE CARED ABOUT THAT LIKE I DID.

AND THEY DID.

I WAS THE FOURTH CLOSEST RACE IN RHODE ISLAND.

I WENT -- I ONE BITE 169 VOTES.

IT WAS A WILD TIME TO BE A YOUNG WOMAN IN POLITICS.

IT WAS VERY UNPLEASANT.

A LOT OF THE NASTINESS CAME OUT AS A RESULT OF ME BEING A YOUNG WOMAN.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW BECAUSE EVERY TIME I RUN INTO HER, IT'S LIKE SHE IS THE DEVIL.

I LOVE MY WIFE.

>> PEOPLE TOOK REAL OFFENSE THAT I WOULD CHALLENGE SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I FELT LIKE I COULD SERVE JUST AS WELL AS ANYBODY ELSE.

>> IT CAN BE ROUGH AND TUMBLE AND THERE IS DEFINITELY A DOUBLE STANDARD FOR WOMEN.

RIGHT NOW, I'M ONE OF NINE FEMALE GOVERNORS IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE SHOULD BE 25 OR 30 FEMALE GOVERNORS AND THEN IT WOULD BE NORMAL.

IF YOU LOOK AT RHODE ISLAND, IT'S ASTOUNDING TO ME THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD A FEMALE UNITED STATES SENATOR.

NEVER A FEMALE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN RHODE ISLAND AND WE HAVE ONLY HAD ONE FEMALE CONGRESSWOMAN, CLAUDINE SCHNEIDER, DECADES AGO.

I AM THE FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR SO WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

>> IN A FEW MINUTES, I WILL SIT THERE AND SIGN THE BILL GUARANTEEING EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL FAMILIES IN RHODE ISLAND.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

IT IS LONG OVERDUE.

[APPLAUSE] >>>> LONG, LONG OVERDUE.

>> WOMEN ARE GREAT READERS.

WE BRING A CERTAIN SENSE OF CAN-DO, PRACTICAL ATTITUDE OF JUST SOLVING PROBLEMS.

ALSO, BIT OF COMPASSION.

I THINK WE MISS OUT IF WOMEN ARE NOTAT THE TABLE.

HALF THE POPULATION, HALF THE WORLD BRAINPOWER, MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, WORKING MOMS AND THOSE ARE VOICES THAT HAVE TO BE AT THE TABLE IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE IMPORTANT PROBLEMS THAT RHODE ISLANDERS AND AMERICANS NEED SOLVED.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT POWER, IT'S ABOUT WHAT CAN I DO COULD TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.

HOW CAN I MAKE AN IMPACT?

HOW DO I HELP US CITIZENS BECOME BETTER HUMAN BEINGS AND CAN I DO THAT WITH A POLITICAL VOICE IN WHAT WILL I ADD TO IT?

WOMEN HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

>> I THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR ME.

AND I WANT TO KEEP STANDING UP FOR ALL OF YOU.

>> TO BRING ABOUT JUSTICE IN THIS SOCIETY SO STEP UP, PLEASE.

>> I AM YOUR HOST, I SIT DOWN WITH RHODE ISLAND LEGEND ARLENE VIOLETTE.

SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE ELECTED AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHOEVER IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOUR BACKGROUND, GIVE US A SUMMARY OF YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY.

>> I WAS A NUN FOR 23 YEARS AND DURING THAT TIME, I DID A LOT OF INNER-CITY WORK.

I SAW THAT MANY THINGS THAT SHOULD CHANGE WERE NOT CHANGING AT ALL.

IN PARTICULAR, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS UNFAIR.

AS A NUN, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD THING TO TRY TO CHANGE THOSE POLICIES AND IN RHODE ISLAND, THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN DO THAT WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

TONIGHT, I AM ANNOUNCING THAT I AM GOING TO BE YOUR CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

[APPLAUSE] I JUST REALLY SAW IT AS ANOTHER WAY DOING A MINISTRY, TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I DIDN'T LOOK AT IT AS BEING IN POLITICS.

I DIDN'T CARE SO MUCH FOR BEING IN POLITICS AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO BE A CHANGE AGENT.

>> MY FIRST JOB IN GOVERNMENT WAS FOR OUR RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL ARLENE VIOLETTE WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO BE ELECTED TO ANY STATEWIDE OFFICE IN RHODE ISLAND.

SHE WAS A VERY CHARISMATIC AND DISRUPTIVE FIGURE.

SHE GOT EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.

>> I LOOKED AT THE SYSTEM AND THERE WERE NO VICTIMS RIGHTS.

WE WERE THE SEAT OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN NEW ENGLAND.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO STAND FOR THE TRUTH, OBJECTIVE TRUTH.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A VERY LITTLE, TENTATIVE VOICE AT FIRST, GO IN AND ROAR YOUR TRUTH.

>>>> IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR WOMEN TO RUN, MORE HAVE TO DO IT.

>> I THINK THERE IS A CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT OF SEEING WOMEN IN TOUGH ROLES HERE IN NEW ENGLAND.

>> A WOMAN CAN BE PRESIDENT.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT CONVINCES MORE WOMEN TO RUN WHEN THEY SEE OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE SUCCESSES AT IT.

>> DON'T FORGET TO VOTE.

>> YOU WILL FACE SEXISM AND DOUBLE STANDARDS SO WOMEN SHOULD JUST KNOW THAT.

BUT YOU CAN GET MORE DONE THAN I EVER REALIZED.

>> WHEN IT WAS REALLY UGLY AND I WOULD BE AT HOME THINKING HOW MY FAMILY IS BEING DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD, WHAT AM I DOING?

FOR A SEAT IN THE RHODE ISLAND HOUSE, IS THIS WORTH IT?

BACK THEN, I WOULD CLOSE MY EYES AND I WOULD THINK OF A MOMENT WHERE WE MIGHT ACTUALLY VOTE ON THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACT AND HOW MY VOTE WOULD BE SO DIFFERENT FROM MY OPPONENTS AND THAT'S WHAT WOULD KEEP ME GOING.

NOW I THICKETS WHERE THE BECAUSE EVERY TIME I STEP INTO THAT CHAMBER AND PUSH MY GREEN BUTTON TO SAY I AM THERE AND IT COMES UP.

I WILL DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TODAY.

IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO REALLY REPRESENT THE IDEALS THAT I HAVE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> OUR THANKS TO DOROTHY AND TO SEE THE FULL DOCUMENTARY, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, ALL RIGHT PBS.ORG.

2020 MARK THE 100 ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, PROTECTING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO VOTE.

BUT WINNING THAT RIGHT WAS NEITHER EASY OR FAST.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXPLAINS THE 75 YEAR STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN IN RHODE ISLAND AND AROUND THE COUNTRY TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO CAST A VOTE.

>> WHEN THE CONSTITUTION IS WRITTEN, IT AFFORDED THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHO COULD VOTE TO THE STATES.

MANY WOMEN BEGIN TO ORGANIZE AROUND THE IDEA OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

THESE WERE MOSTLY WHITE WOMEN WHO ALSO HAD LEARNED ABOUT ACTIVISM THROUGH THEIR ROLE IN THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT.

THEY WERE WOMEN WHO WERE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMITTEES AND IN POLITICS ALREADY AND STARTED WANTING TO AGITATE FOR HAVING THEIR VOICE HEARD IN A MORE FORMAL WAY.

SOME OF THE NAMES YOU MIGHT THINK OF OUR PAULINA RIGHT DAVIS AND A WOMAN KNOWN AS THE CONSCIOUS OF RHODE ISLAND, ELIZABETH BUFFUM CHASE.

IN 1887, THERE HAD BEEN ENOUGH OF A MOVEMENT TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT FOR RHODE ISLAND WOMEN TO BE ALLOWED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

IT GOT THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IT GOT ON THE BALLOT BUT WHEN IT WENT TO A POPULAR VOTE, IT LOST BY A HUGE MARGIN, MORE THAN 20,000-6000.

MORE ORGANIZING CONTINUED AND IN THE 1880'S AND 19 -- IN 1890'S, THAT'S THE HEYDAY OF WOMEN'S ACTIVISM IN RHODE ISLAND.

WOMEN ARE WORKING IN ALL SORTS OF AREAS TO TRY TO IMPROVE MEAL CONDITIONS, IMPROVE EDUCATION, THE PRISON SYSTEM IN RHODE ISLAND.

AND THE VOTE IS STILL AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT DISCUSSION.

WHEN WE GET INTO THE 20TH CENTURY, IT PICKS UP STEAM AND THE WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING FOR SUFFRAGE ARE HARKENING BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO THEY FEEL THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT IS BUILT ON.

RHODE ISLAND BECOMES ONE OF THE STATES THAT ACTUALLY DOES GRANT WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS BEFORE THE 19TH AMENDMENT.

IT GETS THROUGH THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THROUGH THE RHODE ISLAND POPULAR VOTE IN 1917.

WOMEN GAINED THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN RHODE ISLAND IN 1917 BUT THERE ISN'T A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UNTIL 1920.

ONCE THE AMENDMENT IS PUT FORWARD, NATIONALLY, YOU NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST 36 STATES RATIFY THAT AMENDMENT.

THE AMENDMENT GETS PUT THROUGH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN 1919.

36 STATES NEED TO RATIFY IT.

RHODE ISLAND RATIFIES ON JANUARY 6 OF 1920 BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL AUGUST OF 1920 THAT TENNESSEE BECOMES THE 36TH STATE TO RATIFY AND THAT'S WHY WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1920 ELECTION.

>> OUR THANKS TO THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

EVEN THE WHITE WOMEN ONE A DECISIVE VICTORY, BLACK WOMEN ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH WERE BLOCKED FROM VOTING THROUGH LITERACY TESTS, POLL TAXES AND DETERMINED SEGREGATIONISTS.

THEY WOULD NOT BE GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO VOTE UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN 1965.

AND ONLY THEN BECAUSE OF THE LONG FIGHT I THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

NEXT WEEK, A LOOK AT THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JIM VINSON, PRESIDENT OF THE PROVIDENCE BRANCH OF THE NAACP.

JIM VINSON CAME OF AGE DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS HERO.

HE HAS GONE ON TO FURTHER THE MOVEMENT THROUGH HIS WORK WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE OR THE NAACP.

>> WE CANNOT HAVE A COUNTRY WHERE IT'S DEMOGRAPHERS SEE -- WHERE IT'S DEMOCRACY FOR WHITE PEOPLE BUT A DICTATORSHIP FOR COLORED PEOPLE.

THAT MEANS I HAVE A CHANCE TO COMPETE AGAINST YOU AND THAT'S WHAT EQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY MEANS.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 P.M. ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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