>> THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY" FIRST, RETIREMENT CRISIS FOR MINORITY FAMILIES.
THEN, WILL "FEMALE VIAGRA" FINALLY BE APPROVED?
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: AN ETHIOPIAN FILM PRODUCED BY ANGELINA JOLIE THAT EXPOSES AN APPALLING PRACTICE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE HEROIC WOMEN WHO FIGHT IT.
HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY", A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, THE SAVINGS GAP.
MOST AMERICAN FAMILIES DON'T SAVE ENOUGH FOR RETIREMENT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE FOR MINORITY FAMILIES.
BLACK AND HISPANIC FAMILIES' RETIREMENT SAVINGS HOLD JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT THE AVERAGE WHITE FAMILIES HAVE SAVED, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH.
AND THE GAP IS GETTING WIDER, QUADRUPLING SINCE 1989.
ONE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE THE RACIAL GAP IN TERMS OF INCOME IS ALSO WIDENING.
ANOTHER REASON IS WHITE PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO INHERIT MONEY.
BUT RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT EVEN AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR THOSE DIFFERENCES, THE SAVINGS GAP PERSISTS.
SO, CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON WHAT POLICIES NEED TO BE CHANGED TO ADDRESS THIS SAVINGS GAP?
>> BONNIE, LET'S START WITH FIRST THINGS FIRST.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK DON'T SAVE.
YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, THE INCOME DISPARITY.
>> IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
ALMOST 75% OF AMERICANS LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, THERE IS GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR PEOPLE.
>> THIS QUESTION GETS TO THE HEART OF RACIAL INEQUALITY IN OUR COUNTRY.
BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO CLOSE THIS SAVINGS GAP WE'RE GO FOG HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT BLACK AND LATINO FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO EARN AS MUCH IN THEIR LIFETIME AS WHITE FAMILIES.
>> IT'S VERY HELPFUL WHEN BUSINESSES AUTOMATICALLY TAKE THAT MONEY OUT OF THEIR PAYCHECKS PUT THAT IN TO RETIREMENT SAVINGS IT TAKES IT FROM DECISION THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEING DONE FOR YOU.
I FOUND THAT PERSONALLY HELPFUL.
>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH AS ASIAN-AMERICAN OR AMERICAN OF ASIAN DESCENT YOU DIDN'T MENTION ASIANS THEY WERE KNOTTED INCLUDED TAPE REPORT.
>> I NOTICED.
>> QUICKLY, DO THEY NEED AS MUCH HELP AS OTHER MINORITIES DO?
>> IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK THAT ASIANS HAVE BEEN CALLED THE MODEL MINORITY.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE NUMBERS MEASURE UP.
WITHIN THE SPECTRUM OF ASIANS-AMERICANS WE HAVE THOSE WORKING ON WALL STREET IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR WHO PROBABLY ARE VERY GOOD WITH THEIR SAVINGS AND THEN WE HAVE A LOW INCOME ASIAN-AMERICANS LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
I THINK YOU SEE A WIDE RANGE.
>> I FOUND VERY INTERESTING IN THIS REPORT, ELEANOR, THE FACT THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE SAVINGS ARE LESS LIKELY TO INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET SO THEY KEEP THEIR MONEY IN CDs AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WHICH OF COURSE RETURN WAY LOWER THAN THE STOCK MARKET OVER TIME.
>> THAT COMES WITH GENERATIONS OF POVERTY NOT TRUSTING -- IT'S AKIN TO WHEN PEOPLE USED TO PUT THEIR MONEY UNDER THEIR BED IN A MATTRESS.
HAVE ENOUGH EDUCATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MARKET CAN DO AND YET THEY WOULD BE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN THEIR LIFESTYLE, THEY ARE BLACK, THERE FOR THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEIR JOBS ARE AS SAFE AS THE JOBS OF OTHERS.
NOT YET FEEL AS SECURE AS WHITE AMERICANS DO SO THEY DO THE MOST CONSERVATIVE THING AND IT HURTS.
>> WHAT POLICIES, YOU'RE SAYING IN YOUR RESPONSE TO THE OPEN QUESTION ESSENTIALLY RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE, IS THAT -- RAISE IT?
>> I WISH IT WERE AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
EVEN SO WAL-MART DOING THAT MORE RECENTLY BUT I DO THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE HAD IS GOVERNMENT POLICIES NOT ONLY THE GLOBAL POLICIES AND PRIVATE SECTOR THAT ARE PUSHING EVERYBODY, LET'S FACE IT, NOBODY IS SAFE.
WHITE FOLKS AREN'T RECEIVING, NOBODY CAN AFFORD TO SAVE TODAY.
JUST GETTING OUT OF THE WORST RECESSION SINCE THE LAST DEPRESSION, REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE LAST DEPRESSION YOUR GRANDS OR GRAND PARENTS WILL TELL YOU THIS WAS A VERY CONSERVATIVE GENERATION.
THEY WENT TO WORLD WAR II THEY CAME BACK BECAME GREATEST GENERATION.
LET'S HOPE THAT WE GET THAT KIND OF BOOST IN OUR SENSE OF HOPE ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGING?
>> I ALWAYS THINK EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION.
>> I AGREE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE -- THAT MOST OF THESE -- THIS IS AMERICA AFTER ALL, ARE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TO DECIDE BUT EVEN THOSE WHERE THE EMPLOYER PUTS IN SOMETHING AS WELL, YOU WILL SEE MINORITIES AND OTHERS DECIDE NOT TO PUT THEIR PART IN.
CONGRESS WE HAVE SAVING, I WOULDN'T THINK OF NOT PUTTING IN THE THRIFT SAVINGS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GIVE ME 5% JUST FOR DOING THAT.
>> I DO THINK THAT MORE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO, I'M NOT SOMEONE TO SAY THAT.
HERE IS THE TWIST.
WHEN I GO BUY A PAIR OF SHOES OR HANDBAG I SPEND THE MONEY THEN IT'S MINE.
I'M NOT TAXED ON IT EVERY SINGLE TIME I USE THAT ITEM.
IF I INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR MAKE OTHER INVESTMENT I GAIN INTEREST AND RETURN ON THAT, GOVERNMENT WANTS PART OF THAT.
THEY WANT TO TAX IT.
THERE IS THIS DISINCENTIVE BUILT IN TO SAVINGS THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO EXPAND NOT RETRACT 529 PLANS OR 401(k) PLANS THESE ARE WAY THAT PEOPLE DO, MAYBE NOT AS OFTEN AS THEY ALWAYS SHOULD BUT MANY AMERICANS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED.
>> AS FAR AS WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THE INDIVIDUAL CAN DO, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD NEVER THINK OF NOT PUTTING THAT MONEY IN THERE.
BET PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK SORT OF SITUATIONS EVEN IF THEY ARE MATCHING LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THAT.
EVEN IF THERE IS MATCHING FOR.
EVEN THOUGH PERSONALLY I COULD AFFORD I WASN'T DOING IT BEFORE MY EMPLOYER STARTED DOING IT AUTOMATICALLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ABUNDANCE OF WEALTH.
THEN TOLD ME I COULD CHOOSE TO NOT HAVE IT.
ONCE THEY ARE DOING IT, THEN I SAW HOW MUCH WAS COMING OUT IT WASN'T THAT MUCH, BUT HOW MUCH IT WAS PROJECTED TO BE.
THEN I JUST LEFT WHOLE THING ALONE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE OF A HASSLE TO GET OUT OF THE PROGRAM.
>> THE OPT OUT.
>> IT'S AN OPT OUT SITUATION VERSUS OPT IN SITUATION.
I HAVE TO SAY, THAT I DO THINK THAT TYPE OF SITUATION WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE, PROBABLY NOT GOING THROUGH THE HASSLE OF OPTING OUT.
>> I DO THINK GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT MINIMUM WAGE, I DO THINK THAT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND POLLS SHOW THAT MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AGREE WITH THAT PROPOSITION.
BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT LOW INCOME FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO STAY ABOVE THE FRAY.
IF THEY DON'T DIP IN TO THEIR SAVINGS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE BLOCKED OFF.
WE HAVE MILLIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS RIGHT NOW IN PRISON CONVICTED FOR NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES THOSE CONVICTION RECORDS MAKE IT VERY HARD TO GET JOBS AND THEREFORE, TO MAKE AN INCOME BE ON EQUAL FOOTING.
>> I AGREE THERE'S LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO EXTERNALLY.
ONE OF THE CORE -- >> WHAT ABOUT BEEN PROPOSED SAVING ACCOUNT FOR CHILDREN, THE PARENTS CONTRIBUTE TO THAT STARTS FROM BIRTH.
>> THINGS LIKE THAT ARE A GREAT IDEA.
WE OPEN TO BASIC SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WHEN OUR CHILDREN WERE BORN TO PUT MONEY IN TO THE BANKS, START THAT WAY OF -- >> TERRIFIC THING, THAT IS NOT GOING TO HELP THE PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
LAST PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO -- SAVING FOR THEIR CHILDREN IF THE POINT IS TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USED TO SAVING, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE TOO LITTLE MONEY THAT'S WHY YOUR NOTION OF TAKING IT BUT I WOULDED TO THAT.
EMPLOYERS HAVE TO -- SIT DOWN, HAVE TO HAVE THEIR COUNSELORS SIT DOWN WITH PEOPLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE INCOME ADVANTAGE IS OVER TIME AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT IF YOU JUST PUT THIS IN PEOPLE'S FACES -- >> THAT'S WHAT BUSINESSES ARE OFTEN DOING.
I DIDN'T OPT IN BECAUSE THEY GAVE YOU THIS WHOLE FOLDER OF ALL THESE NUMBERS AND OPTIONS, JUST HONESTLY VERY CONFUSING.
NOBODY'S GOT TIME FOR THAT.
>> WHAT ALSO HAPPENS IS THAT EVEN WHEN EMPLOYEES DO ELECT TO TAKE 401(k) PLANS THEY DON'T PUT ENOUGH OF THE PLAN FOR THEM TO EVEN GET SAVINGS.
ECONOMIST RECOMMENDED THAT WE SET A DEFAULT CONTRIBUTION LEVEL THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE TO GIVE.
>> IT'S BETTER THAT PEOPLE HAVE JOBS THAT DON'T HAVE BENEFITS OR DON'T HAVE 401(k) MACHINES THEY DOPE HAVE JOBS AT ALL I CAUTION SORT OF PUSHING FOR THINGS LIKE MINIMUM WAGE AND MANDATORY CONTRIBUTIONS, LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE CREATE JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SAVINGS WILL FOLLOW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM RETIREMENT TO WOMEN'S HEALTH.
WOMEN MAY SOON HAVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF VIAGRA.
SPROUT PHARMACEUTICALS HAS RESUBMITTED ITS APPLICATION FOR THE PINK PILL FLIBANSERIN.
THE FDA HAS TWICE REJECTED APPROVING THE PILL.
BUT SPROUT BELIEVES ITS LATEST APPLICATION ANSWERS THE AGENCY'S EARLIER QUESTIONS ABOUT RISKS, THE MOST SERIOUS BEING SLEEPINESS, NAUSEA AND DIZZINESS.
>> BREAKTHROUGHS TAKE TIME.
SCIENTIFICALLY IT TAKES TIME, I THINK WE REALLY GOTTEN THERE IN TERMS OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX FOR WOMEN WITH THIS CONDITION.
SO THAT TAKES TIME.
I THINK BREAKTHROUGHS SOCIETALLY TAKE TIME AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT FEMALE SEXUALITY AND MY HOPE IS THAT THIS YEAR WE REALLY LOOK TO THE SCIENCE.
>> IF APPROVED, IT WILL BE THE THE FIRST NON-HORMONAL DRUG FOR TREATING HSDD, HYPOACTIVE SEXUAL DESIRE DISORDER THAT IS BELIEVED TO AFFECT 10% OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
>> WE HAVE TENDENCY AS NARRATIVE IN SOCIETY TO REDUCE ALL THINGS RELATED TO SEX AND MEN TO BIOLOGY.
WE UNDERSELL PSYCHOLOGY FAR THEM.
ALL THINGS RELATED TO SEX DESPITE PSYCHOLOGY.
WE UNDER SILLIBIOLOGY FOR THEM.
>> THERE ARE SOME 26 F.D.A.
APPROVED TREATMENTS FOR MALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION BUT NONE FOR WOMEN.
SOME WOMEN'S GROUPS SAY IT'S DUE TO SEXISM AT THE FDA.
THEY'VE COME TOGETHER WITH A CAMPAIGN CALLING FOR GENDER EQUITY IN TREATING SEXUAL HEALTH.
DETRACTORS OF THE DRUG SAY THESE EFFORTS OVER-MEDICALIZE THE DISORDER.
SO SEXIST ARE NOT SEXIST?
YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE 26 DRUGS FOR MEN SEXUALITY AND ZERO FOR WOMEN APPROVED BY THE F.D.A.
IN SAYING THAT THERE ISN'T SOME KIND OF GENDER ISSUE GOING ON HERE.
>> I'M GOING TO BE THE PERSON THAT SEXISM IS NOT DRIVING THIS.
HERE IS OTHER THINGS THAT WOMEN CARE ABOUT AT THE F.D.A.
HEART DISEASE, CANCER, ALZHEIMER'S, IF ANYBODY HAS TRIED TO GET AHOLD OF DIFFERENT DRUGS FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DISEASES OUT THERE THAT AFFECT WHAT MANY WOMEN, YOU'LL FIND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
I HAVE A PARENT WHO HAS A BAD DISEASE I TRY TO GET NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT THAT IS WIDELY AVAILABLE IN EUROPE, I COULD NOT GET AHOLD OF THAT HERE BECAUSE OF THE F.D.A.
WHILE I THINK WE NEED TO REGULATE THINGS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE SAFE, THERE ARE SORT OF STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS SOMETIMES NEED TO BE RELAXED.
>> LET'S FACE IT, THIS IS PROBABLY UNUNTAPPED MARKET.
WHAT MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD THEY SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF MEN'S VIAGRA, GET APPROVED, APPROVED IS ONE THAT SAYS MAY CAUSE STROKE OR SUDDEN DEATH.
[ LAUGHTER ] MEN WANT THEIR SEX.
LET'S FACE IT, NOBODY CARED ABOUT WOMEN'S SEXUALITY THROUGHOUT HUMAN TIME.
IT'S TIME SOMEBODY DID I THINK THERE'S A HUGE MARKET -- >> I WONDER ALSO, ELEANOR, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OLDER WOMEN HERE.
YOU DON'T FIND TOO MANY 20-YEAR-OLD MEN ON VIAGRA.
YOU'RE TALKING 40 PLUS.
I HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
WHERE AS MOW ARE-PLUS, AND AS AN ISSUE FOR OLDER WOMEN IT'S EVEN MORE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER SEXISM.
>> WELL, I THINK NOW IN THE 21st CENTURY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN WE EXAMINE THIS.
LIKE THERE ARE QUESTIONS OF SCIENCE HERE AND FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS OF GENDER DISCRIMINATION.
ON THE GENDER DISCRIMINATION SIDE IN THE 21st CENTURY WOMEN ARE PERSONALLY AUTONOMOUS PEOPLE WITH RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
WE SEE RUTH BADER GINSBERG, WE CALLED THE NOTORIOUS RBG, WE SEE HER DRIVING THIS POINT HOME IN ALL OF DECISIONS AND DESCENTS.
>> IOWAN TO LUMP THIS IN WITH HEALTH CARE, I THINK COMPLETE LY DIFFERENT ISSUE.
BUT WHAT I WILL SAY WITH REGARDS TO THIS IS -- >> BUT WAIT A MINUTE.
CERTAINLY A HEALTH CARE ISSUE FOR MEN.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A HEALTH CARE ISSUE FOR MEN OR WOMEN TO SAY THAT MY HEALTH IS AFFECTED IF I DON'T GET TO HAVE SEX AS OFTEN AS I MAYBE WANT TO.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S SAME AS SAYING -- >> THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
IT'S HAVING NO DESIRE TO HAVE SEX AT A TIME WHEN THERE ARE DRUGS FOR MEN WHO MAY BE NATURE WOULD HAVE SLOWED THEM DOWN AS WELL.
BUT IT'S AFFECTING MARRIAGES.
THERE WAS TALK IN THE WRITE UP ABOUT THIS THAT ONE COUPLE WHO WAS OTHERWISE COMPLETELY HAPPY WERE DISCUSSING DIVORCE BECAUSE HE STILL WANTED TO HAVE SEX AND SHE HAD NO DESIRE FOR IT.
>> I GUESS I SEE THEM AS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUES BETWEEN TAKING CARE OF I DON'T HEALTH LIKE CANCER OR TALKING ABOUT HEART DISEASE, BUT THAT BEING SAID AS FAR AS THE DRUG GOES, I THINK PART OF THE REASON THAT IT'S BEEN MORE DIFFICULT TO COME UP WITH DRUGS FOR WOMEN IS BECAUSE WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT THAN MEN.
THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD THING, WE'RE COMPLICATED.
OUR SYSTEMS ARE COMPLICATED.
THE DRUGS, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE RESEARCH NOT JUST ONE AREA OF THE BODY OR ONE THING YOU HAVE TO TARGET FOR THE LIBIDO ISSUE THERE IS MULTIPLE AREAS.
THEY HAVE TO FIND A DRUG THAT TARGETS ALL OF THOSE AREAS THEY HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY DOING THAT.
THAT IS SORT OF THE PROBLEM HERE.
JUST MORE COMPLICATED TO COME UP WITH A DRUG FOR WOMEN.
>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS DRUG OR PROMOTING IT OR WOMEN TALKING ABOUT THEIR SEXUALITY AT ALL.
THE LARGER PROBLEM THE WAY YOU COULD GET THAT DRUG PASSED MORE QUICKLY IF WE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF THE F.D.A.
REGULATING THESE DRUGS, ACROSS THE BOARD, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS THAT CAN'T GET ACCESS TO DRUGS AND IF WE COULD ACTUAL LIE THINK THROUGH HOW DO WE MAKE CERTAIN DRUGS AVAILABLE FOR QUICKLY, MORE READILY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS APT TO BE AS CRITICAL AND MAY NOT GET THE ATTENTION AS SOMETHING LIKE CANCER OR HEART DISEASE.
>> NONE OF US HERE ARE DOCTORS, MEDICAL DOCTORS, THOSE QUESTIONS OF SCIENCE ARE NOT FOR US TO ANSWER.
BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT CERTAIN DECISIONS SHOULD BE BETWEEN A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.
IF A DOCTOR DECIDES THAT THERE IS REAL HEALTH PROBLEM HERE THE WOMAN SHOULD HAVE AN ABILITY TO GET THE TREATMENT -- >> YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DYSFUNCTION.
THE WORD IS DYSFUNCTION.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HAVE SEX AT ALL.
I WOULD REGARD THAT AS A HEALTH PROBLEM.
PARTICULARLY WITH COUPLES, I THINK TAKING IT IT OF THAT AREA WILL ONLY DETER PEOPLE FROM TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR WANTS TO DEAL WITH IT BUT I DO BUY YOUR POINT.
WOMEN'S BODIES ARE MORE COMPLICATED.
THEY REALIZE NOW THEY MUST DEAL WITH WOMEN'S BRAINS.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WANT THEM TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE ACADEMY AWARDS.
ANGELINA JOLIE'S MOVIE "UNBROKEN" IS UP FOR THREE OSCARS THIS WEEKEND - BUT NOT BEST DIRECTOR OR BEST MOVIE.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT "UNBROKEN" ISN'T THE ONLY 2014 FILM WITH JOLIE'S NAME ON IT.
JOLIE ALSO SERVES AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "DIFRET", AN ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM.
>> IT WASN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT PULLS AT YOUR HEART STRINGS IT MOVES US FORWARD.
>> "DIFRET" IS BASED ON A TRUE STORY AND CHRONICLES THE CASE IN THE 90'S THAT OUTLAWED THE KIDNAPPING OF CHILD BRIDES IN ETHIOPIA UNDER A PRACTICE CALLED TELEFA.
>> IT'S A VERY OLD PRACTICE OF ESSENTIALLY ABDUCTING GIRLS INTO MARRIAGE IN ETHIOPIA.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR CENTURIES.
IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO ETHIOPIA, ACTUALLY; THERE'S A LOT OF COUNTRIES THAT DO THIS ONCE THEY GET HER PREGNANT, THEY CAN GO BACK TO THE FAMILY AND CLAIM, "WELL NOW I'M GOING TO MARRY HER AND BE HER HUSBAND."
>> MEHRET MANFREDO IS THE PRODUCER OF "DIFRET",THE FILM THAT TELLS THE STORY OF A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM A RURAL VILLAGE WHO KILLS THE MAN WHO ABDUCTED AND RAPED HER.
SHE STANDS TRIAL BECOMING THE FIRST FEMALE TO CLAIM SELF-DEFENSE IN ETHIOPIAN COURTS.
"DIFRET" ALSO TELLS THE STORY OF HER LAWYER, THE FOUNDER OF THE ETHIOPIAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION.
MANDEFRO SAYS THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION FOR DIFRET IS "COURAGE."
>> WHEN YOU'RE SEEING THE STORY IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF A LAWYER, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A WORKAHOLIC, SHE WAS YOUNG, SHE WAS JUST STARTING THIS LEGAL AID NONPROFIT THAT HAD NEVER EXISTED BEFORE, RIGHT?
SO EVEN THE IDEA AND THE AUDACITY TO START A NONPROFIT THAT WAS BASICALLY GOING TO GIVE FREE LEGAL SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS WAS A FIRST OF ITS KIND AT THAT TIME.
OBVIOUSLY THE YOUNG GIRL WHO YOU KNOW COUNTERED ANYTHING SHE'S GROWN UP IN HER OLDER SISTER, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS ABDUCTED INTO MARRIAGE.
I MEAN IT'S ALL SHE KNOWS.
SHE SAID, "NO, NOT ME."
I THINK IN BOTH OF THOSE INSTANCES, THOSE ARE STORIES ABOUT COURAGE.
>> THE WRITER-DIRECTOR, A MALE FILMMAKER, GREW UP IN ETHIOPIA TAKING "TELEFA" FOR GRANTED.
HIS GOAL IN MAKING THE MOVIE WAS NOT TO DEMONIZE BUT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE COMPLEXITIES OF LONG STANDING CULTURAL NORMS.
>> I THINK THAT'S JUST HOW TRADITION WORKS, QUITE FRANKLY.
NOT JUST IN PLACES LIKE ETHIOPIA.
EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES, RIGHT?
WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE TRADITIONS THAT AFFECT ALL WOMEN ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT'S OFTEN PARTS OF OUR CULTURE THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED AND TAKE AS BEING NORMAL THAT ARE OFTEN THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE.
>> DIFRET WAS ETHIOPIA'S SUBMISSION TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS FOR BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM.
WHILE IT DIDN'T MAKE THE SHORT LIST IN HOLLYWOOD, IT HAS WON AUDIENCE AWARDS AT SUNDANCE AND THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVALS LAST YEAR.
ANGELINA JOLIE, WHO HAS AN ETHIOPIAN DAUGHTER, SERVES AS THE MOVIE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
SHE TOOK ON THAT ROLE AFTER VIEWING A DVD SHE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL.
>> TEN DAYS LATER SHE CALLED.
LIKE WE WERE ON THE PORCH AND SHE CALLED HIM AND WAS LIKE, "HI...I LOVED THE FILM.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS NEED?"
AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ALREADY FINISHED SO IT WASN'T AN ISSUE OF MONEY, BUT WE WERE LIKE, "WELL, YOUR NAME WOULD BE GREAT!"
SHE'S ACTUALLY BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORTER, SHE'S BROUGHT THE FILM TO SOME OF HER HUMANITARIAN VENUES, FOR EXAMPLE SHE SHOWED IT AT AN INVITE-ONLY SCREENING IN LONDON WHEN SHE HELD THAT GLOBAL SUMMIT TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE THAT SHE HAD CO-CHAIRED IN HER U.N. CAPACITIES.
>> THERE'S SO MANY SITUATIONS IN THE WORLD AND WE CAN BE MADE AWARE OF THEM THROUGH FILM BUT THEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM.
WHAT THIS FILM SHOWS IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING THAT IS VERY -- OF COURSE VERY EMOTIONAL WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS YOUNG GIRL, WHAT THIS WAS AND WHY THIS LAW NEEDED TO BE CHANGED YOU ALSO LEARNED VERY PRO-ACTIVE TALK ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
TRIBAL LAW.
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO MAKE CHANGE USING ART TO MAKE CHANGE.
AND THIS IS -- SISTERHOOD BETWEEN THESE TWO WOMEN HOW THEY CAME TOGETHER AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS WHOM WHO HAS SUCH STRONG EDUCATION ABLE TO DO INSIDE HER OWN COUNTRY.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT THIS PRACTICE OR DID YOU KNOW ABOUT IT BEFORE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS FILM WILL DO IN TERMS OF THE HORRIFIC IDEA OF ABDUCTING AND RAPING A YOUNG TEENAGE GIRL THEN FORCING HER IN TO MARRIAGE WITH A RAPIST?
>> WE NEED TO SUPPORT COURAGEOUS WOMEN IN DEVELOPING NATIONS WHO ARE FIGHTING THESE WOMEN'S RIGHTS ABUSES.
IT'S THESE WOMEN WHO ARE CHANGING THEIR CULTURES FROM WITHIN.
THEIR FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT.
WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THE COURAGEOUS WOMAN IN THIS FILM.
37,000 CHILD MARRIAGES ACTUALLY OCCUR IN THE WORLD EVERY DAY.
ACCORDING TO THE U.N. AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS BUT IT'S ALSO LIKE MALALA IN PAKISTAN WHO STOOD UP AGAINST TALIBAN SAID, I'M GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL NO MATTER WHAT.
NOBODY CAN STOP ME FROM DOING THAT.
THE WOMAN IN INDIA WHO DECIDED IF MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY GOING TO ASK FOR A DOWRY I'M WALKING AWAY FROM THIS.
THESE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE STANDING UP MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
>> BEYOND THE WOMEN, I DO WANT TOE SAY THIS, THIS IS A MOVIE THAT CHANGED LAW IN ETHIOPIA COULD HAVE BEEN ALL THE BRAVE WOMEN IN THE WORLD.
HERE YOU 'ETHIOPIA IS PERMITTING IT FOR AN AWARD INSTEAD OF HIDING BEHIND IT AND ALIBIING IT YOU HAVE SEEN A MOVIE BRING CHANGE, I HOPE THAT MAKES MORE WOMEN STAND UP FOR CHANGE.
>> SHE TRIED TO GET -- THE COUNTRY DID -- THIS WAS THE ONE MOVIE FROM ETHIOPIA THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE THE FINAL CUT.
SHOULD IT HAVE, BASED ON GETTING THIS MESSAGE OUT THERE ABOUT THE NEED TO STOP THIS HORRENDOUS PRACTICE?
>> WHAT DO WE DETERMINE MAKE MOVIE AWARD DESERVING, IS IT BECAUSE IT RAISED CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY OR IMPLEMENTED REAL CHANGE THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THERE.
MAY BE DIFFERENT KINDS OF AWARDS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS KIND OF SITUATION.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS SO MOVING I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH IT I THINK IT'S ONCE AGAIN SO IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD SEE THIS FILM WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY CONCERNS ABOUT SEXISM THAT I DON'T THINK WOMEN CAN REALLY RELATE TO WHAT TRUE ATROCITIES ARE.
>> SOME OF THE AWARDS THAT THEY PUT IT UP FOR WERE SOLELY BASED ON JUST THE QUALITY OF THE MOVIE NOT THE MESSAGE, JUST THE QUALITY.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM -- I READ THROUGH A LOT OF THESE REVIEWS IN PREPARATION FOR THIS WAS THAT THE MOVIE ITSELF WASN'T PARTICULARLY WELL DONE.
A LOT OF POINTS OF ACTION, THERE WOULD BE ONE THING HAPPENING THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN LIKE DIFFERENT ROOM AND THEY RAN AWAY LIKE -- YOU CUT OUT THE PARCEL WHERE THEY ESCAPED.
THINGS LIKE THAT MADE IT NOT GOOD MOVIE FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
>> JENIFER SHOULD THERE BE AWARD FOR STRONG MESSAGE MOVIES GIVEN HOW FEW WOMEN AND FEW WOMEN'S FILMS WIN ACADEMY AWARDS?
>> I ANY THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS.
WE HAVE HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE LIKE ANGELINA JOLIE TAKE UP THIS ISSUE IT DOES SO MUCH, JUST LAST WEEK JIMMY CARTER SAID HE'S GOING TO MAKE WOMAN'S ISSUES THE CAUSE OF HIS LIFE.
NICHOLAS KRISTOF WHO PUT SEX TRAFFICKING ON THE FRONT PAGE OF HIS COLUMN EVERY WEEK.
>> I'M NOT FOR MESSAGING, I'M FOR ARTISTIC -- I THINK IF YOU INTEGRATE THE ACADEMY SO THAT IT IS NOT A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE MALE INSTITUTION, WOMEN WILL BEGIN TO SHINE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TO CHANGE THE RULES.
BUT WHO GOES TO THE MOVIES THESE DAYS?
IT'S OFTEN WOMEN YET THEY'RE NOT FAIRLY RIMMED.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE ASHAME TO THINK THAT ALL WOMEN ONLY WANT TO WATCH THINGS LIKE "50 SHADES OF GREY" WHEN THERE ARE GREAT MOVIES OUT FROM, AND SMALLER ONES THAT -- >> I'M REALLY AGAINST THAT MOVIE.
>> BY THE WAY OLDER WOMEN WOULD HAVE TO -- >> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
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