Millennial Feminists & Armchair Activism

>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... WE TAKE AN INDEPTH LOOK AT YOUNG FEMINISTS.

WHY MANY MILLENNIALS DO NOT CALL THEMSELVES FEMINISTS AND THE CHANGING FACE OF FEMINISM ACTIVISM.

[♪♪♪] >> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE STATE OF FEMINISM FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUNG AMERICAN WOMEN.

FEMINISM IS DEFINED AS THE POLICY, PRACTICE OR ADVOCACY OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EQUALITY FOR WOMEN.

MILLENNIAL WOMEN ARE BECOMING MORE ENCAMPAIGNINGED BUT THE MAJORITY DO NOT CALL THEMSELVES FEMINISTS.

ACCORDING TO A POLL BY THE PUBLIC RELIGION RESEARCH INSTITUTION FEWER THAN HALF OF AMERICAN WOMEN BETWEEN 18-35 IDENTIFY AS FEMINISTS.

SOMEONE WOMEN HAVE STARTED TO IDENTIFY AS ANTI-FEMINISTS.

RECENTLY THE HASHTAG WHY I DON'T NEED FEMINISM STORMED SOCIAL MEDIA WITH WOMEN DECLARING THEIR OPPOSITION TO FEMINISM.

YET, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN A MAJORITY OF MILLENNIALS BELIEVE IN THE CAUSES.

SO WHY THE DISCONNECT?

>> PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE BEING PUT IN BOXES OR CATEGORIES.

IF YOU ASK PEOPLE IF YOU ARE A FESTNIST IT IS A PERSONAL DECISION BUT IT WORKS OUT TO BE CALLED A FEMINIST.

>> I THINK MORE GIRLS ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO BE A FEMINIST AND UNDERSTANDING THE REAL DEFINITION.

THAT WOMEN AND MEN SHOULD HAVE EQUAL POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC RIGHTS.

>> ONE MILLENNIAL WOMAN WHO CAME AROUND TO BELIEVING IN FEMINISM IS TAYLOR SWIFT.

SHE REJECTED THE LABEL AND NOW SAYS SHE IS A PROUD FEMINIST AFTER UNDERSTANDING THE MOVEMENT BETTER.

POP CULTURE HAS BEEN A WASH IN STARS WHO CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS INCLUDING BEYONCE AND EMMA WATSON.

>> POP CULTURE WE ARE -- WE'VE CHANGED THE REALITY.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S WORLDWIDE.

FEMINISTS ARE GIRLSES AND BOYS, MEN AND WOMEN, WOMEN AND MEN.

IT'S TOGETHER.

WE CARRY THAT MESSAGE.

>> THE FEMINIST MAJORITY FOUNDATION HAS A CAMPAIGN PROGRAM.

THE MS. FOUNDATION HAS MS.

IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> NOW THERE'S GREATER CONSCIOUSNESS ALL THE ISSUES ARE MAJORITY ISSUES.

>> SO, ARE MILLENNIAL WOMEN BECOMING MORE FEMINIST?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE AND I DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO BE.

>> LET'S NOT GET HUNG UP ON LABELS.

MILLENNIAL WOMEN EXPECT EQUALITY MORE THAN ANY GENERATION.

ONE FIFTH OF AMERICANS CALL THEMSELVES FEMINISTS I THINK THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA BELIEVE IN THE EQUALITY OF THE SEXES.

>> AND FEMINISM IS HAVING A REBIRTH.

>> AT 47% OF WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-35 CALLING THEMSELVES FEMINISTS THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A LOT.

>> TASS NOT THAT IT'S NOT A LOT BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE WOMEN NOT DOG THEMSELVES FEMINISTS AS WELL.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN COMING UP.

OBVIOUSLY.

THAT COHORT ALMOST HALF FEMINIST THAT IS A LOT MORE THAN IN THE 70s.

WHEN THIRD WAVE FEMINISM STARTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LOOK AT IT.

FEMINISM IS A DEEPLY MALIGNED AND MISUNDERSTOOD TERM.

THE FACT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE 47% WE ARE TALKING HALF OF YOUNG WOMEN IDENTIFY WITH A TERM THAT IS POORLY MISUNDERSTOOD AND THAT A HUGE NUMBER.

I TAKE THAT AS A GOOD SIGN.

THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE WHO MIGHT IDENTIFY AS FEMINIST IF THEY KNEW A DIFFERENT DEFINITION.

>> PEOPLE MALIGNED I REMEMBER WHAT'S HIS FACE?

THE RIGHT-WING TALK SHOW HOST.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, THAT WAS 15, 20 YEARS AGO.

I DON'T HEAR MALIGNING SO MUCH ANYMORE.

I HEAR EMBRACING MORE FROM YOUNG WOMEN: IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT?

>> HAVING BEEN A PUBLIC AND OUT FEMINIST FOR ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE I HAVE NOTICED THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DEBATE YOU EVERYTIME YOU SAY YOU ARE A FEMINIST.

AND THE MEN WHO MOST WANT TO DEBATE THE TERM FEMINIST ARE THE ONES MOST LIKELY TO LOOK DOWN YOUR SHIRT.

I'VE REALIZED THAT GROWING UP.

I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO HAVE A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT FEMINISM MEANS.

AND YES, WE HAVE STEPPED AWAY FROM THE MODEL OF CALLING PEOPLE FEMINIST NAZIS.

ARE FEMINISTS ATTACKED TODAY?

ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S TAKE ESPECIALLY ON A NEW FORM.

RUSH LIMBAUGH IS STILL CALLING PEOPLE FEMME-NAZIS.

LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE CALLED SOMEONE A SLUT.

I THINK THE MOVEMENT -- >> THAT WAS ALSO SEVEN YEARS AGO.

>> GOODNESS.

DATING MYSELF.

I NEED FEMINISM NOW MORE THAN EVER.

I THINK I SEE BOTH POINTS.

THERE IS MORE EMBRACING OF IT AND THE WAY IT'S ENTERED POP CULTURE.

BEYONCE FEMINISM AND BE DISMISSIVE OF IT.

BUT THEY ARE HELPING MAKING FEMINISM REBRANDING IT AND MAKING IT COOL.

THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG WOMEN.

>> LET ME ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE SPENT MOST OF YOUR ADULT LIFE AS A FEMINIST ORGANIZER IF MOST PEOPLE SAY I AM FOR EQUAL RIGHTS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, BUT THEY WILL NOT CALL THEMSELVES FEMINISM HOW IS THAT REBRANDING?

>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

HERE IS HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT SOMEONE THAT SAY THEY DO NOT IDENTIFY AS A FEMINIST.

I DON'T CARE.

I THINK WE GET TOO HUNG UP ON LABELS AND YOU WILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY FEMINISM NEEDS TO BE REBRANDED.

>> USE A DIFFERENT TERM.

>> THE PROBLEM IS AN ORGANIZING PROBLEM NOT A MARKETING PROBLEM WE NEED TO ORGANIZE.

THE RIGHT WING IS DOING A BETTER JOB THAN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN TERMS OF ORGANIZING ON ISSUES.

>> THE MOST SEXIST THING THAT FEMINISM HAS A BAD RAP.

MORE PROOF.

>> IS WHERE YOU START TO GET PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE UPSET.

BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CANNOT BE FOR FEMINISM AND EQUAL RIGHTS.

>> WHY DO WE NEED IT?

DIDN'T YOU SAY?

WHY DO WE NEED FEMINISM NECESSARILY?

THAT IS A DIFFERENT ARGUMENT BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE THINK WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED FEMINISM BECAUSE THEY FEEL WE ARE BEING TREATED EQUALLY IN SOCIETY.

I DON'T FEEL THAT IN THE WORKPLACE THAT I'M BEING TALKED DOWN TO OR... >> I DO NOT THINK THAT I'M BEING PAID LESS.

I DO NOT THINK -- >> I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER SHE IS PAID LESS OR MORE.

BUT THE GENDER PAY GAP DOES NOT EMERGE UNTIL THE 40s MOST WOMEN PHD'S FOR EXAMPLE OR I'M SURE IT'S TRUE TO A LESSER EXTENT OF COLLEGE WOMAN PHD'S MAKE 98% OF WHAT THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS MAKE.

IT'S WHEN YOU TURN 40 AND MOST LIKELY HAD KIDS AND DROPPED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AND TRY TO GO BACK IN THAT IS WHEN THE WAGE GAP EMERGES.

BEING IN HER 20s SHE WOULD NOT HAVE FELT IT YET.

MY QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU GROW UP, FURTHER INTO YOUR CAREER AND START FEELING A WAGE GAP AND FINDING OUT ABOUT IT, WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT FEMINISM?

>> IF I THOUGHT THAT I WAS FEELING A WAGE GAP THEN THAT WOULD CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT THAT ISSUE SPECIFICALLY.

BUT FEMINISM IS SO MUCH MORE THAN EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK OR SO MUCH MORE THAN CONTRACEPTION IT IS MORE THAN JUST RAPE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

THERE ARE THINGS INVOLVED IN THIS.

I FEEL LIKE BY SINGLING OUT ONE ISSUE AND SAYING IF YOU ARE NOT FOR THIS ONE THING THE GOVERNMENT PAYING FOR CONTRACEPTION AND BELIEVE YOU ARE BEING PAID LESS YOU CANNOT BE A FEMINIST.

I DO NOT THINK THAT IS FAIR.

YOU CAN BE A FEMINIST AND WOMEN BEING TREATED EQUALLY TO MEN AND NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT.

AND IT'S BEING TOO POLITICAL CHARGED AND WE SHOULD NOT BE EXCLUSION AREA.

>> IT'S ABOUT GENDER EQUALITY.

I AM A REPUBLICAN FEMINIST AND IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE MY PARTY'S LEADERSHIP EPITOMIZES MY ISSUES.

TO ME A FEMINIST WHAT BEYONCE HAD AT THE VMA'S SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EQUALITY OF THE SEXES.

>> WHY DO YOU SAY IN A PARTY -- >> I HAVE TO STAY IN THE PARTY TO HELP CHANGE IT.

I CAN STAND UP AND HELP THE LEADERS GET OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WOMEN MATTER AND GENDER EQUALITY MATTERS.

THE LEADERSHIP NOW TODD ACHE ENWHO MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES -- >> AND MORE RECENTLY IN EARLY MID-2015, THERE WAS SOME STAYED REP WHO SAID THAT IF A WOMAN GETS PREGNANT DURING RAPE IT IS A GIFT.

A REPUBLICAN.

>> OF COURSE.

>> IS THE WAR OPPORTUNITY WOMEN GOING TO CONTINUE BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND OR THE SO-CALLED WAR OPPORTUNITY WOMEN?

AND SECONDLY, DOES THAT HELP FEMINISTS WHEN MEN SAY THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO SAY?

OR DOES IT HURT?

>> IT HELPS.

BECAUSE IT GIVES US A PLATFORM TO SAY, HEY THIS IS NOT FOR US.

THESE STATE REPS ARE TRIPPING OVER THEMSELVES BUT THEY ARE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES.

THEY DO NOT SPEAK FOR AN ENTIRE PARTY AND THE PART OF THE PARTY THAT IS DYING OUT A MODERATE STRONGHOLD THAT ARE NOT AFRAID TO CALL OURSELVES FEMINISTS.

IT'S NOT DEFINED BY A POLITICAL AFFILIATION AND THAT GIVES ME HOPE.

>> I CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AND I'M GLAD TO YOU HEAR YOU OPENLY IDENTIFYING A REPUBLICAN FEMINIST.

THE ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE PART SIP AND THE DIVIDE HAS GREATLY HURT THE ADVANCEMENT OF FEMINISM.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY THERE HAS BEEN THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FEMINISTS ON ALL SIDES SO IT TAKES ALL HANDS ON DECK.

>> WAIT.

WAIT.

HOW IS THE PARTISAN DIVIDE HURT FEMINISM?

>> YEAH.

I THINK LOOKING AT IT FROM MY LENS, AND IN PARTICULAR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO SEE MORE BOLD MOVEMENT WITHIN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT WHICH IS DEEPLY PROGRESSIVE, WHAT YOU SEE IS THERE'S TOO MUCH ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT WOMEN'S MOVEMENT AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTIMENT AND THAT DEEPLY HURTS THE MOVEMENT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE WOMEN'S MOVEMENTS THAT IS CAUGHT IN A NEVER ENDING CYCLE OF ELECTIONITETIES.

LET'S ELECT SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T SAY THAT RAPE IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE THE OPPOSITION IS SO BAD.

WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THERE ACTUALLY ANY REAL MOVEMENT TOWARD WOMEN'S EQUALITY?

ARE THERE POLICY GOALS MOVING FORWARD BEYOND THE ELECTION CYCLES.

MOST OF THE BILLS AT THIS POINT -- >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE 'TY ABORTION, 350 ANDY ABORTION BILLS THAT HAVE COME UP FOR A VOTE IN THE HOUSE IN THE LAST YEAR?

>> YOU LOOK AT THE MASSIVE PROLIFERATION OF ANTIABORTION RIGHTS LEGISLATION BOTH AT THE STATE LEVEL ESPECIALLY -- >> DEFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> AND YOU LOOK AND YOU SEE THE PRIMARY RESPONSE COMING OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY INCREASINGLY ALSO JUST THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IS LET'S FIGHT BACK AND STOP THE ATTACKS.

WE DON'T NEED TO FIGHT BACK AND PROTECT SOMETHING.

THINGS ARE WORSE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW THERE ARE MORE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION THAN BEFORE THE ROE VERSUS WADE DECISION.

THE DEFENSIVE MODE IS PROBLEMATIC.

AND IT'S NOT ADVANCING WOMEN AT ALL.

>> AND YOU ARE SUGGESTING WHAT?

LETTING ALL THE LAWS BECOME LAW AND GIVING SOMETHING TO YOUNG WOMEN TO FIGHT FOR?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.

I'M SAYING THAT WHILE THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLEAR POLITICAL AND POLICY FIGHT WHAT IS MISSING, THE MISSING ELEMENT RIGHT NOW IS MORE OF A GRASSROOTS POWER BUILDING EFFORT THAT FOCUSES ON WHAT DO WOMEN NEED?

WHAT IS HUMAN DIGNITY FOR WOMEN?

REALLY NOT FOCUSING ON TRYING TO ELECT CANDIDATES.

POLITICIANS MAY DO GOOD THINGS BUT THEY ARE NEVER YOUR FRIENDS AND THEY DON'T LEAD A MOVEMENT.

>> DOES THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW NEED TO EMBRACE MORE WOMEN OF COLOR?

>> YES!

WE NEED TO EMBRACE MORE PEOPLE PERIOD.

PEOPLE OF COLOR, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE.

I WAS THINKING WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP?

I WENT THROUGH THIS IN MY JOURNEY OF BECOMING A FEMINIST.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE SHOULD TELL YOU IF YOU IDENTIFY AS A FEMINIST YOU ARE NOT BECAUSE OF A, B AND C. IF YOU SAID IT THEN YOU ARE IT.

WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP?

I AM NOT A FEMINIST BUT... YOU ARE!

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?

>> NOW, ARE YOU FIGHTING IT.

>> NO, I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY ONO -- >> I THINK IT'S WRONG TO TELL SOMEONE.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER.

I WONDER WHEN IT'S GOING TO STOP AND EMBRACE IT WITHOUT THE BUT... >> WE HAVE TO RUN.

ON TO THE NEXT SEGMENT.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

FOLLOW ME @BONNIEERBE.

FROM YOUNG FEMINISTS TO SECOND WAVE FEMINISTS.

SOME FEMINISTS FROM OLDER GENERATIONS HAVE CRITICIZED MILLENNIAL FEMINISTS FOR BEING ARMCHAIR ACTIVISTS WHO CAMPAIGN ON-LINE BUT DOING LITTLE OUTSIDE OF THE NET.

MILLENNIAL FEMINISTS COMPLAINED THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE UNDER APPRECIATED.

DPLOR YEAH STEINEM SAY IT'S TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF MILLENNIALS MORE.

>> THEY ARE WAY MORE FEMINIST.

NOTHING WE DO SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH BECAUSE OUR HOPES EXCEED POSSIBILITIES.

BUT I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOUNG WOMEN.

>> AND POINTS TO THE WORK YOUNG WOMEN ARE DOING ON ISSUES SUCH AS PAY EQUITY.

>> WOMEN ARE MAD ON CAMPUS THAT THEY ARE GRADUATING WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF DEBT, THE SAME DEBT AS A MALE STUDENT.

BUT WILL EARN ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS LESS OVER THEIR WORK LIFE TO PAY IT BACK.

THEY ARE MAD.

YOU KNOW.

THEY DON'T NEED ME TO TELL THEM THEY ARE MAD.

I NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM SO THAT WE CAN SHARE TACTICS AND WORK TOGETHER.

>> A LOT OF THE ACTIVISM HAT IS HAPPENING ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS IMPORTANT AND VALID.

AND THAT YOU CANNOT DISCONNECT THAT FROM DOING ON THE GROUND WORK AND ACTION.

AND THEY WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER.

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ARMCHAIR ACTIVISM AND HOW THAT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH BUT THAT MIGHT BE THE ONLY THING YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE MOVEMENT.

>> GLORIA STEINEM NO GREATER PERSON TO QUOTE THAN SHE, YOUNG FEMINISTS ARE MORE RADICAL AND ACTIVE THAN WOMEN OF HER GENERATION.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> IN MY EXPERIENCE, ABSOLUTELY YES.

THAT IS THE TRUTH.

THE HEART OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IS LED BY YOUNG WOMEN AND LED ON-LINE AND IN THE STREETS.

AND I THINK -- >> WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT?

OUTSIDE OR ON-LINE?

>> I THINK IT'S ALL ACTIVISM.

AND IT ALL FEEDS INTO EACH OTHER AND THE IDEA THAT ON-LINE ACTIVISM IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO THE ON-LINE SPACE IS NOT TRUE.

WHEN THE COME MEN FOUNDATION DECIDED TO PULL FUNDING FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THERE WAS OUTRAGE ON TWITTER.

THERE WERE REAL CHANGES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT.

SO IT'S SILLY TO PERPETUATE THE DIVIDE.

IT'S NOT JUST FEMINISM OUR LIVES ARE ON-LINE.

THAT DIVIDE IS SILLY.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY LEADING THIS MOVEMENT FORWARD.

AND IT'S TROUBLING TO SEE THAT SOMETIMES YOU DO SEE SOME OLDER FEMINISTS I DO NOT WANT TO SAY ALL BUT THERE IS A SUBSET WHO TAKE THAT VIEWPOINT WHERE ARE THE YOUNG WOMEN?

WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT.

>> IS IT LIKE MANY OTHER MOVEMENTS THAT OLDER WOMEN ARE IN CHARGE AND YOUNGER WOMEN WANT TO TAKEOVER AND RUN THE MOVEMENT?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT, YES.

AND I THINK ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE BOUNDARIES OF WOMAN HOOD CHANGED SO DRAMATICALLY IN A FEW GENERATIONS.

>> HOW?

>> PRECISELY THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

THE FACT THAT MILLENNIALS EXPECT EQUALITY AND WOMEN EXPECT THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK AND MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AND ENTER ANY PROFESSION WHETHER THAT IS CONSTRUCTION OR A C.E.O.

OR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND FINDING THAT A REALISTIC DREAM.

THE FACT IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT SET OF EXPECTATIONS THAT YOUR GROWN-UP IN LARGE CREDIT TO OLDER FEMINISTS WHO FOUGHT VERY, VERY HARD FOR THAT.

THE GOALPOSTS ARE SHIFTING.

AND IT IS OK FOR MOVEMENTS TO SHIFT AND PEOPLE TO GET MORE PROGRESSIVE AND HAVE NEW SOLUTIONS THEY ARE SEEKING.

>> IN OUR FIGHT TO FIGHT SEXISM THERE IS A HUGE ISSUE OF AGEISM THAT COMES IN THE MOVEMENTS.

AS A YOUNG WOMEN -- >> ARE YOU SAYING OLDER FEMINISTS ARE AGEIST?

>> NOT ALL OF THEM.

I THINK WHAT THE FEMINIST MAJORITY FOUNDATION AND SHE DOES TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG WOMEN TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT, YES I I'M BIASED BUT IT'S EXTRAORDINARY AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THAT THAT EMPHASIS ON YOUNG WOMEN.

I THINK IT IS THE LARGEST NETWORK IN THE WORLD THEY ARE A COLLEGE GROUP.

>> I WANTED TO RESPOND AND SAY I DO NOT THINK IT IS JUST THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT.

I THINK EVERY POLITICAL ORGANIZATION COMPANY ORGANIZATION THERE IS THE YOUNG PEOPLE UP-AND-COMING I KNOW WHAT IS BEST AND THE OLDER PEOPLE ARE SAYING NO.

LIKE YOUR PARENTS.

AND I THINK THAT IS JUST A NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS THE YOUNGER PEOPLE WANT TO LEAD AND YOU NEED TO LEARN.

BUT THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE EXPECTATION THAT YOUNGER WOMEN HAVE TO BE TREATED EQUALLY.

THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY I SAID I THINK A LOT OF YOUNG WOMEN DO NOT THINK WE NEED FEMINISM ANYMORE BECAUSE WHAT HAS CHANGED SO DRAMATICALLY IS THE EXPECTATION THAT NOT ONLY SHOULD WE BE TREATED EQUALLY BUT WE WILL BE -- >> I HAVE TO TELL YOU HAVING WATCHED THE MOVEMENT AS A TEENAGER WHEN IT WAS BEING RUN BY GLORIA AND OTHER PEOPLE OF HER ELK, I DO NOT THEIR THEIR EXPECTATIONS WERE DIFFERENT.

I DON'T.

>> AND TALKING WITHIN THE MOVEMENT I'M TALKING ABOUT BROADLY YOUNG WOMEN NOW AND GOING BACK.

I'M TALKING ABOUT A WAVE BEFORE THE GLORIA STEINEM.

WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THE SAME BATTLES.

CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT BUT THAT PASSION HAS NOT CHANGED BECAUSE WE ARE STILL FIGHTING EQUALITY.

>> WHAT IS LEFT?

WHAT DO YOU NOT HAVE?

>> GOODNESS!

FORT.

>> LET ME TELL YOU.

IN BANGLADESHS IT'S EQUAL INHAIR TENSE LAWS.

IN AMERICA, SEX DISCRIMINATION, AIM INEQUALITY, PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT.

IT GOES ON AND ON.

YOUR CONTEXT IN THE YEARS MAY CHANGE BUT WE ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME END GOAL.

>> YES.

TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND WE ALSO NEED TO SEE A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

I THINK WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT AS A MATTER OF HUMAN DIGNITY EVERY WOMAN HAS THE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IT IS FUNDED AND NOT SEGREGATED AND THERE IS NO DISCRIMINATION FROM PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

AND ALSO LOOKING AGAIN AT THE WORKPLACE.

UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THE MOVEMENT IS STALLED.

IT'S FOCUSED ON PAID SICK DAYS.

WE NEED PAID PARENTAL LEAVE PERIOD FOR EVERYONE.

>> THAT IS AN ISSUE WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.

WE ARE NOT LIKE BANGLADESH AND INDIA WHERE THE CHILD BRIDES ARE STILL GETTING INTO MARRIAGES AND BEING FORCED.

WE HAVE TRANSCENDED.

>> AND BANGLADESH AND INDIA HAVE HAD FEMALE LEADERSHIP.

>> THAT IS A DIFFERENT THING.

>> THIS COUNTRY IS 97TH IN TERMS IN THE WORLD OF PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE CONGRESS.

>> I HOPE IN MY LIFETIME WE CAN SEE THAT CHANGE.

WE HAVE BEEN BEHIND I AGREE.

BUT WE SHOULD GET BEHIND THE ISSUES AND GET EVERYBODY BEHIND.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BRING MEN INTO THE MOVEMENT?

>> VERY IMPORTANT.

VERY IMPORTANT.

>> MILLENNIAL MEN GET IT.

I'M MARRIED TO ONE.

THEY GET IT.

>> AT ANY TIME'S THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING IT AND GETTING ACTIVE?

>> YES.

BUT THEIR PIERS HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT THAN WHAT OUR PIERS WERE.

I THINK I GREW UP WITH YOUNG SEXIST YOUNG MEN THAN MY HUSBAND'S PERIOD.

>> THERE IS A GROWING MEN'S MOVEMENT IN TERMS OF INVOLVING MEN IN THE FIGHT FOR GENDER JUSTICE IN TERMS OF DOING EQUAL HOMECARE, CHILDCARE... AND GIVING WOMEN MORE TIME TO GET EDUCATED, PURSUE CAREERS.

>> IT'S GREAT.

IT'S GREAT FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S GREAT FOR MEN TO BE MORE INVOLVED FATHERS.

AND PARENTING.

GREAT FOR CHILDREN.

>> ARE MILLENNIAL MEN SPLIT TO GO 50/50?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

A I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE REPORTING ON THIS.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE BIG GOTCHA IS WOMEN WHY ARE WE NOT ASKING THAT QUESTION.

AND IF THEY SAY NO WHY NOT?

THAT IS A QUESTION WE SHOULD BE ASKING OF YOUNG MEN AND PARTICULARLY THE MEN IN POWER LEADING CORPORATIONS THAT DO NOT OFFER PAID LEAVE.

AND IN THE LEGISLATURES AND PUSHING ANTIABORTION LAWS.

DO YOU BELIEVE WOMEN ARE EQUAL AND IF NOT SO, WHY NOT?

SHOULD WE FOCUS MORE ON MEN.

ALL HANDS ON DECK.

>> NOT ONLY SHOULD WE FOCUS MORE ON MEN BUT GOING BACK TO THE POLITICAL ARGUMENT THERE'S NOT THAT MANY WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE IT IS BIPARTISAN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TURN OFF ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER GETTING MORE WOMEN INTO THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I THINK THAT IS AN AREA WHERE YOU COULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND FEMINISTS TOGETHER ON THE ISSUE.

AND THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE MEN, I THINK THAT IS AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN GET A LOT OF WOMEN ONBOARD.

MOST DON'T WANT TO STAY AT HOME AND BEING THE ONLY PERSON TAKING CARE OF A NEW BABY AND NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK TO WORK AND HAVE THEIR HUSBANDS STAY AT HOME INSTEAD.

I DEFINITELY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

I'M SAY TO GO FOR THE RECORD I'M NOT HAVING KIDS.

BECAUSE I FEEL IN MY JOB I CANNOT TAKE SIX WEEKS OFF OF MY JOB AND COME BACK IN.

MY HUSBAND MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT I HAVE THE LEAD TIME NOT HIM.

>> BRINGING MEN INTO IT.

>> AND THINK IT WAS A GREAT THING BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE REAL -- REAL CHANGE FROM THAT ANYTIME SOON.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S BROUGHT AWARENESS BUT HAS IT DONE ANYTHING?

HAVE WE SEEN CHANGE IN POLICY?

WE NEED TO GIVE IT MORE TIME TO BRING MEN INTO THE CONVERSATION.

>> SHOULD MEN BE RUNNING FEMINIST ORGANIZATIONS?

ARE YOU READY TO GIVE POWER TO MEN TO BRING THEM INTO THE MOVEMENT?

>> THAT IS AN ONION ARTICLE.

THE FEMINISTS FIGURED THE MEN SHOULD RUN THE WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS.

THE MEN SHOULD BE IN LEADERSHIP AND SHARE THAT.

BUT I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY A FEMINIST THING TO PUT WOMEN FIRST AND MEN SHOULD KNOW TO STEP BACK.

>> FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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