THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL SAYS THE GOP HAS A WOMAN PROBLEM.

THEN, LITTLE PROGRESS IN HIRING FOR BLACKS AND HISPANICS SINCE 1989.

AND, THE IMPACT OF EARNINGS ON SPOUSAL PERCEPTIONS.

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

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

UP FIRST, A SURPRISING ADMISSION.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2018, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL IS REPORTEDLY CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN VOTERS AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

ACCORDING TO THE MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER, MCCONNELL WANTED THE SEE A WOMAN APPOINTED TO THE ALABAMA SENATE SEAT VACATED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS.

THAT, BECAUSE -QUOTE "WE ARE MADE UP OF OLD WHITE MEN IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY" END QUOTE.

HE TOLD ALABAMA'S GOVERNOR THAT CONSIDERING A WOMAN WOULD BE REALLY GOOD FOR THE PARTY.

THE GOVERNOR DID NOT APPOINT A WOMAN.

THE GOP'S LACK OF DIVERSITY IS REALLY NO SECRET AND HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AN ISSUE FOR SOME TIME NOW - BUT NOW THE MAJORITY LEADER SEES IT AS AN ISSUE.

ONLY FIVE OF THE 52 REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE WOMEN, THREE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND 33 ARE 60 YEARS OLD OR OLDER.

IN A QUINNIPIAC POLL EARLIER THIS YEAR 65 PERCENT OF WOMEN SAID THEY HAVE AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW OF REPUBLICANS.

SO, CAN REPUBLICANS WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF WOMEN PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE 20 APRIL ELECTIONS.

>> THEY CAN AND THEY WILL IF THEY FOCUS ON IT.

WE'VE SEEM IT BEFORE.

BILL POWERS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW YORK PARTY MADE AN EFFORT WHEN HILLARY BECAME THE SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.

>> BONNIE, NOT AS THEY CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.

REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHICH DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFITS WOMEN.

>> WE ARE TAKING A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I THINK WE CAN AND HAVING FRESHER FACES AND NEWER LOOKS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL MODEL OF OLD WHITE MEN WHO ARE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS WE KNOW IT.

>> CHANGE THEIR POLICIES AND ISSUES TO ATTRACT WOMEN.

WOMEN ARE INCREASINGLY HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS AND THEY DID AWAY WITH THIS IDEA OF WAGE PARITY THAT IS GOING TO PLAY INTO IT AS MUCH AS REPEALING THE HEALTHCARE ACT.

>> DO THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO DO THAT TOO?

THEY ARE TRYING TO CHANGE MESSAGING FOR 2018 BUT HILLARY WON WHITE WOMEN BUT -- BUT SHE LOST BIG AMONG MEN.

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS WHEN THEY WERE TALKING TO VOTERS, ESPECIALLY WHITE WORKING CLASS VOTERS THEY DID NOT LEAD WITH ISSUES OF ECONOMICS AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES.

AND THIS IS A CRITIQUE THAT I OFTEN HAVE.

THE MAJORITY OF WHITE AMERICANS ARE 56, 57 YEARS OLD.

IF YOU ARE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND THE ONLY ISSUE IS FAMILY LEAVE AND NOT TALKING ABOUT MEETING THAT VOTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THIS CASE, A WHITE 56-YEAR-OLD WHITE WOMAN MAY HAVE LOST HER HOUSE AND THE RETIREMENT DURING THE RECESSION.

HER HUSBAND IS TRYING TO RETOOL IN THE ECONOMY AND SHE HAS HER MILLENNIAL SON LIVING WITH HER.

>> I AGREE.

BOTH PARTIES TO RETOOL THEIR MESSAGE.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A STRONG MESSAGE FOR WOMEN.

AND THEY HAVE TO LEARN BETTER HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH WOMEN.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE STRONG MESSAGE FOR WOMEN IS?

>> JOBS.

THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT.

THEY WANT JOBS FOR THEMSELVES AND KIDS, AND THEY WANT A FUTURE FOR THIRD R THEIR KIDS AND THEY WANT TAX REFORM JUST AS MUCH AS MEN DO.

>> THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

THEY THINK THAT GENERIC ISSUES LIKE JOBS AND TAX REFORM APPEAL TO WOMEN.

SURE THEY APPEAL TO WOMEN.

DEMOCRATIC WOMEN, TOO.

BUT YOU GOT TO FOCUS ON WHERE WOMEN THEMSELVES ARE.

AND I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO McCONNELL.

BECAUSE SELF CRITICISM IS THE BEST THING THAT ANY POLITICIAN CAN ENGAGE IN.

I MEAN OPEN SELF CRITICISM AND HE SAID THE TRUTH.

WE SHOULD NOT DENY THAT TRUTH.

>> ONE MORE REPUBLICAN WOMAN FROM ALABAMA?

WOULD THAT HAVE HELPED?

>> ONE BY ONE.

IT SHOULD WOULD HELP.

LET ME BE EVEN HANDED HERE.

THE CRITIQUE I MAKE OF MY PARTY WHICH IS A PARTY THAT HAS ATTRACTED WOMEN IS HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE LOSE THE LAST ELECTION?

WHEN OUR MAIN MESSAGE EVER SINCE THE NEW DEAL HAS BEEN AN ECONOMIC MESSAGE.

AND LOOK WHO WE LOST.

WE LOST WHITE UNION MEN.

SO WHAT YOU HEAR DEMOCRATS DOING IS CRITICIZING THEMSELVES FOR THAT.

AND SAYING WE ARE GOING BACK IT GET OUR BASE WHO DESERTED US, SMALL NUMBERS BUT ENOUGH TO CARRY THE LAST ELECTION TO DONALD TRUMP.

>> BUT DIVIDING OUT FROM POLICY.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN BARRIERS FOR REPUBLICAN WOMEN FOR RECRUITMENT AND GETTING WOMEN TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

WE HAD A POOL OF WOMEN AND YOU SEE McCONNELL TRYING TO JUMP START THAT PROCESS SAYING LET'S APPOINT A WOMAN IN ALABAMA BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BUILT IN PLACE TO SUPPORT WOMEN CANDIDATES IN OFFICE WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I WORK WITH A NUMBER OF GROUPS TO FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING.

WE HAVE WOMEN THAT ARE NOW RUNNING THE RNC.

AND THE YOUNGEST WOMAN IN CONGRESS NOW LEADING RECRUITMENT.

WE HAVE OPENINGS TO CREATE A FACE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IS NOT A CONVENTIONAL FACE.

AND THE POLICY POINTS ASIDE, I RECOGNIZE THOSE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE BEHIND THE 8 BALL HAVING FOUR OR FIVE WOMEN IN THE U.S. SENATE AND WE HAVE TO KICK START THAT PROCESS SOMEHOW.

>> AND WHAT IS ASPIRING ABOUT HAVING MORE WOMEN IN THE SENATE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE LEADING THE HEALTHCARE CHARGE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND TAKING THE VOTES THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED.

AND TO YOUR POINT -- >> I THOUGHT IT WAS CHUCK AND NANCY.

>> NANCY.

BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THERE IS A HUGE DEFICIT WHERE WOMEN IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.

THE FACT THAT EMILY'S LIST HAS 22000 WOMEN WHO HAVE THROWN THEIR HAT IN THE RING IT'S MORE THAN A VACUUM ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I IDENTIFY WITH THE PARTY AND SEE HOW I CAN PROPEL THAT.

WE ARE LOSING CONGRESSIONAL WOMEN BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING INTO GOVERNOR'S RACES AND MARY FALLON STRONG MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO LEFT CONGRESS, MY POINT IS LIKE WE HAVE WOMEN WHO ARE LEAVING CONGRESS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND THEY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL AND THEY CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A FACTOR AS WELL.

>> AND WOMEN HAVE TO BE ASKED TO RUN BY AND LARGE AND THE DEMOCRATS DID MORE ASKING THAN WE DID.

I CITED BILL POWERS WHENS WAS NEW YORK CHAIRMAN HE MADE A DECISION HE WAS AGGRESSIVELY GOING TO ASK WOMEN TO RUN.

AND WHEN HE DID, MORE WOMEN WERE ELECTED IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> IF THE SENATE NEXT WEEK IS ABLE TO OVERTURN OBAMACARE, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, WILL THAT LOSE WOMEN AT THE POLLS IN 2018?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THE HEALTHCARE DEBATE IS NOT CONCENTRATED SOLELY ON WHETHER THIS BILL IMPACTS WOMEN.

IT IMPACTS ALL AMERICANS AND PARTICULARLY IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

>> IT AFFECTION ALL AMERICANS.

YOU TRY OVERTURNING OBAMACARE AND THE SHIP IS GOING TO LEAN SO FAR AWAY FROM REPUBLICANS THEY WILL WISH THEY HAD LEFT WELL ENOUGH ALONE.

>> HERE IS WHERE WE DISAGREE AND THAT IS WHEN THE NEXT ROUND OF PREMIUMS COMES UP IF ACA HAS BEEN REPEALED AND THEY GET HEALTH INSURANCE CARD THEY CAN USE BECAUSE THE DEDUCTIBLES ARE REASONABLE, BECAUSE MORE COMPETITION, THEN THERE WON'T BE ANY PROBLEM.

>> WHAT IN THE WORLD MAKES ANYBODY THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF REPEALING THE ACA?

>> COMPETITION WILL DRIVE IT.

ALWAYS HAS.

>> I MEAN, I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE BASICALLY EVERY SINGLE MEDICAL INDUSTRY THAT IS OPPOSED TO THIS.

EVERYTHING FROM THE INSURERS TO MEDICAL DOCTORS YOU MENTION EVERYBODY AND THEY ARE SAYING WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

GRASSLEY SAID IT'S BECAUSE WE PROMISED IT TO THE VOTERS.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS A PLAN B.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND FOLKS THAT VOTED FOR REPUBLICANS FEEL MORE AT EASE IN OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION.

>> IN THE UNITED STATES WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN AWAY A BENEFIT OR MADE A BENEFIT LESS THAN IT WAS.

AND IF YOU THINK WOMEN ARE GOING TO STAND FOR THAT WHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AFFECTS THEM MUCH MORE THAN IT AEXIFS MEN THEN YOU DO NOT KNOW WOMEN.

>> ACA IS A DISASTER.

THE PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP IN MANY STATES.

>> AND THE ANSWER IS NOT TO REPEAL IT.

THE ANSWER IS TO DO WHAT WE DID WITH SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, THEY TOO WERE IMPERFECT AND WHAT WE DID IS TAILOR THEM NOT TO REPEAL THEM.

>> IT IS A START.

IT'S REPEALING SOME OF THE PARTS THAT ARE MOST DAMAGING.

AGAIN, EVERYBODY IS INSURED.

BOLONEY.

THEY HAD A CARD THEY COULD NOT USE BECAUSE THE DEDUCTIBLES WERE OUT OF CONTROL.

>> WHAT THE SENATE IS CONSIDERING A FULL REPEAL.

>> NO.

>> LETTING STATES OPT-OUT WHICH MEANS THEY WILL.

>> AND I SAY YOU HAVE TWO WOMEN LISA MURKOWSKI AND SUSAN COLLINS AND YOU MAY SEE A THIRD WOMEN TO VOTE AGAINST THIS.

AND IF THEY DO WE WILL NOT BE TALKING ABOUT THIS NEXT WEEK.

>> AGAIN, WOMEN.

>> I DO NOT DISPUTE THAT FOR ONE SECOND.

>> LOOKING AHEAD AGAIN, WHAT IS EVERYBODY'S FORECAST WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

THERE IS NO CHANCE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES, THERE IS NO CHANCE THE DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE BACK THE HOUSE?

>> THE REASON WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE IS THAT THE REPUBLICANS GERRYMANDERED THE HELL OUT OF THE STATES.

AND TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IN THE LAST THREE ELECTIONS, WE WON THERE WERE MORE DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED THAN REPUBLICANS.

AND YET WE DID NOT WIN MORE SEATS BECAUSE THEY ARE GERRYMANDERED INTO DISTRICTS AND THEIR VOTE DID NOT COUNT.

IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE TO OVERCOME THAT GERRYMANDERING.

>> ONE PREDICTION I THINK OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS DEPENDING HOW CONGRESS IS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING OR NOTHING, TAX, HEALTHCARE, INFRASTRUCTURE, OTHER ISSUES, KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT OPEN AND IMMIGRATION IT'S POTENTIAL THAT YOU SEE A NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE ARE NOT FIGHTING A PRIMARY TO COMPETE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY CONGRESS.

>> 22000 YOUNG WOMEN RECRUITED BY EMILY'S LIST AND RUNNING START AND ALL THE GROUPS WILL BE RUNNING FOR THOSE SEATS.

>> RIGHT.

BUT IF WE THOUGHT THAT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WERE EXPENSIVE NOW, OPENING THE SEATS WILL BECOME MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM WOMEN AND POLITICS TO JOB OFFERS AND RACE.

A NEW STUDY CHARGES RACISM REMAINS AN OBSTACLE FOR MANY BLACK JOB SEEKERS.

THE STUDY FOUND THE SAME ANTI-BLACK HIRING DISCRIMINATION THAT EXISTED IN 1989 IS STILL AS WIDESPREAD TODAY.

RESEARCHERS FROM HARVARD AND THREE OTHER PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS CONDUCTED TWO SEPARATE EXPERIMENTS.

IN ONE SCENARIO, RESUMES WERE SENT OUT WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS BUT SOME HAD STEREOTYPICAL BLACK OR LATINO NAMES WHILE OTHERS HELD NAMES USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH WHITES.

THE SECOND EXPERIMENT ENTAILED SENDING JOB SEEKERS TO APPLY IN PERSON WITH AGAIN THE SAME EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE.

SOME WERE BLACK OR BROWN WHILE OTHER APPLICANTS WERE WHITE.

THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT THE WHITE APPLICANTS RECEIVED, ON AVERAGE, 36% MORE CALLBACKS THAN EQUALLY QUALIFIED AFRICAN-AMERICAN APPLICANTS AND 24% MORE CALLBACKS THAN LATINO CANDIDATES.

SO ELEANOR, YOU USED TO RUN THE EEOC BUT ALSO I WAS SHOCKED WITH ALL THE DIVERSITY, DIVERSITY AT LEAST UNTIL PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME INTO OFFICE WAS THE MOST FASHIONABLE THING IN CORPORATE AMERICA.

THEY WERE HIRING CONSULTANTS HOW TO BECOME DIVERSE.

BY HIRING MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR, HIRING MORE WOMEN.

BUT THEY NEEDED CONSULTANTS TO INSTRUCT THEM IN IT AND ALL THE MAJOR CORPORATIONS DOING ALL THIS TO DIVERSIFY AND WE ARE STILL STUCK IN 1989?

>> DEMORALIZING, BONNIE.

BUT AS I LOOK AT IT HOW COULD THIS BE?

WHEN I CHAIRED THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO DO SO AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS ELECTROFIED BY FEMINISM AND THE NOTION OF GETTING SOMEWHERE ON NOT ONLY WOMEN BUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AS WELL.

AND I NOTICE THIS IN THE 70s AND 80s IS THE HIGH POINT.

BUT IT DOES TELL US WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T KEEP THE ISSUE BEFORE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING AS OLD AS THE MILLENIUM.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN.

AND IF YOU RELAX BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE BETTER AND IT IS A LITTLE BETTER, THEN WE WILL SLIDE BACK.

BECAUSE IT'S MUCH TOO ENTRENCHED TO REQUIRE ANYTHING BUT LONG-TERM EFFORT THAT DOES NOT LET UP.

>> MEDIA SPOTLIGHT ON COMPANIES THAT DISCRIMINATE HELPS.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, WHAT DID WOMEN HAVE TO DO TO HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH?

THEY HAD TO GET OUT AND START THEIR OWN COMPANIES.

AND BY 2018 IT'S PROJECTED THAT HALF OF ALL NEW JOBS IN OUR ECONOMY WILL BE CREATED BY WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.

THAT IS SPECTACULAR.

>> BY 2018?

A YEAR FROM NOW?

>> YOU GOT IT.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REVISION TO THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HAILING THAT.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO HANG THEIR OWN SHINGLE YOU HAD SBA LOANS THAT THE GOVERNMENT GAVE.

>> AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

>> AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AND IN THE TRUMP BUDGET ONE OF THE LINE ITEMS SINGLED OUT.

AS WE CONTINUE -- >> NO LONGER NEED DIVERSITY?

>> THE LOANS, THE SBA LOANS ARE BASICALLY NO LONGER PART OF THE LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET.

TYPICALLY, THE GOVERNMENT WHEN WE SEE MAJOR CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY, THE TIMES WHEN WE SEE MAJOR CHANGE IS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENES AND SAYS LOOK WE DO NOT HAVE PARITY WHETHER IT IS A GOVERNMENT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT IS A STUDY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT HELPS CHANGE BEHAVIOR.

AND I AGREE.

I THINK THAT THE MEDIA ALLOWS TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS.

BUT NOT JUST THE MEDIA.

WE HAVE TO ENSURE THERE ARE REGULATIONS IN PLACE THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO FEEL PENALIZED IF THEY ARE NOT MOVING THE COUNTRY FORWARD.

>> I AM NOT AN EXPERT BUT AS A MINORITY WOMAN NAMED JENNIFER HIGGINS THERE WAS NO SURPRISE WHEN I WALKED INTO THE OFFICE.

YOU SEE THE CONCENTRATION OF POWER IN HR OFFICES AND HR MANAGERS AND WE CANNOT OFTEN CHANGE THAT SORT OF SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF HIRING AS IT RELATES TO PEOPLE SAYING I LOOK AT YOU AND I SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR AND THAT IS WHY I'M HIRING YOU OR NOT.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO LOOK DIFFERENT WAYS TO TEST ON PEOPLE'S BIASES AS HIRING MANAGERS.

MAYBE THAT HELPS BY IMPOSES THAT ON EMPLOYERS.

AND THE OTHER PIECE THAT IS ALSO SOME LEVEL OF PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS ABOUT THE TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING HIRED IN CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTS AND SOME IS PUBLIC.

BUT THE MORE WILLINGNESS THAT CORPORATIONS HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT.

PUT PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE ORGANIZATION AND SAY WE NEED MORE WOMEN OR MINORITIES.

>> HERE AS ELEANOR MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU HAVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHING BACK ON REGULATIONS THAT WERE IN PLACE FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO FORCE COMPANIES TO MAKE ALL THAT INFORMATION MORE AVAILABLE.

>> RIGHT.

AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH RESPECT TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN PUSHING THAT ALONG.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A GOVERNMENT PRESSURE POINT -- >> WHY ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE ONLY GOING TO BE PROMPTED BY GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND OTHERS THAT WILL BE VOLUNTARY ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE MINORITY HIRING PRACTICES.

>> AND ONE PIECE OF WOMEN'S HISTORY IF WOMEN UNDERSTOOD THE PART WOMEN HAVE PLAYED IN BUSINESS, FRANCHISING WAS A CONCEPT DEVELOPED BY WOMEN.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WOMEN IN BUSINESS DID THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC DOES NOT KNOW AND IT WILL INSPIRE MORE WOMEN TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND MINORITIES TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.

>> DO WE FROM THIS REPORT, DO WE KNOW THAT WOMEN ARE DOING WORSE THAN PEOPLE OF COLOR?

OR PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE DOING WORSE THAN WOMEN, RIGHT?

IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE OF COLOR -- SO I THINK, AND THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE.

IN FACT, THE NUMBER ONE LEADERS OF HANGING A SHINGLE ARE HISPANIC WOMEN.

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HANG A SHINGLE.

YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE APPROPRIATELY RESOURCED AND FINANCED AND YOU HAVE THE LEARNINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO THE FUNCTIONS OF A COMPANY.

RIGHT.

AND THAT IS WHERE YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT SO THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THE LONG-RUN.

>> THE TEST SHOWS IF ANYTHING PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE DOING WORSE BECAUSE THEY ARE USING FIRST NAMES NOT LAST NAMES.

AND SOMETHING ARE NOT GIVING THEM INTERVIEWS.

THIS IS BAD.

THIS IS RETRO CONGRESS.

>> SPOTLIGHT.

>> AGAIN IT'S THIS IDEA THAT WE ARE NOT PREPARING OUR COUNTRY FOR THE FUTURE.

GENERATION Z WILL BE VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MIDTERMS THEY ARE THE LAST WHITE MAJORITY IN THIS COUNTRY.

MY CHILDREN WHO ARE THREE AND FIVE THEY ARE MAJORITY MINORITY.

IF WE DO NOT HAVE FOLKS AND WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR REFLECTING THE COUNTRY, WE ARE NOT PREPARING OURSELVES ECONOMICALLY FOR THE FUTURE NOT ONLY FOR THE UNITED STATES BUT TO CONTINUE PLAYING ON A GLOBAL STAGE.

FROM HIRING DISCRIMINATION TO HOUSEHOLD INCOMES.

IN ABOUT A THIRD OF US MARRIED OR COHABITING COUPLES, WOMEN EARN AS MUCH AS OR MORE THAN MEN.

THIS IS A NEW FINDING INCLUDED IN A PEW RESEARCH CENTER STUDY OUT THIS WEEK.

WOMEN ARE QUICKLY RISING AS FAMILY EARNERS----MORE WOMEN ARE ADVANCING TO COLLEGE DEGREES AND GRADUATE SCHOOL.

THESE TRENDS, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT WOMEN WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND INCOME ARE MORE LIKELY TO MARRY, HAVE BOOSTED THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF MARRIED HOUSEHOLDS.

TODAY, MARRIED ADULTS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN UPPER-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAN ARE NON-MARRIED ADULTS.

BUT ACCORDING TO A PEW POLL, LOWER-INCOME ADULTS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN THOSE IN HIGHER-INCOME FAMILIES TO SAY EARNING POWER TO SUPPORT A FAMILY IS CRITICAL TO MAKING A MAN OR WOMAN A GOOD SPOUSE OR PARTNER.

FOR EXAMPLE, 41% OF ADULTS WITH ANNUAL FAMILY INCOMES BELOW $30,000 SAY THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A WOMAN, COMPARED WITH 23% OF THOSE WITH INCOMES OF $75,000 OR MORE.

SO IS THIS WHY PAY INEQUITY PERSISTS?

>> BECAUSE -- >> BECAUSE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SAY IT IS OK, IT'S GOOD FOR A WOMAN TO EARN MORE AND IT'S IMPORTANT IN HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER PARTNER OR SPOUSE.

WHEREAS UPPER INCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE THE ONES DOING THE HIRING, DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

>> WELL, THEY PUT LESS PRESSURE.

IF YOU ARE EARNING MORE YOU HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY OF HOW YOU USE YOUR TIME AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY HAVE TO WORK.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAY AT HOME.

AND AS A RESULT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCE THAN THE PERSON WHO IS BELOW THE POVERTY LINE SAYING NO, IN ORDER TO FEED MY CHILDREN I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY WIFE OR SPOUSE IS EARNING EQUALLY FOR THE SAME WORK.

>> ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO NOT HAVE THIS ATTITUDE THAT YOU KNOW, MEN ARE THE PRIMARY BREAD WINNERS AND -- >> I THINK SO.

I THINK SOME IS A SOCIETAL SHIFT AND YOU SEE THAT IN GENERATIONS.

I AM IN MY LATE 30s, NOT MARRIED AND NO CHILDREN SPENT TIME TRYING TO BUILD FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE MAYBE THAT IS NOT CONVENTIONAL BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF BUILDING UPON THAT GENERATIONAL NOTION WHETHER YOU ARE LOW INCOME OR MIDDLE CLASS OR HIGH INCOME FROM A FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PRINCE CHARMING EFFECT NEEDS TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.

A MAN IS GOING TO COME IN AND SUPPORT YOU AND TAKE CARE OF YOU.

IF YOU CAN POSITION YOURSELF, YOU CAN DO THAT YOURSELF.

AND THEN YOU ARE MARRYING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS THAN THE TRADITIONAL NORM.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED NOW IN A THIRD OF COUPLES WOMEN OUTEARN THE MEN?

>> I AM ACTUALLY.

BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT DESPITE THAT, APPARENTLY NOT JUST AMONG LOW INCOME PEOPLE, PEOPLE STILL THINK THAT THE MALE BREAD WINNER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

IF THAT WERE THE CASE THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT WOULD NOT BE WELL OFF TODAY.

AND LET ME SAY SOMETHING I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IF ANYONE HAS SUFFERED IN THE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY IT IS MEN.

BECAUSE THEY WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY DEAND PENDENT UPON -- DEPENDENT ON MEN'S WORK AND THAT HAS GONE OFFSHORE.

THE MANUFACTURING JOBS AND THE REST AND THEY HAVE TO RETRAIN WHO THEY ARE AS A MAN.

AND TO ACCUSTOM THEMSELVES TO JOBS THAT REQUIRE KNOWLEDGE IN THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY.

>> ARE WOMEN WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT IF THEY OUTEARN THEIR SPOUSES?

>> I THINK SOME ARE BUT VERY MUCH IT IS A GENERATION THING.

MEN WERE THREATENED IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHEN THE WOMEN MADE MORE.

NOT THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

>> A LOT ARE HAPPY TO STAY HOME WITH THE KIDS AND BE THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER.

>> MORE AND MORE.

I SEE MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AS PARTNERS RATHER THAN IN THE MORE TRADITIONAL MARRIED COUPLE.

>> I THINK THAT IS RIGHT.

AND IF YOU ASK OFTENTIMES FOLKS THAT MAY NOT BE DOING WELL WHY THEY DON'T VOTERS IT'S BECAUSE THE ECONOMICS BETWEEN THEM.

>> MARRIAGE WAS ORIGINALLY AN ECONOMIC CONCEPT ANYWAY.

>> IT STILL IS.

>> STILL TAX CONSEQUENCES.

>> DO YOU THINK MALE BOSSES FEEL MORE SO THAT MEN SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY BREAD WINNER?

OR IS THAT CHANGING, TOO?

>> ENLIGHTENED ONES DO.

>> I'M SURE OF IT.

I'M SURE IF MEN -- THE BOSSES HAD TO MAKE A DECISION THEY WOULD OPT FOR THE MAN AS THE QUOTE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

>> IN THE OLD DAYS YOU GET A MALE BLESSING SO AND SO HAS TO SUPPORT HER FAMILY.

YOU NEVER CATCH A BOSS SAYING THAT UNLESS THEY WANTED A DISCRIMINATION SUIT.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE VIEWS OF UPPER INCOME FAMILIES VERSUS... WHY ARE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES MORE WILLING THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE WOMAN TO BE A BIG EARNER?

>> BECAUSE OF SINGLE WOMAN HOUSEHOLDS THEY ARE GROWING IN LARGE NUMBERS THAT THEY KNOW THEY ARE ALL THAT THERE IS.

SO THEY STEP UP AND SAY THE WOMAN IS THE ONE WHO HAS TO EARN MONEY BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONE WHO DISPROPORTIONATELY, RAISES THE CHILDREN.

>> SINGLE WOMEN HEADED HOUSEHOLDS ARE THEY PREDOMINANT AMONG FAMILIES EARNING 30,000 AND LESS?

>> YES.

>> DO WE HAVE DATA ON THAT?

>> YES.

>> FAR MORE AS YOU RISE UP THE INCOME LEVEL.

>> THAT IS PART OF THE SOURCE OF CONTINUING POVERTY.

>> ALL KINDS OF POLLS AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN IF YOU MARRY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A KID BEFORE YOU GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, BETTER YET, COLLEGE, AND IF YOU MARRY BEFORE YOU HAVE CHILDREN YOU ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY THAN WHY HAVEN'T ALL THE WOMEN WHO ARE SINGLE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS HEEDED THAT MESSAGE?

>> BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE.

>> IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO.

>> TANGOING.

THE.

>> THE MEDIA SPENDS MORE TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT STUFF THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE.

>> THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[♪♪] A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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