ACTION >>> BEHIND THIS HEADLINES FOR THIS FATHER'S DAY HOW WOMENS EQUALITY ELEVATES MEN.

>>> WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY.

A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND CULTURE TRENDS.

UP FIRST, GENDER ISSUES IN THE 2020 ELECTIONS.

ACCORDING TO A JUNE MORNING CONSULT POLL, 14% OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS RATE WOMENS ISSUES AS A TOP PRIORITY.

THAT'S UP FROM 6% IN MAY.

AN INCREASE FOLLOWS A JUMP IN THE NUMBER OF STATES PASSIONING LAWS SEVERELY LIMITING WOMENS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WHICH HAS IN TURN SPARKED A GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO WANT TO DEFEND ABORTION RIGHTS AGAINST THE STATE ONSLAUGHT.

HARRIS WANTS TO PUT A CHECK ON THE ABILITY OF ANY STATE TO ENACT LAWS CONTRADICTING ROE WHILE GILLIGRAND IS IMPOSING FUNDING TO ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CENTERS IN EVERY STATE BUT WITH SIX WOMEN RUNNING FOR THE NOMINATION THERE HAS BEEN A FOCUS ON OTHER MATERNAL ISSUES SUCH AS EQUAL PAY AND MA TERN MORTALITY.

>> WILL WOMENS ISSUES FINALLY PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN THE 2020 ELECTION MORE SO THAN IN RECENT YEARS.

>> BONNIE, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE PROLOGUE.

IT IS WOMEN WHO ARE CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE FOR FLIPPING THE HOUSE THIS YEAR.

>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME ALTHOUGH I THINK THEY'VE PLAYED A BIG ISSUE BEFORE BACK IN 92.

WOMEN'S VOTES DID SWING THE ELECTION AWAY FROM GEORGE BUSH THE FIRST SO IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME BUT IT'S TIME TO SEE IT MORE.

>> MILLIONS OF WOMEN MARCHING IN THE STREETS ARE NOT WRONG AND I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE GENDER BE DECISIVE IN THIS PRIMARY.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY GENDER ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT BUT ALL ISSUES ARE WOMENS ISSUES AND THAT GOES FROM HEALTHCARE DOWN TO THE ECONOMY AND I THINK THOSE WILL STILL TRUMP SOME OF THESE GENDER-RELATED ISSUES.

>> RIGHT.

BUT THE STEREOTYPICAL IF YOU WILL WOMANS ISSUE WHICH, YOU KNOW, WAXES AND WANES IN TERMS OF IMPORTANCE RIGHT NOW IS EXTREMELY MORONITY NOT BECAUSE ANYTHING THE LEFT IS DOING BUT BECAUSE THE RIGHT IS SO AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO GET ROW OVERTURNED.

IS THAT -- ROE OVERTURNED.

IS THAT WHY WOMENS ISSUES ARE MORE IMPORTANT?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY WHY THEY'RE ON THE FRONT PAGE.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE PARTICULARLY WOMEN THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

BUT WE ARE STILL VERY FAR OUT FROM 2020 AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF WOULD BE REMARKABLE.

PARTICULARLY IF SOMETHING NEGATIVE HAPPENS IN THE ECONOMY OR SOMETHING HAPPENS ON THE FOREIGN POLICY SCENE THAT NO ONE EXPECTED.

WHILE RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE BIG ISSUES, I HESITATE TO SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DECISIVE FACTORS IN 2020.

>> BUT THE ABORTION ISSUE, THIS IS NOT -- THIS WAS NOT A GOOD MOVE IN THESE STATES TO -- >> BY THE RIGHT YOU MEAN.

>> BY THE RIGHT WHO ARE TRYING TO PROP UP THE ABORTION ISSUE.

THE ABORTION ISSUE IS A FAIRLY SETTLED ISSUE IN OUR COUNTRY.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A TURN AROUND ON ABORTION AND BY COMING FORWARD WITH THE MOST EXTREME VERSIONS OF ABORTION, WHAT THAT HAS DONE IS TAKE AN ISSUE WHICH HAS NOT REALLY BEEN TOP TIER FOR DEMOCRAT DEMOCRATS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD ABORTION A TOP TIER ISSUE AND NOW THEY'RE MAKING IT A TOP TIER FOR DEMOCRATS AND THAT'S WHAT I FIND AMAZE SGLG THE HEARTBEAT BILL WAS -- WHEN IT HIT GEORGIA.

ALABAMA, THAT WAS A WHOLE OTHER THING.

PAT ROBERTSON THINKS IT'S TOO EXTREME.

I WOULD SAY THAT MAKES IT TOO EXTREME.

>> BUT WILL YOUR PARTISAN VOTERS AGREE WITH YOU?

DO YOU SEE REPUBLICAN MODERATE REPUBLICANS STRAYING TO THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME ACTIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IN THE SOUTH?

>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF CAMERA.

I'VE SEEN SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING.

SINCE GOVERNOR NORTHERN MADE THOSE COMMENTS ABOUT POST BIRTH ABORTIONS, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A LOT OF PRO-CHOICE REPUBLICANS HORRIFIED IN SEEING THEM RETHINK THEIR POSITION ON ABORTION AND BE LESS ACTIVE ON IT BECAUSE OF IT.

THEY HAD A REALLY CHILLING EFFECT ON PRO-CHOICE REPUBLICANS.

>> THAT'S A DISGUSTING MISCHARACTERIZIZATION OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR SPOKE ABOUT AND THAT KIND OF RHETORIC ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE AGAINST ABORTION PROWIREDS AND THERE SHOULD BE NO DISCOURSE LIKE THAT.

>> NOTHING I SAID WAS INFLAMMATORY.

>> TO GO BACK TO -- >> WAIT A SECOND.

WHAT DO YOU SAY THAT HE SAID?

>> WELL, WHAT ANNE JUST SAID WAS POST BIRTH ABORTION.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PROCEDURE.

>> HE ADDRESSED IT.

>> THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PROCEDURE.

>> HE ADDRESSED IT.

>> THE GOVERNOR MADE COMMENTS ABOUT HORRIFIC SITUATIONS THAT SOME FAMILIES FACE WHERE CHILDREN ARE BORN VERY MUCH WANTED AND LOVED CHILDREN ARE BORN AND THEY CANNOT SURVIVE AND IT'S AN NEO NATAL HOSPICE SITUATION AND THAT HAS BEEN TURNED AROUND.

THE PRESIDENT IS GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY MAKING UP LIES AND MAKING IT ESSENTIALLY CASTING DOUBT ON EXPECTANT PARENTS GOING INTO THE LABOR AND DELIVERY ROOM AROUND THE NATION.

IT'S DISGUSTING.

IT HAS NO PLACE IN DISCOURSE BUT I WANT TO GO BACK -- >> WAIT.

I WANT TO SAY ONE THING THOUGH AND I WANT TO GET ON TO THE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES AND WHERE THEY ARE ON THIS ISSUE BUT I'VE TALKED TO MANY MODERATE REPUBLICANS NOT ONE OF THEM IT'S INTERESTING HAS BROUGHT UP -- HAS BROUGHT UP THAT ISSUE BUT THEY'RE ALL SAYING BECAUSE -- IT'S LIKE THAT KIND OF -- THEY DID NOT SEE THAT.

THEY DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

WHAT THEY ARE FOCUSING ON IS ALL THESE LAWS AND THEY'RE SAYING I'M GOING TO BE FORCED TO VOTE.

USUALLY I'M INDEPENDENT.

I'M GOING TO BE FORCED TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC BECAUSE THE PARTY HAS GONE SO CRAZY.

>> YEAH.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT.

ALL THOSE LAWS ARE GOING TO GET OVERTURNED AND NOT GO FORWARD BUT TO SAY BE INFLAMMATORY.

I DIDN'T MAKE UP THESE COMMENTS.

WE HAVE VIDEO OF WHAT HE SAID AND I WAS SHOCKED.

I GOT LETTERED.

I TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST HORRIFIED AND IT SURPRISED ME HOW MUCH IT MOVED PEOPLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BACK TO WHERE I INTERRUPTED.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE REAL ISSUE THAT'S FACING THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A RADICAL ANTIABORTION MOVEMENT THAT IS DEEPLY OUT OF STEP WITH THE OPINIONS OF THIS COUNTRY.

REPUBLICANS ARE DRASTICALLY OVERREACHING AND THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT THEY HATE WOMEN.

THEY HATE WOMEN.

>> NO THEY DON'T.

>> THEY DO.

>> THAT'S TERRIBLE.

>> THE ALABAMA BILL WHEN IT WAS BEING PASSED WAS FASCINATING.

ONE THING BROUGHT UP IT WAS THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT ABOUT IVF?

DOES THIS APPLY TO AN EMBRYO IN A LAB AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR THIS BILL SAID NO BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN A WOMAN'S BODY.

THIS TRULY IS A DEBATE ABOUT WOMEN AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY.

>> IT'S A DEBATE THAT DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE MORNING AFTER PILL HAS REALLY SOLVED THIS ISSUE.

SO NOBODY GOES TO A HOSPITAL NOW TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

REPUBLICANS SHOULD GET OFF OF IT AND DEMOCRATS I THINK WENT ON THIS ISSUE SIMPLY BECAUSE MOST AMERICANS HAVE LONG FIGURED OUT THERE'S GOING TO BE DIVISION BUT WE'RE FOR THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

>> I HAVE BEEN TRACKING THIS ISSUE.

I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW OFTEN YOUNG WOMEN STILL TURN TO SURGICAL ABORTION.

AND THE MOST RECENT REPORT SAYS THERE'S STILL MORE THAN A MILLION SURGICAL ABORTIONS PER YEAR SO MAYBE THERE ARE ALSO ANOTHER MILLION WHICH MEANS THE NUMBER IS GROWING FROM 1.2 MILLION TO I DON'T KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT THE MEDICAL -- THE PHARMACEUTICAL ABORTIONS WHERE YOU TAKE A BILL.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SURVEY ON THAT BECAUSE I'M ALMOST SURE THAT TODAY'S YOUNG WOMEN KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE PREGNANT AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S THREE MONTHS.

SO I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT YOUNG WOMEN ARE DEPENDING FOR THE MOST PART ON SURGICAL ABORTION.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T THINK THAT THIS RIGHT MUST BE PRESERVED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE ALL KNOW THE HYDE AMENDMENT BARRED FEDERAL FUNDS FROM GOING FOR ABORTION EVEN IN MEDICAID CASES.

THIS WEEK JOE BIDEN FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN REVERSED HIS POSITION ON THE HYDE AMENDMENT.

IS THIS AN INDICATION THAT AMONG DEMOCRATIC VOTERS YOU BETTER BE STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE PRO CHOICE?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ACTUALLY THE FACT THAT HE FLIPPED IS GOING TO HURT HIM WORSE THAN WHAT HIS POSITION WAS BUT I THINK TO GET TO THE PRIMARIES, HE HAD TO.

>> WHY WOULD IT HURT WORSE?

>> IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> IF EVEN ANITA HILL SAID SHE WOULD PROBABLY VOTE FOR HIM THIS WEEK.

>> YEAH.

WELL, I WILL SAY THIS.

IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, THERE ARE A LOT OF POSSIBILITY DISHEARTENED TRUMP REPUBLICANS THAT MAY NOT NOW VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE OF THAT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PRO-LIFE REPUBLICANS THAT SUPPORTED HIM BECAUSE HE HAD THAT POSITION SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING BUT I THINK IT COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR HIM.

>> TENTH ABORTION MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN COMPLICIT IN SUPPORTING -- HAS SOMETHING TO ANSWER FOR BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BIDEN AND THE HYDE AMENDMENT I THINK IT SHOWS THE INCREDIBLE MUSCLE THAT THE ABORTION RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAS DEVELOPED AND IT ALSO TRACKS WITH PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT WE SEE IS THAT DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AND THIS IS 2018.

NOT 2018.

THEY MOVED DECISIVELY WHERE IT WAS A BIGGER ISSUE IN SUPPORTING A CANDIDATE.

THEY WANT CANDIDATES TO SUPPORT ABORTION RIGHTS.

>> ELIZABETH WARREN HAS STARTED MOVING UP IN SOME POLLS.

SHE'S NOW NUMBER TWO AFTER BIDEN AHEAD OF BERNIE IN SOME POLLS.

IS THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PRO-CHOICE AMERICANS EITHER WANT TO SEE A WOMAN IN OFFICE NEXT TIME OR SEE HER BRAND OF PRO CHOICE AS MORE SO THAN SANDERS, SANDERS HAS NOT DEVELOPED A HUGE FOLLOWING AMONG WOMEN ORIENTED WOMEN.

WOMEN WHO CARE FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT WOMENS ISSUES.

>> I THINK IT'S BROADER THAN THAT.

I THINK HER APPEAL IS THAT SHE BRINGS IDEAS TO THE TABLE.

ON THIS ISSUE BUT ALSO ECONOMIC ISSUES.

WHILE I DON'T AGREE WITH ANY OF THEM SHE'S PUTTING FORWARD SOME PLANS AND IDEAS THAT SAY LET'S CHALLENGE THE NORM.

LET'S PULL THINGS FURTHER TO THE LEFT AND I THINK FOR PRIMARY VOTERS THAT'S GREAT.

FOR GENERAL VOTERS, INDEPENDENTS, NOT SO GREAT.

>> AND YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WARREN.

DO YOU THINK THAT SHE -- WHICH CANDIDATE ARE YOUR PEOPLE WHERE YOU ARE ON CHOICE WHICH IS YOU STAND UP FOR THE CHOICE IN JUST ABOUT EVERY INSTANCE RIGHT?

SO PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH YOUR PLACING THAT MUCH IMPORTANCE ON THE CHOICE ISSUE WHO ARE YOU STANDING BEHIND?

>> I MEAN, THE FIELD IS FANTASTIC BY AND LARGE WITH THE GLARING EXCEPTION OF BIDEN BUT WE SAW THIS RECENT CHANGE ON HYDE WHICH IS WELCOME.

I THINK ON THE QUESTION OF WARREN SPECIFICALLY, I PERSONALLY AM VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT HER CANDIDACY.

I THINK SHE IS THE NOT BIDEN CANDIDATE MOST LIKELY TO ADVANCE AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO CULL THIS FIELD DOWN SO WE CAN HAVE A MORE SERIOUS DEBATE.

>> LAST WORD, ELEANOR.

>> VERY PAS POLICY ORIENTED.

VERY LEFT.

I WORRY ABOUT THAT IN THE GENERAL ELECTIO.

>> I ACTUALLY SAID ON THIS SHOW LAST TIME I WAS ON SHE WOULD BE THE ONE TO WATCH.

THAT SHE'S THE BEST OF THE FEMALE CANDIDATES.

>> INTERESTING.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

FROM WOMEN FOR PRESIDENT TO WOMEN ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

>> PRESIDENTIAL DAUGHTER AND ADVISOR IVANKA TRUMP IS THE FACE OF A NEW TRUMP WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE.

A STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY THAT WAS ROLLED OUT THIS WEEK.

THE PLAN WHICH HAS BIPARTISAN BACKING IS AIMED AT INCREASING WOMENS POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN PEACE AND SECURITY BY GIVING THEM ROOM AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

IF APPROVED, ALL FEDERAL AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS WORKING ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES WILL HAVE TO INCLUDE MORE WOMEN IN GLOBAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION, COUNTERTERRORISM, DISASTER RECOVERY, AND SAFETY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

THE STRATEGY STEMS FROM THE WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 2017.

RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND WOMENS PARTICIPATION IN SOLVING THESE ISSUES CREATE MORE STABLE CONDITIONS FOR THEIR COUNTRIES.

>> ANNE STONE, IN BETWEEN BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN OFFICE AND MAYBE SINCE BUT YOU WERE WORKING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOING A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL SPEAKING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ON THIS VERY ISSUE.

>> YES.

>> IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL?

>> I THINK IT WILL AND IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

AND DOES IT NEED APPROVAL FROM HIM?

CONGRESS?

WHAT?

>> I THINK HE'S ALREADY GIVEN HIS APPROVAL.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS GOING TO GET BEHIND IT.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS FORMER AMBASSADOR -- HAD A STUDY COMMISSION SHOWING THAT WOMEN ARE HARD WIRED FOR PEACE.

WE ARE THE PEACE MAKERS.

AND WE RECOGNIZE IN FACT THE U.N. HAD RESOLUTION 1025 THAT WOMEN WERE ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF ANY PEACE MAKING AND IT'S OFTEN IGNORED BUT IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE WE ARE THE PEACE MAKERS.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> IT STEMS FROM A STATUTE AND OF COURSE AS YOU IMPLEMENT IT YOU CAN ONLY DO -- >> STATUTE PAST 2017.

-- PASSED 2017.

>> RECENTLY PASSED STATUTE.

WHOEVER IS PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED TO CARRY IT OUT AND HE'S DOING THE RIGHT THING BUT I'M VERY FRUSTRATED.

>> WHY?

>> BECAUSE EVEN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MUCH LESS IN THE WIDER WORK THAT GOES ON FOR PEACE, WOMEN ARE STILL CREEPING AROUND THE EDGES AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS PROVIDES A WAY FOR WOMEN TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND TO SAY MORE.

MORE OF THIS.

LET ME SEE THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU'RE REALLY IMPLEMENTING THIS STATUTE AND I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD THE PRESIDENT HAS MOVED FORWARD WITH IT.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S EXCITING.

I'M GLAD WE CAN ALL AGREE HERE.

WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING AND THAT WOMEN BRING TO THE TABLE IS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RADICALIZATION.

I THINK THEIR HUSBANDS AND SONS AND NEPHEWS.

I THINK THAT THEY CAN BRING TO CONFLICT DISCUSSIONS TO AFTER CONFLICTS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED TO IDENTIFYING THOSE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE ON OUR RADAR.

THAT KIND OF INTELLIGENCE IS VERY HARD TO CULTIVATE AND SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION STEPPING FORWARD AND DOING THIS AND TO THE LARGER POINT ABOUT WOMEN AND THE ADMINISTRATION, I HOPE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE.

I MEAN, WE HAD A FANTASTIC U.N.

AMBASSADOR THAT WAS A WOMAN AND NOT JUST PUTTING WOMEN IN PLACES FOR JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED A WOMAN IN A SEAT, A QUALIFIED WOMAN AND I HOPE TO SEE MORE OF THEM.

>> WE DON'T SEE PEOPLE IN PLACE MUCH LESS WOMEN.

AS MAJOR POSTS ARE BEING HELD NOW BY ACTING.

NOBODY WANTS TO BE PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

THEY THINK THEY WILL LOSE.

THEY HAVE REPUTATIONS.

>> WELL, I'VE HEARD THAT IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY MANY LAWYERS WHO WERE INTERVIEWED FOR WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL JOBS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T PAY HIS BILLED SO THEY WANTED TO STAY AWAY FROM THOSE JOBS.

HE WAS A CLIENT OF MINE IN THE 80S AND HE PAID HIS BILLS JUST FINE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF LOYAL PEOPLE WAITING IN THE WINGS TO BE APPOINTED.

THEY'RE IN HOLDING PATTERNS EITHER BECAUSE OF THE SENATE OR BECAUSE OF THINGS OF PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SERVE THIS GUY.

I CAN GIVE THEM A LIST OF NAMES.

THEY CAN CALL ME.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT NOMINATIONS.

LET'S GET BACK TO THE ISSUE.

SINCE THE END OF THE RWANDAN GENERAL SIZE WHICH WAS 20 PLUS YEARS AGO, WE'VE KNOWN THAT HORRIBLE WAR AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT IT WAS THE WOMEN BECAUSE THE MEN WERE ALL DEAD AT THAT POINT WHO SAT DOWN AND NEGOTIATED.

THEY NEGOTIATED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TABLE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD MURDERED THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND ONLY WOMEN CAN DO THIS.

WHY IS IT -- WHY ARE WE STILL -- WHY IS THIS STILL SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

WHY ARE THERE NOT ALREADY WOMEN IN ALL INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS?

>> BECAUSE OUR MEDIA DOESN'T GIVE ENOUGH ATTENTION.

LOOK AT THE FEMINIST MAJORITY FOR YEARS DID STUFF OVER SEAS.

IT GETS NO COVERAGE.

THE DOCUMENTARY PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL ABOUT HOW WOMEN CAUSED THE PEACE AND GOT CHARLES TAYLOR TO GET THE HECK OUT OF LIBERIA.

THERE ARE CASES ALL OVER BUT THE MEDIA NEVER COVERS IT.

THEY NEED TO CELEBRATE THAT AND PUSH THAT OUT THERE AND THAT WOULD GIVE WOMEN MORE STANDING.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK ONE THING THAT OFTEN GETS LEFT OUT OF THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT JUST THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE MORE WOMEN IN THE PEACE BUILDING PROCESS AND PEACE MAKING PROCESS BUT ALSO SPECIFICALLY WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AND I SAY THAT INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT RAPE AND VIOLENCE IS USED AS A WEAPON AGAINST WOMEN AND IN PARTICULAR THAT IMPACTS WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES MORE AND ALSO CAUSES DISABILITY WITHIN WOMEN.

SO I HOPE THAT WE'LL BE EXTREMELY INCLUSIVE IN THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL ISSUE THAT RISES FAR ABOVE ANY CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

>> BUT HERE'S A CHALLENGE.

HERE IN THIS COUNTRY THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT WHICH SHOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ALL WOMEN NEGLECTED TO -- FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

HEINOUS CRIME.

AND IT EVEN -- [CROSS TALK] >> 500,000 WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE FACING THAT.

>> YES.

>> SO I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE NEED TO TACKLE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OVERSEAS AND PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH MERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THAT IS ONE THING THAT I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

WOMEN DOING THAT TO THEIR CHILDREN.

IT'S HORRIBLE.

>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES.

DOES FEMINISM HELP MEN?

WE SPOKE TO ALEXANDER DECROW WHO SAYS FEMINISM LEADS TO A BETTER ECONOMY AND HELPS LIBERATE MEN.

>> IT'S A TOPIC WHICH IS ABOUT WOMEN.

SO BY DEFINITION ONLY WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT IT IF THE AND THEN VERY OFTEN THE SOLUTION TO GENDER EQUALITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN PUT IN THE DIRECTION OF WOMEN HAVE TO SOLVE IT THEMSELVES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF FEMINISM, IT MEANS EQUAL RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN.

SO BY DEFINITION WE MEN SHOULD ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.

>> HE IS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF BELGIUM HAVING ASSUMED OFFICE AS MINISTER OF FINANCE LAST YEAR.

>> WE WOULD THINK WE'RE THERE.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE GENDER EQUALITY WILL BE ACHIEVED.

I AM CONVINCED THAT AS MUCH IN BELGIUM AS IN THE WHITE IT'S NOT A MATTER OF TIME.

IT'S A MATTER OF POLICY.

AND IT'S A MATTER OF US MEN AND THE ROLE OF US MEN IN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE FULL OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THEMSELVES IF SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING TO COME BY ITSELF.

>> HE HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK CALLED THE AGE OF WOMEN.

WHY FEMINISM ALSO LIBERATES MEN.

>> A LOT OF MEN SEE IT AS RECREATE SPACE FOR WOMEN TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD THEN WE BY DEFINITION WILL HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK WHICH IS THE ZERO SUM GAME APPROACH AND I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

IT'S NOT A ZERO SUM GAME.

>> HE ARGUES THAT FEMINISM IS ALLOWING MORE AND MORE WOMEN TO BE PRODUCTIVE.

>> WHAT IS THIS ABOUT IN THE END IS IT IS SUCH A WASTED OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE HALF THE POPULATION WHICH IS OFTEN HIGHLY DEDICATED WHICH HAS ALL TALENTS AND WE CONSIDER THAT WE CAN -- WE'RE OKAY WITH NOT USING THAT TALENT.

WE'RE OKAY WITH NOT GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO THAT AT THAT -- THAT LENT.

>> A -- TALENT.

ASIDE FROM THE SOCIAL AND MORAL REASONS FOR FEMINISM, HE ARGUES THE DOLLARS AND CENTS APPROACH HAS MERIT.

>> I'M NOT OBSESSED BY GROWTH MEMBERS AND GDP AND SO ON BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THAT WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE A GOOD LIFE BALANCED LIFE AND REALIZE THEIR DREAMS.

I USE THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S AN ARGUMENT THAT YOU COULD USE TOWARDS MEN WHO OFTEN SEE FEMINISM AS A THREATENING THING WHERE I THINK THAT IT'S ACTUALLY LIBERATING THING AND IT MAKES IT JUST BIGGER.

>> SO DO YOU AGREE WITH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DECROW THAT FEMINISM LIBERATES MEN?

>> HOW WONDERFUL THAT HE'S USING HIS PLATFORM TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE URGENT NEED FOR GENDER EQUALITY.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

YES.

FEMINISM IS A POLITICAL MOVEMENT FOR EQUALITY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

>> IF MEN SPEAK UP, SPEAKING TO MEN, WE HAVE A SPECIAL KIND OF ABILITY IN THE SAME WAY THAT DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT STARTED BY BLACKS BUT IT GOT TO BE A NATIONAL MOVEMENT THAT EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE PART OF -- FULL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT CENTURIES.

IT CHANGES THE MINDSET.

I'VE HAD MEN COME UP AND GO MY GOD I CAN NEVER LOOK AT A WOMAN THE SAME WAY AGAIN AFTER THEY HEAR THESE THINGS THEY DON'T KNOW WOMEN DID AND I SAID THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT.

IT'S WONDERFUL THIS GUY IS DOING IT.

FINALLY.

WE NEED MORE OF IT HAPPEN.

AND THE CREDIT SECRET AS I TELL PEOPLE DO YOU THINK A MAN WHO IS IF YOU WANT TO USE THE WORD LIBERATED IF HE THINKS ABOUT HIMSELF LIKE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE BREADWINNER AND HE CAN BE AN ARTIST AND NOT MAKE ANY MONEY AND BE MARRIED TO A WALL STREET SCION AND LET HER EARN ALL THE MONEY.

ARE THOSE WAYS OF LIBERATING MEN IN YOUR MIND A GOOD IDEA?

>> SURE.

IF IT MAKES SENSE FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY THAT'S CERTAINLY GREAT.

I THINK IT'S THE FREEDOM TO DOOSE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.

WHEN IT COMES TO FEMINISM I THINK WHAT SOME CONSERVATIVES HAVE PUSHED BACK ON IS THAT THERE'S TENSION.

THERE'S BEEN INTENSE TENSION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN AND IT PLAYS OUT IN A WAY THAT MAKES MEN FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MONDAY STORES AND THAT WOMEN FEEL THEY NEED TO BE FEARFUL OF EVERY MAN IN THEIR LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT.

BUT WHY IS IT -- >> WHETHER THAT'S COLLEGE CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH MOST MEN AND THEY'RE HEALTHY AND NORMAL AND RESPECTFUL.

YOU HAVE THOSE BAD APPLES AND WE DO WANT THOSE BAD APPLES AND THE MEDIA HAS PAINTED IT AS THOUGH EVERY MAN IN POWER IS GOING TO BE A HARVEY WINE STEIN AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT CREATES THE BACK LASH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TERRIFIC.

THANK YOU ALL.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

PBS.ORG TO THE CONTRARY AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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