>> THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY": FIRST, ARE WHITE COLLEGE EDUCATED FEMALE SO FORTHS, SOURING ON THE GOP AND WHAT DIFFERENCE HAS A DECADE OF ADVOCACY FOR INCLUSION PRODUCED IN HOLLYWOOD?

BEHIND THE HEADLINES, JANE FONDA ADVOCATES FOR ALL WORKING WOMEN.

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

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

UP FIRST, WHITE WOMEN VOTERS.

WHAT'S UP WITH COLLEGE-EDUCATED WHITE WOMEN VOTERS THIS ELECTION SEASON?

THIS IS THE SAME GROUP OF WOMEN WHO VOTED TO ELECT DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENT IN 2016?

A RECENT WASHINGTON POST-SCHAR SCHOOL POLL SHOWS THEIR SUPPORT HAS SLUMPED UNBELIEVABLY FROM 2016 TO 2018, BY A REMARKABLE 47 POINTS IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOCRATS.

THIS INFORMATION IS KEY TO DEMOCRATS HOPING TO TAKE BACK THE US HOUSE IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTIONS.

TO DO SO, THEY NEED 24 SEATS.

FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR STEVE BANNON WENT SO FAR THIS WEEK AS TO TELL VANITY FAIR THAT THESE WOMEN ARE "GONE" FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO, RINA SHAW, AS A REPUBLICAN CONSULTANTS, SHOULD THE PARTY COUNT WHITE COLLEGE-EDUCATED WOMEN SO FORTHS OUT?

>> RINA: YOU WOULD NEVER HEAR ME AGREE WITH STEVE BANNON BUT HE'S RIGHT, IT IS UP FOR GRABS.

AT THIS POINT REPUBLICANS NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE WHITE WORKING CLASS VOTE.

>> I THINK IT IS TOUGH IN THIS ELECTION BUT I WOULD NEVER COUNT OUT ANY GROUP IN POLITICS BECAUSE NO GROUP IS EVER PERMANENTLY WITH YOU.

>> THE BROADER CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT I DON'T THINK THOSE WOMEN ARE GOING TO LEAVE.

THEY'LL STILL BE THERE AND VOTE BASED ON ISSUES.

>> I THINK THESE ARE THE WOMEN THAT TEND TO VOTE WITH RAISES OVER GENDER THAT.

BEING SAID I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD EVER COUNT ANY WOMEN OUT.

>> BONNIE: ALL RIGHT.

SO WHAT CAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- IS THIS THE TRAMP EFFECT?

>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE TRUMP EFFECT.

>> BONNIE: THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN.

THE EJELL CALLS LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE'S PASSING THINGS THAT THEY LIKE BUT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO SEE WHAT HE HAS DONE TO WOMEN LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, THAT IS DISGUSTING.

AND IT CAN'T BE EXCUSED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

>> COLLEGE EDUCATED REPUBLICAN WOMEN ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THEIR POCKETBOOK, RIGHT?

THE ECONOMY IS FINE JUST NOW, RIGHT?

BUT THE BROADER PICTURE IS THAT IF WE DO ENTER INTO THIS TRADE WAR, WE'RE ON A PRECIPE OF 1, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRETTY ANGRY.

>> BONNIE: AREN'T WE IN ONE?

>> SORT OF UP FOR DEBATE.

I WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT THE DEMOCRATS OF NOT DONE A FINE JOB OF WORKING THE WORKING CLASS VOTE.

SO THE REPUBLICANS -- >> BONNIE: THIS IS COLLEGE-EDUCATED WOMEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

THEY SEE THEMSELVES LESS AND LESS WITH TRUMP SUPPORTERS, RIGHT?

I THINK THERE IS SOME INTERESTING RESEARCH OUT TALKING ABOUT THE BELIEVABILITY OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS.

I DON'T THINK IT IS UP FOR DEBATE THAT THE PRESIDENT LIES AND REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO WENT TO COLLEGE HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE OF DIFFERENT MINORITIES WHETHER THEY BE RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS CANNOT STAND THIS ANY MORE.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

>> BONNIE: SO YOU'RE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOING A LOT OF STRATEGIZING.

HOW YOU TRYING TO GET THE WHITE COLLEGE EDUCATED VOTERS WHO MOSTLY VOTED DEMOCRATIC UNTIL THE REAGAN THE ERA, AT LEAST MARRIED COLLEGE EDUCATED WHITE WOMEN VOTED REPUBLICAN CINCINNATI 80.

>> YEAH.

WELL I HAVE -- CINCINNATI 80.

>> YEAH, I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS RUNNING AND THEIR STRATEGY FOR GETTING THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF WOMEN IS TO TALK WITH THEM WITH RESPECT TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ARISEN WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION.

STRIPPING WOMEN OF THEIR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN, EQUAL PAY.

ALL THE ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED AND SO THEY'RE SPEAKING TO THAT.

>> BONNIE: DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GET THEM OR DO YOU THINK -- AND CAN YOU TARGET WHITE COLLEGE-EDUCATED WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AT THE SAME TIME?

ARE THERE ISSUES TOO -- ARE THEIR ISSUES TOO DIFFERENT TO TARGET BOTH?

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT GENERIC BALLOT POLLING, BETWEEN INDEPENDENT ETCH WOMEN AND REPUBLICAN WOMEN TOP IS ECONOMIC ISSUES AND THREE HEALTH ISSUES AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

>> BONNIE: WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR?

>> PEOPLE OF COLOR?

PROBABLY -- I MEAN RELATIVELY THE SAME.

ECONOMIC ISSUES STILL REMAIN NO.

1.

PEOPLE WANT KNOW THEY HAVE A JOB AND IF THEY SEE A STRONG JOB'S REPORT BUT SEE THAT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE COMING BACK IN, WHICH WE ARE SEEING, THAT IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY.

I THINK IT IS -- YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WOMEN WHO SAY AH, I DON'T LIKE CERTAIN RHETORIC BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO VOTING THEY'RE GOING TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILY AND WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR WALLET AS YOU JUST SAID.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE VERY SURPRISED, HOW DID WHITE EDUCATED WOMEN VOTE FOR THIS CANDIDATE OR THIS PERSON AGAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THEIR FAMILY.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

>> I ALSO THINK THEY HAVE WHITE COLLEGE-EDUCATED WOMEN HAD A REALITY CHECK.

ISN'T THAT WHY TRUMP IS IN OFFICE?

DIDN'T THE MAJORITY VOTE FOR TRUMP?

I THINK NOW IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO AGREE THERE IS A SEXUAL ASSAULTER IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND OF COURSE HIS VIEWS ON WOMEN ARE GOING TO AFFECT HIS LEGISLATION.

>> AND I WANT TO SAY THIS ABOUT THE JOBS.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, I AGREE, YOUR POCKETBOOK, YOUR POCKETBOOK, YOUR POCKETBOOK.

BUT WHEN YOU SAY JOBS ARE COMING BACK NOW, THE JOB REPORT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST 18 MONTHS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

I KNOW THE PRESIDENT IS OUT THERE GOING AMAZING.

AMAZING.

YOU KNOW.

>> BONNIE: TAX CUTS HAVE MADE RICH PEOPLE RICHER AND THEREFORE CREATED -- >> YES.

>> BONNIE: CREATED JOBS IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM BECAUSE THEY'RE BUYING MORE STOCK AND THOSE PORTFOLIOS ARE GOING UP.

>> OKAY.

I GUESS I DON'T AGREE THAT TRANSLATES INTO JOBS FOR THE REST OF US THAT AREN'T IN THE 1%.

A LOT OF COLLEGE-EDUCATED WOMEN ARE NOT IN THE 1%.

>> I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK AND SAY LOOKING AT THE JOBS REPORT, THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

669,000 PEOPLE IN THIS YEAR ALONE CAME BACK IN WHO HAD NOT BEEN IN THE WORKFORCE CAME BACK IN.

THAT'S REALLY APPEAR STOP ISSUING.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WORKING PART-TIME BEFORE WHO COULDN'T GET A PART-TIME JOB NOW BEING ABLE TO FIND THAT KIND OF WORK.

I THINK WHEN WOMEN SIT DOWN, AND ACTUALLY THE INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S VOICE, WE DID A POLL OF 1000 MIDTERM POTENTIAL MIDTERM VOTERS AND ASKED WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.

NO.

1 GENDER WAS NOT A DETERMINING FACTOR FOR HOW WOMEN VOTE.

FOR HOW INDEPENDENT WOMEN VOTE.

FOR HOW REPUBLICAN WOMEN VOTE AND MOST DEMOCRATS HOW THEY VOTE AS WELL AND NO.

2 -- >> BONNIE: BUT FOR -- >> ALL ISSUES ARE WOMEN'S ISSUES AND THAT IS WHAT MAJORITY SAID.

>> BONNIE: 40, 50 YEARS NOW THERE HAS BEEN A SEPARATION OF 10 TO 20 POINTS.

BETWEEN THE WAY WOMEN VOTE LEANING DEMOCRATIC AND THE WAY MEN VOTE LEANING REPUBLICAN.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S DISAPPEARED?

>> WHAT -- WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT IS THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN TERMS OF GENDER, THERE IS -- IT IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR REPUBLICAN LEANING INDEPENDENT LEANING AND FOR MANY DEMOCRATIC LEANING WOMEN.

I MEAN IT IS REALLY ABOUT THE ISSUES.

WHEN YOU ASK WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT THE SO-CALLED WOMEN'S ISSUES OR JUST ALL ISSUES INCLUDING NATIONAL SECURE TICKS HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES, THOSE STILL OUTWEIGH THOSE.

SO IS THERE A GAP BETWEEN HOW MEN AND WOMEN VOTE?

IT JUST DEPENDS.

I THINK WOMEN TEND TO VOTE BASED ON PARTY AND AFFILIATION BASED ON ISSUES THAN AROUND GENDER AND -- >> BONNIE: WAIT A SECOND.

I WANT TO ALSO BRING THE MEDIA INTO THIS BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY QUITE SURPRISED.

I WAS WATCHING CABLE NEWS THIS WEEK.

I SAW THE PRESIDENT REFERRED TO BY ONE COMMENTATOR AS UNHINGED AND THE REPORTERS KEPT TALKING ABOUT HOW HE LIED ABOUT THIS AND HE LIED ABOUT THAT.

AND, OF COURSE, COLLEGE EDUCATED PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE WATCHING CABLE NEWS.

ISN'T THIS EFFECT -- THE MORE PEOPLE SEE ITS UNDENIABLE WHAT KIND OF -- WHAT KIND OF A PERSON WE HAVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

DOESN'T THAT EFFECT WOMEN'S VOTES?

>> BONNIE, I HAVE SOME ALARMING INFORMATION.

JUST RECENTLY CBS DID A POLL AND TALKED ABOUT THE BELIEVABILITY I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER HOW MUCH TRUMP SUPPORTERS BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT.

90% BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT.

THEY ONLY BELIEVE -- ONLY BELIEVE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND 10% BELIEVE THE MEDIA.

THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

>> BONNIE: BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 80% OF 26% OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A VOTING MAJORITY.

>> IT IS STRONG BASE AND SUPPORTER -- >> 80% OF -- >> BONNIE: 80% OF HIS SUPPORTERS ARE STILL WITH HIM BUT REPUBLICANS ARE 26% OF THE VOTING POPULATION.

SO IT'S NOT A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO WIN AN ELECTION.

OF.

>> THE PROBLEM SEE MOVING INTO THE MIDTERMS AND EVEN INTO 2020 IS DEMOCRATS PAINT WOMEN AS A -- AS A MONHAVE MONOLYTH AND THEY ASSUME IT IS A MONYLOTHE AND TRUMP FEMALE VOTERS HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH THEIR WHITE MALE COURT PARTS WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP.

>> BONNIE: WE HAVE TO RETURN.

MAKE IT QUICK.

>> I THINK WE SAW WITH HILLARYCLINTON DEMOCRATS DO NO LONGER ASSUME THAT WOMEN VOTE FOR WOMEN.

>> BONNIE: LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

FOLLOW ME POND TWITTER@BONNIEERBEATTOTHE CONTRA RY.

>> BONNIE: YOU MIGHT THINK WITH ALL THE ATTENTION DURING THE ACADEMY AWARDS, AND THE STORIES ABOUT INEQUALITY AND THE LACK OF INCLUSION IN MOTION PICTURES OVER PAST YEARS, BY NOW THINGS WOULD HAVE CHANGED.

BUT A REPORT OUT THIS WEEK FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEGS TO DIFFER.

THE REPORT SHOWS NO PROGRESS.

IT FOUND WOMEN HELD ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF SPEAKING ROLES.

SPEAKING ROLES.

THAT PERCENTAGE HAS HELD STEADY FOR 11 YEARS.

OTHER NOTABLE FINDINGS: ONLY FOUR WOMEN OF COLOR WERE CAST IN LEADING ROLES.

OF THE TOP 100 FILMS, 43 HAD NO BLACK FEMALE CHARACTERS, 65 HAD NO ASIAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND 64 HAD NO LATINA ROLES.

FIVE LEADING LADIES WERE 45 OR OLDER AND POINT-SEVEN PERCENT (0.7) WERE LESBIAN, GAY OR BISEXUAL.

THE REPORT EXAMINED 11-HUNDRED FILMS AND NEARLY 49,000 CHARACTERS.

THE STUDY NOTES THAT TELEVISION IS DOING A BETTER JOB OF DIVERSIFYING.

ARREST WELL,ING RECENTLY WATCHED THE BLACK PANTHER ONLINE ON AMAZON PRIME I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS ONE FILM.

WHY IS HOLLYWOOD DOING SO POORLY?

>> ANUSHAY: BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO DIVERSITY.

THAT HAS BEEN THE TALK FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT AGAIN WHEN WE SEE MOVEMENTS TRY TO ELICIT CHANGE AND FEELING AND FOR EXAMPLE THERE ISN'T REAL CHANGE HAPPENING AND UNTIL THOSE PEOPLE MOVE ON FROM THOSE ROLES WE WON'T SEE PILOTS OF TWO BROWN WOMEN SUCH AS SIERENNA AND MEL.

TWO ASIAN ACTORS THAT ARE SHOPPING ON A PILOT AND HAD THE DOORS SHUT ON THEM BUT THEY RECEIVED MILLIONS OF VIEWS NOT JUST HERE IN THE BROAD.

THEY WERE TOLD SOUTH ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IT IS THE WHOLE OF THEM.

THEY'RE TOLD THEY'RE TOO NICHE BUT PEOPLE AT THE TOP THAT ARE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL SEATED IN POWER.

OF.

>> THE ACADEMY IS MADE UP OF OLD WHITE MEN, MY FAVORITE GROUP OF THE POPULATION.

BUT ALSO -- >> BONNIE: WATCH IT THERE I'M MARRIED TO ONE.

>> I KNOW EVERY TIME I SAY THAT YOU STAND UP FOR THEM.

THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL ONES.

BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE THE ISSUE WITH HOLLYWOOD THEY FEEL LIKE ONE HASH TAG IS ENOUGH OR ONE YEAR OF THE WOMEN IS ENOUGH.

WE ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE MARKET AND WE WANT TO HEAR AND SEE OURSELVES REFLECTED IN OUR FILMS.

>> THANK GOODNESS TV IS BEATING HOLLYWOOD BECAUSE FRANKLY PEOPLE HAVE TUNED OUT HOLLYWOOD.

IF YOU'RE TIRED OF SEEING ONE TYPE OF SCRIPT, ONE TYPE OF STORY LINE AND ONE TYPE OF PERSON IMAGINED FOR EVERY CHARACTER YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRAWN TO, YOU KNOW, NETFLIX® TO AMAZON PRIME, TO ALL THESE OTHER SOURCES WHERE -- >> BONNIE: I MEAN THERE IS SO MANY MOVIES AND TV SERIES OUT NOW.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UP.

>> BUT THAT IS GREAT.

THAT IS THE MARKET ACTUALLY -- >> BONNIE: BUT HOW IS THAT CHANGING?

LIKE CAN THEY STREAM?

CAN THEY GO TO -- >> THEY MAY BE ABLE TO AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> BONNIE: THE HISPANIC MOVIE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CAN THEY GO TO NETFLIX®, CAN YOU GO TO HOOLOO OR ONE OF THE STREAMING SERVERS.

>> THEY CAN BUT ANY ONE THAT HAS A TOP PRODUCTION HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WANT TO GO TO THE TOP.

AND THAT IS THE THING.

SO WHAT WE -- >> BONNIE: HOW LONG ARE THOSE PEOPLE GOING TO -- HOW LONG ARE THE STUDIOS GOING TO BE THE TOP?

BECAUSE REALLY, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE QUALITY OF THE -- YOU KNOW, THE STREAMING LIKE THE MARVELOUS DISMISEL, UNBELIEVABLE COSTUME, GREAT ACTING, EVERYTHING.

>> CONTENT IS CHANGING.

>> BONNIE: IT IS NEVER ON TV BUT IT IS A TV SHOW WITH -- >> I THINK WE'LL SEE IT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE BUT IT IS STILL TERRIBLY DISHEARTENING WITH THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT GO TO THE BIGGER SOURCES AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET THE MONEY THEY NEED AND WANT TO TAKE IT TO AMERICA.

COMES DOWN TO FUNDING GREAT POINT.

>> BONNIE: AND ON TOP OF THAT, HILLARY CLINTON, THE OBAMAS, BILL CLINTON ARE ALL -- WELL, HILLARY CLINTON HAS A DEAL TO DO A STORY WITH -- >> WITH STEPHEN SPILLBERG.

>> BONNIE: EXACTLY.

THAT IS -- AND HE'S -- HE'S THE RARE >> HE'S THE RARE, RIGHT?

THE RARE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER.

>> BONNIE: AND SHE'S THE RARE WOMAN THAT HAS ACCESS TO PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

>> I KNOW THAT NICE NIECE HAS BEEN IN MANY FILMS AND NOW CURRENTLY ON 2 TV SHOWS, SHE STRUGGLES TO FIND STRONG WOMEN ROLES AND SHE WON'T TAKE A ROLE THAT DOESN'T PORTRAY THAT.

BUT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR HER TO FIND THOSE.

AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY IS THIS A CHUCKEN OR EGG THING?

WE WANT MORE FROM HOLLYWOOD.

WE WANT THEM TO GIVE US MORE DIVERSITY, INCLUSIONARY CLAUSES BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THESE FILMS, IF WE CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM BOX OFFICE DOLLARS, THEN WHY DOES HOLLYWOOD HAVE ANY REASON TO GIVE US ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?

>> DEBORAH, THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS A FILM I THINK IT WAS MICHAEL JACKSON MAY HAVE BEEN THE MAIN CHARACTER.

THEY WANTED TO CAST A WHITE MALE IN THAT ROLE.

HAVE WE AS -- AND THERE WAS HUGE BACKLASH.

ARE WE AS VIEWERS OPEN TO VIEWING DIFFERENT ROLES WITH DIFFERENT FACES AND PERHAPS EVEN DIFFERENT GENDERS AND -- >> HIS TIME THAT WAS TO BE A -- AN ASIAN MAN FROM MAN GOAL I CAN'T.

>> BONNIE: DEFINITELY NEED A LITTLE DIVERSITY TRAINING THERE.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES, RECENTLY ACTOR AND ACTIVIST JANE FONDA WENT TO CAPITOL HILL TO LOBBY FOR THE EMPOWER ACT, A BIPARTISAN BILL INTRODUCED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL WOMEN'S CAUCUS TO PROTECT WORKERS ACROSS SECTORS FROM WORKPLACE HARASSMENT.

>> LOUIS: SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS PERVASIVE, ACROSS INDUSTRIES FROM SILICON VALLEY TO THE FACTORY FLOOR.

>> BONNIE: ALTHOUGH ACTORS WERE THE FIRST TO HAVE THEIR STORIES HEARD, MANY ARE NOW USING THEIR VOICES TO BRING OTHERS INTO THE CONVERSATION.

JANE FONDA SPEAKS ALONGSIDE THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS, AND WOMEN FARM WORKERS ALLIANCES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BANDING TOGETHER.

>>JANE: THE FACT THAT WORKERS FROM THE FIELD WERE REACHING OUT, 7,000 OF THEM, REACHING OUT, TO US CELEBRITIES IN HOLLYWOOD, SAYING 'WE STAND WITH YOU,' MADE US ALL REALIZE THAT THIS NOTION THAT HAS BECOME SO IMPORTANT, OF INTERSECTIONALITY, WAS NOW BEING FLESHED OUT.

IF WE ARE GONNA TRULY CONFRONT AND SOLVE THESE ISSUES OF WORKERS' RIGHTS AND DIGNITY AND SAFETY FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND IN KINSHIP AND LOVE AND ALLIANCE WITH OUR SISTERS ACROSS SECTORS.

>> BONNIE: WOMEN IN DOMESTIC WORK, FARM WORK, AND OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO WORKPLACE HARASSMENT.

THEY WORK LONG HOURS, OFTEN IN ISOLATION, FOR LOW WAGES, AND WITHOUT MANY PROTECTIONS ENJOYED BY WOMEN IN OTHER INDUSTRIES.

>> MILY: I COME FROM A MIGRANT FARMWORKER FAMILY.

I STARTED WORKING WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE UNJUST WORKING CONDITIONS THAT CREATE RAMPANT ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN OUR INDUSTRY.

I WAS SEXUALLY HARASSED MANY TIMES, AND I WAS SILENCED, AND I COULD NOT SPEAK ABOUT IT UNTIL I LEARNED MANY YEARS LATER THAT I HAD RIGHTS AGRICULTURAL WORKERS FEED AND NOURISH OUR COUNTRY BUT FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE LABOR PROTECTIONS.

>> BONNIE: THE EMPOWER ACT HAS SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS IN BOTH PARTIES.

IN THE SENATE, A BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY DEMOCRATIC CALIFORNIA SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI OF ALASKA.

IT SEEKS TO MAKE WORKERS IN ALL INDUSTRIES LESS VULNERABLE TO HARASSMENT, AND MORE ABLE TO SPEAK UP.

>> THE EMPOWER ACT WILL PROHIBITED CLAUSES IN WORK PLASS CONTRACTS THAT WORKERS HAVE HARASSMENT AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

EMPLOYMENT, AND WILL REQUIRE PUBLIC COMPANIES TO DISCLOSE TO THE SEC SETTLEMENTS OF HARASSMENT, WILL ESTABLISH A CONFIDENTIAL TIP LINE FOR REPORTING TO THE EEOC, REFORM THE TAX CODES SO THAT SURVIVORS AREN'T PENALIZED AND TAXPAYER MONEY DOESN'T SUBSIDIZE PAYMENTS MADE BY EMPLOYERS.

FOR THE HARASSMENT CLAIMS.

>> BARBARA: NOW WE ARE SEEING THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT MAY HAVE A MUCH LARGER IMPACT ON THE WAGE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN MEN WOMEN.

IF YOU'RE A YOUNG PROMISING STUDENT AND YOU, YOU'RE DOING YOUR PHD AND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT RESEARCH WITH SOMEONE WHO SEXUALLY HARASSES YOU AND DRIVES YOU OUT OF THAT JOB, THAT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR ENTIRE CAREER.

>> JANE: WHEN THE ME TOO AND TIME'S UP MOVEMENT BURST FORTH ALMOST A YEAR AGO IN HOLLYWOOD--I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LIVE TO SEE A DAY WHEN WOMEN WERE ACTUALLY HEARD.

>> BONNIE: SO, DEBORAH, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ON THE SHOW EVER SINCE THE ME TOO MOVEMENT STARTED.

IT IS GREAT THAT THESE WOMEN WHO GET THE CHANCE TO WORK FOR THESE BIG PRODUCERS ARE COMING OUT OR THESE LESS -- THE LESS MOON VESES OF THE WORLD BUT WILL THIS TRICKLE DOWN TO WAITRESSES IN LOUISIANA WHO WORK FOR TIPS BASICALLY.

IS THIS THE SYNERGY THAT IS NEEDED TO GET THE MOVEMENT, THE ME TOO MOVEMENT DOWN TO THE WOMEN IN THE WORSE SITUATIONS WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE?

>> DEBORAH: YES.

I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE.

THAT I'M THRILLED TO SEE THIS WENT ON, ON CAPITOL HILL AND THAT WE'RE TAKING IT FROM CELEBRITIES.

WHEN THE ME TOO MOVEMENT CAME OUT EVERYBODY WAS LIKE, YEAH, OKAY.

PRIVILEGED PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SPEAK OUT AND SAY THIS.

NOT THAT IT IS NOT HARD.

BUT THEY CAN SAY IT A LOT MORE EASIER THAN SOMEONE WORKING IN THE FIELD AND PICKING GRAPES.

>> BONNIE: THE MEDIA WON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT PERSON.

>> DEBORAH: THE WOW FACTOR.

SO I THINK ABSOLUTELY IT IS NEEDED.

AND LOOK AT THE STORY THAT CAME OUT IN THE SENATE RACE DOWN IN ALABAMA.

YOU KNOW, AND THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HARASSMENT TO A WAITRESS AND HOW DISTRAUGHT SHE WAS.

YEAH, THEY'RE VERY, VERY VULNERABLE.

>> I JUST WANT TO TIP METHOUGHT MY -- TO MY FRIEND MONICA AND SHE WAS AN AUTHOR OF DEAR STUFF SISTERS LAST FALL AND SHE'S AN IMMIGRANT JUST LIKE ME AND I REALIZE HOW DIFFERENT HER EXPERIENCE WAS AS A DAUGHTER OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND HOW SHE'S STANDING UP FOR WOMEN IN LOW PAYING JOBS.

WE NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THEMSELVES TO WORK THESE JOBS.

IT IS TRICKLING DOWN BECAUSE OF ACTIVISTS LIKE HER AND PARTNERING WITH CELEBRITIES.

AND EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

THAT >> BONNIE: I LOOK AT THAT WOMAN THAT SPOKE AND SAID SHE STARTED WORK AT EIGHT.

WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?

IS IT THE FAMILY FAULT?

I MEAN, I'M NOT IN THAT -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIVE IN THAT -- IN THAT SPACE WHERE THEY LIVE BUT ARE THEY BEING RECRUITED BY THE WORKERS?

BY THE UNION PEOPLE, BY THE -- BY THE NON-UNION WORKERS, WHY WOULD AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD END UP WORKING ON AMERICAN SOIL PICKING GRAPES?

>> THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT.

AND SOMETIMES IN THESE COMMUNITIES THE IDEA THAT ANY JOB IS A GOOD JOB TO BE ABLE TO BRING HOME TO THE FAMILY IS WHAT IS PREVAILING.

AND THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NOT BROKEN UP WITH THAT MENTALITY IN OUR HOUSEHOLDS CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND SO AS THESE PEOPLE GO ON, THEY BREAK THAT CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY BECAUSE THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THE JOBS THAT OTHER AMERICANS AREN'T.

SO THIS GENERATION OF KIDS OF MIGRANT WORKERS WILL BE BETTER OFF BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES.

I'M NOT SAYING IT IS RIGHT FOR AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD UPON WORK BUT THAT EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO MAKE THAT EIGHT-YEAR-OLD WHEN SHE TURNS INTO AN 18-YEAR-OLD UNDERSTAND THE FULL BREATH OF WHAT SHE WAS EXPOSED TO.

>> THERE IS NO CHOICE.

>> INDEED.

>> THAT IS A VERY GOOD POINT.

>> THERE IS NO CHOICE.

>> THERE IS CHOICE.

THERE IS ALWAYS CHOICE FOR A PARENT NOT TO SEND A CHILD -- >> NOT IF IT IS GENERATION.

>> BEN BUDO, FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW WHEN SHE TRIED TO PUT CHILD LABOR LAWS INTO AFFECT -- I'M SORRY INDIA -- NO-NO, PAKISTAN.

THAT THE PARENTS STORMED HER PALACE AND SAID -- HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM SAID WE NEED OUR KIDS TO WORK.

WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?

>> I'M SURE THAT IS GREAT STORY BY HER AND THE FIRST GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE TALIBAN.

I THINK SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY PUT IN THE ECONOMY.

I WAS BORN IN BANGLADESH.

WHEN YOU HAVE A STARVATION RATE OF OVER 50% EVERYBODY IN YOUR HOUSE HAS TO WORK BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT STARVATION, SURVIVAL AND DEATH.

>> I HAVE BEEN IN COUNTRIES, ETHIOPIA IN PARTICULAR THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO LET THE STUDENTS BE STUDENTS AND NOT PUT THEM IN THE FIELDS.

YOU'RE IN A CYCLE OF POVERTY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT OF.

I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT SOME CAN CLIMB OUT BUT ALLOTOPE OFTEN YOU SEE THIS GO ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION TO GENERATION GO WORK IN THE FIELD.

WE'RE STARVING.

GO STARVING.

YOU CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL.

WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY UNLESS YOU BREAK THAT.

>> I MEAN I THINK THAT IS TRUE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES THOUGH I WOULDN'T EXPECT AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD TO BE WORKING UNLESS THEY HAVE THEIR LEMONADE STAND ON THE CORNER.

I DO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME FAMILY THAT DEAL WITH -- >> BONNIE: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING ADULT WORK IN THE FIELD.

>> WHICH COMES DOWN ON THE PEOPLE THAT HIRED THIS CHILD OR -- THAT IS THE -- >> THE LAW IS NOT BEING ENFORCED.

>> BONNIE: YOU SAY THE PARENTS THAT PUT THAT CHILD OUT THERE PLAY NO PART.

>> NO, I THINK THEY DO HOLD RESPONSIBILITY.

I WONDER WHY WEREN'T THEY WORKING, WERE THEY WORKING, WERE THEY NOT MAKING ENOUGH?

WERE THEY HERE ILLEGALLY AND DOES THEIR LEGAL STATUS PLAY A ROLE HERE?

I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO HER UNIQUE STORY.

I DON'T THINK HER UNIQUE STORY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL WOMEN OR PEOPLE WHO UNFORTUNATELY EXPERIENCE SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> BONNIE: SO HOW ABOUT THE EMPOWER ACT, DO WE THINK IT IS GOING TO PASS REPUBLICAN CONGRESS?

>> NO.

>> I DON'T THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD MICROMANAGE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS AT THAT LEVEL.

>> BONNIE: YOU DON'T THINK FOR LOW INCOME WOMEN THERE SHOULDN'T BE PROTECTIONS AGAINST GETTING RAPED ROUTINELY ON THEIR JOBS?

>> THERE ARE PROTECTIONS.

I THINK THERE IS SOME INTERESTING IDEAS -- >> BONNIE: THERE ARE PROTECTION?

>> IN THAT ACT THERE IS NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS AND DISCLOSING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SOMETIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE THOSE CLAUSES ARE THERE TO PROTECT VICTIMS AND THEIR IDENTITIES SO WHEN WE TAKE A BROAD BRUSH APPROACH TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION, THERE IS SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER DEALT WITH AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE A LOST STATES ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH IT.

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

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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>> BE MORE.