09/18/2015 | 26m 12s | Video has closed captioning.
Pope Francis & Women: Will the pontiff allow women into the priesthood? Paternity Leave: Men ask for equal paid parental leave. Girls Who Code: How to get young girls on the track to study STEM and computer science. PANEL: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Susan Ferrechio, Rina Shah Bharara, Erin Matson
Aired: 09/18/15
>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... FIRST, ROMAN CATHOLIC WOMEN PRIESTS SPEAK OUT AS THE POPE'S VISIT APPROACHES.
AND MEN SUE FOR PARENTAL LEAVE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: CRACKING THE CODE.
GIRLS EMBRACING COMPUTER SCIENCE.
[♪♪♪] >> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, THE POPE'S U.S. TOUR.
>> POPE FRANCIS IS EMBARKING ON A SIX-DAY VISIT ACROSS WASHINGTON D.C., NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA STARTING THIS WEEK.
THE PONTIFF IS EXPECTED TO DRAW ADORING CROWDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
THE POPE BROUGHT MANY CATHOLICS WHO DRIFTED AWAY BACK TO THE FLOCK WITH HIS WARM AFFIRMING TONE.
BUT HE HAS NOT CHANGED CATHOLIC DOGMA MUCH AND NOT ALL ARE SATISFIED WITH HIS WORK PARTICULARLY WOMEN WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN'S ISSUES.
WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ASKED ABOUT ORDAINING WOMEN AS PRIESTS HE SAYS THAT DOOR IS CLOSED.
GROUPS SUCH AS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC WOMEN PRIESTS FEEL THE POPE IS IGNORING SEXISM IN THE CHURCH WHILE USING LOVE-FILLED WORDS.
>> HIS EMBRACE OF THE POOR IS BREATHTAKING AND THE THINS HE SAYS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH AND HE IS ON TRACK.
WHERE HE HAS A HUGE BEAM IN HIS EYE IS THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN ALL OF THIS.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LIFT WOMEN UP AND NOT RECOGNIZE THE CULTURE THAT ESSENTIALLY MAKE WOMEN AMONG THE POOREST OF THE POOR.
TONE IS IMPORTANT.
THE IDEA OF SETTING A TONE OF A CONVERSATION.
BUT IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION IT'S USELESS.
>> THE TONE OF THE POPE ON LGBTQ IS WHO AM I TO JUDGE?
AND THE TONE ON SOCIAL JUSTICE CAUSES IS LET'S BE MORE FOR THE POOR.
THE TONE ON WOMEN PRIESTS IS THE DOOR IS SHUT.
LITERALLY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> THAT IS THE CHANGE THAT I DO NOT THINK WE WILL SEE IN OUR LIFETIME.
I DO NOT THINK YOU WILL SEE WOMEN PRIESTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
WE HAVE SEEN IT IN GROUPS OF CHRISTIANITY BUT NOT IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
I DO NOT THINK THE CHURCH IS READY FOR THAT.
>> WE HAVE SEEN SURPRISING CHANGES.
TAKING ON A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND SIDING WITH THE NUNS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED UP BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EMPHASIZE ABORTION ENOUGH.
NOT CHANGE IN DOCTRINE BUT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
>> THIS IS PUZZLING BECAUSE HE IS THE FIRST POPE TO HAVE HAD A FEMALE BOSS.
HE WAS AN ASSISTANT IN A LAB YEARS BEFORE HE ENTERED AND THE PRIESTHOOD THE ROMAN CATHOLIC WOMEN'S PRIESTS ARE GOING OUT THERE AND DOING THINGS WITHOUT THE VATICAN'S APPROVAL AND WE WILL SEE WOMEN PRIESTS IN OUR LIFETIME IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
I'M CONFIDENT.
>> BOTTOM LINE: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SOCIAL JUSTICE WITHOUT EQUALITY AND RESPECT FOR WOMEN.
POPE FRANCIS HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
>> DO YOU THINK IT WILL GET DONE ANYTIME SOON?
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE AS THE PRIESTS POINTED OUT WHOM WE INTERVIEWED, HE IS FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE BUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WORLD'S POOR ARE WOMEN.
AND GIRLS.
>> WOMEN ARE INVOLVED IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THEY ARE NOT PRIESTS BUT THEY ARE INVOLVED THEY RUN THE SCHOOLS ALMOST SINGLE-HANDEDLY.
THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE SERVICE.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICE THEY DISTRIBUTE COMMUNION AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MASS THEY ARE NOT PRIESTS.
THERE ARE GIRL ALTER SERVERS NOW.
AND THAT IS A BIG STEP.
IT USED TO BE ONLY BOYS COULD DO THAT.
CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT JUST MADE UP OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
THERE ARE PEOPLE MORE CONSERVATIVE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHO FEEL LIKE POPE FRANCIS STRAYED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR CONSERVATIVE BASE.
TRYING TO CALL THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ONE GROUP WHO MAY ALL BE LOOKING TOWARD PROGRESS I DO NOT THINK THAT DESCRIBES WHO THE CON DEGREE GANTS ARE.
PEOPLE THINK IT'S GONE TOO FAR NOT STAYING TO THE MESSAGE OF ANTIABORTION.
>> PLENTY OF DEVOUT CATHOLICS FEEL THAT WAY.
>> AND THERE IS A SIZABLE NUMBER.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE HARD NUMBERS CATHOLIC PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGES IN THE CHURCH.
A MAJORITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RELAXATION ON THE IDEAS OF BIRTH CONTROL ACCEPTING CONTRACEPTION.
>> AND THERE'S ALSO 98% OF AMERICAN WOMEN USE BIRTH CONTROL AND 98 OR 99% OF AMERICAN CATHOLIC WOMEN USE IT.
>> YEAH.
THE NUMBERS ARE THE SAME.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP CATHOLIC AND ALSO MY MOTHER WHO WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL THROUGHOUT.
SHE PRESENTED IT TO ME AS A NO-BRAINER.
WELL, OF COURSE YOU WANT TO BE ON BIRTH CONTROL YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET PREGNANT.
TIME AND AGAIN WHETHER THEY ARE CATHOLIC OR NOT PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY KNOW THAT BIRTH CONTROL IS SOMETHING THAT WOMEN ARE CAPABLE OF DECIDING.
>> YOU GREW UP CATHOLIC.
YOU LEFT THE CHURCH?
>> I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A WHILE.
THE BREAKING POINT WAS ON THE PRESEX ABUSE SCANDALS.
I LEARNED MORE ABOUT THAT IN 2002 AND WAS UPSET.
I MET JEFFREY ANDERSON ONE OF THE LAWYERS WORKING ON THE SEX ABUSE TRIALS IN MINNESOTA.
AND JUST BECAME VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO RECONCILE HOW I COULD GO BACK IN.
>> ARE YOU TEMPTED BY THIS POPE AND HIS -- NOBODY CAN DENY HIS ATTITUDE IS REFRESHING.
THE QUESTION IS TO ME ANYWAY, WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO FOR WOMEN?
AND HOW CAN WOMEN SIT BACK AND EXPECT HIM TO DO FOR THEM WITHOUT SHOWING THE SIGNAL LIKE LEAVING THE CHURCH IF THEY ARE DISSATISFIED WITH WHAT HE IS OR ISN'T DO?
>> I DO NOT THINK CATHOLIC WOMEN ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE CHURCH BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT WOMEN PRIESTS.
THE CHURCH NEEDS TO DRAW PEOPLE BACK INTO THE CHURCH.
>> SMALL.
BUT YOU DO NOT THINK SOME WILL?
>> I DO NOT THINK THAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM.
THERE IS A DIVIDE ABOUT MESSAGE AND BIRTH CONTROL OR ABORTION OR OTHER THINGS CENTRAL TO CATHOLIC BELIEFS.
I'M NOT SURE NOT HAVING A FEMALE PRIEST IS GOING TO BE AS BIG OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE WOMEN ARE INVOLVED IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
>> I SEE HIM AS A MASTER STRATEGIST.
I DO NOT THINK THE POPE [INAUDIBLE] I AM SPEAKING AS A NON-CATHOLIC BELIEVES YOU CAN MOVE AN INSTITUTION LIKE THAT RAPIDLY.
WHAT HE IS SHOWING IS YOU CAN MOVE IT SLOWLY.
>> AND THIS IS A POPE FROM ARGENTINA HE HAS SEEN WOMEN IN POLITICAL POWER AND SAT WITH WOMEN IN THE SLUMS IN ARGUE TINA TALKING ABOUT PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.
HE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR THOSE WOMEN.
WOMEN HAVING TROUBLE JUST MAKING IT THROUGH EACH DAY.
SO I THINK HE IS A CHAMPION FOR THAT AND I AGREE WITH THE DELEGATE THIS IS GOING TO BE SLOW.
I EXPECT HIM TO PIVOT.
>> I WAS ASKING -- >> THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA CATHOLIC PEOPLE AND I MEAN PEOPLE ACTIVELY PRACTICING AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT LIKE MYSELF AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO GO TO CHURCH FREQUENTLY THERE ARE ACTUALLY A RANGE OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGE ON ALLOWING PRIESTS TO BE MARRIED.
THERE'S SOLID NUMBERS BACKING THAT UP.
IF YOU LOOK AT CATHOLIC PEOPLE IT IS A DIFFERENT MINDSET THAN WHAT IS COMING OUT OF THE ALL MALE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT POPE FRANCIS IN TONE OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS HE TAPS INTO THAT SO IT IS ENCOURAGING.
IT IS A TIME FOR CHANGE.
I HOPE MUCH MORE IS TO COME.
>> I THINK IT'S TRUE THERE ARE NO VALID ARGUMENTS.
I WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR SEVEN YEARS BUT I'M FASCINATED BY THIS AND THERE IS NO ARGUMENT SAYING WOMEN CANNOT BE ORDAINED.
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO REFLECT CHRIST AND CHRIST WAS A MAN.
>> THAT IS THE ARGUMENT THAT ROME GIVES BUT WOMEN WERE AT THE LAST SUPPER THEY WERE TOLD DO THIS BECAUSE OF ME.
BY JESUS CHRIST.
THIS IS A LOT OF CONFUSION AND HISTORY OF THEIR BEING PREJUDICE BY MALES AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AGAINST WOMEN THAT IS WHERE IT STEMS FROM.
>> LAST WORD?
>> I WILL GIVE THIS POPE CREDIT BECAUSE I AM AMAZED TO SEE A POPE WITH THAT APPEAL TO BOTH CATHOLICS AND NON-CATHOLICS AND MOVE US ALL FORWARD.
>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM WOMEN PRIESTS TO PATERNAL LEAVE.
>> PARENTAL LEAVE IS NOT JUST A WOMAN'S ISSUE.
NEW DADS ARE SUING EMPLOYERS IN GREATER NUMBERS CHARGING SEX DISCRIME NATION BECAUSE THEY ARE OFFERED LESS FAMILY LEAVE TIME THAN NEW MOTHERS.
THEY FACE HARASS MANY AND RETALIATION FOR TAKING LEAVE.
A RECENT HIGH PROFILE CASE HIGHLIGHTED IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" FOCUSES ON A CNN EMPLOYEE JOSH LEVS HE CLAIMS THE COMPANY'S PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY DISCRIMINATES AGAINST BY LODGE CALC FATHERS.
HE WAS OFFERED TWO WEEKS COMPARED WITH THE 10 WEEKS MOTHERS AND COUPLES ADOPTING CHILDREN RECEIVED.
21% OF U.S. COMPANIES OFFER PAID MATERNITY LEAVE AND 17% OFFER PAID PATERNITY LEAVE.
21% IT'S UP FROM WHERE IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO BUT IT'S ONLY ONE FIFTH OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THAT AND IS THIS A POSITIVE SIGN THAT MEN ARE NOW SEEKING MORE PATERNITY LEAVE?
WHEN THE MEN START WANTING IT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE ACTION.
>> YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
AND WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE PITIFUL, AND ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE AS MANY CHILDREN, I THINK THAT THE AGENCY I HEADED THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION IS MOVING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THEY ARE DIVIDING THE TIME A WOMAN TAKES AS DISABILITY TIME RELATED TO PREGNANCY WHICH I WOULD ALSO RELATE TO NURSING AND SAYING THAT MAY BE A REASON FOR DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN AND AFTER THAT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE EQUAL.
>> ALSO IF YOU HAVE A C SECTION YOU CANNOT BE ON YOUR FEET AS QUICKLY.
THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY, TOO.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT MEN ARE PUSHING FOR PATERNITY LEAVE.
REMEMBER, THIS ALL HAS AN IMPACT ON BUSINESSES, BIG AND SMALL.
THE BIG BUSINESSES CAN PROBABLY HANDLE THAT EASIER THAN THE SMALLER BUSINESS.
AND YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS INCORPORATED IN TO TRYING TO GIVE EVERYBODY LEAVE.
THE COSTS ADD UP AND THAT IS PART OF THE EQUATION WHY THIS IS MOVING SLOWLY.
>> SMALL BUSINESSES USUALLY ARE NOT COUNTED IT'S USUALLY 50 AND UNDER.
>> AND WE ARE A FOR PERSON NONPROFIT AND WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE PERSON AND PAY HER MATERNITY LEAVE.
SO WE -- >> I SAY THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW.
THAT SEEMS LIKE PART OF THE ISSUE OF FIRST OF ALL ROUGHLY HALF THE WORKFORCE IS COVERED UNDER THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO GET 12 WEEKS OF UNPAID LEAVE WHICH IS ALMOST UNTENABLE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT AFFORD 12 WEEKS.
YOU NEED TO BE PAID.
THEY ARE WORKING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND THE IDEA OF COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT PROVIDING PARENTAL LEAVE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE SHAMED.
AND ALSO IF IT'S UNEQUAL BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN BUT WE NEED SOMETHING GUARANTEED.
THE FACT THAT THE U.S. IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT DO THIS.
SHAME ON US.
THIS IS BREAD AND BUTTER ECONOMIC ISSUE.
IT IS AN AREA WHERE WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER LEFT AND RIGHT.
>> WHERE TO BEGIN?
THIS IS REALLY IT'S SHAMEFUL.
WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THE AMERICAN FAMILY YET PUNISHING PEOPLE FOR HAVING FAMILIES?
THE CNN CORRESPONDENT GEARING UP FOR THE LAWSUIT, HE IS A BIOLOGICAL FATHER YET ADOPTED FAMILIAR FAMILIES GET TEN WEEKS.
I DO NOT WANT TO MANDATE CORPORATIONS AND GIVE YOUR MOTHERS AND FATHERS 10 WEEKS.
I THINK WE ARE IN A SHAMEFUL PLACE WHERE WE ARE.
>> WE ARE DIVIDED NATION ON HOW HIGH TAXES SHOULD BE AND EVEN ON THE MIDDLE AND LOWER MIDDLE CLASSES TAXES ARE HIGH.
>> THEY ARE.
>> AND DO LOWER MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE WANT TO PAY EXTRA MONEY SO THAT SOMEBODY IN THE MIDDLE OR UPPER MIDDLE CLASS CAN GET DAYCARE?
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME CONVERSATION.
STATE ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS I DO NOT THINK A FEDERAL BLANKET LAW WILL FIX THIS.
WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT DO NOT PUNISH WOMEN FOR LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.
RIGHT NOW TWO MONTHS OUT FROM DELIVERING A CHILD AND I CANNOT BELIEVE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I CAN TAKE AWAY.
I AM SELF EMPLOYED.
BUT I FEEL FOR THE WORKING WOMAN THAT HAS TO RETURN AND DOESN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF A HUSBAND BECAUSE HE DOES NOT GET ENOUGH TIME EITHER.
IT IS NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL POLICY.
IT'S HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS WHERE BUSINESSES CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM.
AND WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT HOME AND WORK LIFE INTEGRATION IS HERE.
WE BRING OUR WHOLE SELFS TO WORK SO WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THE CHAPTER OF THEIR LIFE.
>> HOW FAR AWAY -- OBVIOUSLY IN A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS PAID FAMILY LEAVE MANDATES ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
WHEN WILL THEY IF EVER IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
>> I THINK WE COULD CHANGE TOMORROW.
WOMEN HAVE TO UNDERSTAND -- >> TOMORROW?
HOW?
>> IF WOMEN ORGANIZED -- THIS IS THE LARGEST GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE ARE MORE DEPENDENT ON THEM GOING TO WORK THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT HAS ITS HANDS IN A LOT OF THINGS.
I CANNOT THINK OF ANY ISSUES THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT AND VERY MUCH RELATED THAN CHILDCARE AND LEAVE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND FOR FATHERS.
AND THIS CAN BE DONE.
THERE IS A MAJORITY FOR IT.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO ORGANIZE IS IT.
>> IF WOMEN ARE GOING TO PLAY MEANINGFUL ROLES IN TECHNOLOGY ONE TREND WILL HAVE TO BE REVERSED.
THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN GRADUATING WITH COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREES TODAY IS LOWER THAN IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO.
TO THE CONTRARY PROFILES ONE PROGRAM TARGETING GIRLS AND HOPES THEY WILL BECOME TOMORROW'S PROGRAMMERS.
>> IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY YOU ARE THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF GIRLS WHO CODE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
SO THAT MAKES YOU ALL TRAIL BLAZERS.
>> GRADUATION DAY FOR 20 GIRLS WHO COULD HELP CLOSE THE STEM GENDER GAP.
THE WASHINGTON D.C. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GOT HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH COMPUTERS ROBOTICS WEB DESIGN, PROGRAMMING, CSS, AND MORE.
NATIONWIDE, 1200 GIRLS ATTENDED ONE OF THE SUMMER CLASSES PUT ON BY GIRLS WHO CODE.
GIRLS WHO CODE IS DEDICATED TO ESTABLISHING A PIPELINE THAT WILL DRIVE GIRLS INTO THE MALE-DOMINATED FIELDS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH BUT IT COULD BE AN UPHILL BATTLE MORE GIRLS ARE TURNING AWAY FROM THE DISCIPLINES.
IN 198437% OF COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATES WERE WOMEN.
TODAY 18%.
>> OFTENTIMES WE TELL OUR GIRLS NOT TINKER AND WE TELL OUR BOYS TO.
WE PUSH OUR GIRLS OUT.
I CAN WALK INTO FOREVER 21 AND BUY A T-SHIRT THAT SAYS I AM ALLERGIC TO ALGEBRA.
>> RESHMA SAUJANI, C.E.O.
OF GIRLS WHO CODE SAYS ONE WAY TO ATTRACT GIRLS IS TO GLAMOURIZE AN OCCUPATION AS BORING.
>> WE SHOW THEM HOW THEY CAN USE TECHNOLOGY TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
COMPUTER SCIENTIST THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT A GUY IN A BASEMENT AND THAT IS NOT FUN AND CHANGING THE WORLD.
>> TO TURNPIKE THE TIDE IN LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES NONTRADITIONAL JOBS STEM OCCUPATIONS IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO DO OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN SEE THEMSELVES IN THESE GOOD JOBS AND THAT IS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING MENTORSHIPS, HOW WE BRING PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM INFORMATION AND EMPOWER THEM TOIC TA THE NEXT STEP.
>> GIRLS WHO CODE STARTED WITH ONE PROGRAM.
20 GIRLS IN 2012.
NOW IT OPERATES 60 PROGRAMS IN 14 CITIES, INCLUDING WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED THIS YEAR.
WASHINGTON D.C. IS THE NATION'S TOP CITY FOR WOMEN IN STEM ACCORDING TO A STUDY.
HERE, 42% OF STEM JOBS ARE HELD BY WOMEN.
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE: 26%.
GIRLS WHO CODE IS DETERMINED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN STEM BY PARTNERING WITH UNIVERSITIES AND MAJOR CORPORATIONS.
>> OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS WE NEED 1.2 MILLION CODERS.
AND THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE A PIPELINE TO FILL THOSE JOBS.
THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS WE NEED AND THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TODAY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT GIRLS WHO CODE THEY TRY TO FIND GIRLS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS FEW KNEW CODING BEFORE THEY CAME IN.
AND IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR FROM THE TEACHERS THAT THE GIRLS NEW TO CODING WERE PICKING IT UP IMMEDIATELY.
>> VICTORIA ESPINEL HEADS BSA, THE TRADE ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS SOFTWARE COMPANIES AND BELIEVES DESPITE A LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THE FIELD GIRLS SHOULD PURSUE STEM CAREERS.
>> DO NOT BE HELD BACK BY PERCEPTIONS AND BY WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU.
IF POSSIBLE.
>> GIRLS WHO CODE REPORTS 90% OF FORMER PARTICIPANTS ARE MAJORING OR PLANNING TO MAJOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE OR A RELATED DISCIPLINE IN COLLEGE.
VICTORIA ESPINEL SAYS BUSINESS MUST DO ITS PART.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE SOFTWARE INDUSTRY IS THINKING ABOUT SERIOUSLY AND I KNOW THEY ARE LOOKING INSIDE AT THEIR HIRING PRACTICES ANDK LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY.
WE WILL DO WHAT WE DO BETTER IF WE HAVE AS WIDE AND DIVERSE A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE AS WE CAN GET.
>> IN TECHNOLOGICAL GROWTH ORGANIZATIONS HOPE TO CHANGE THE FACE OF CODING.
>> YOU CANNOT BE WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE.
SO WE SHOW THEM WOMEN WHO LOOK LIKE THEM AND DOING THE THINGS THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD NOT DO.
THIS IS OUR 24TH SEASON ON PBS AND IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH OR FIFTH I WENT TO CARNEGIE MELON UNIVERSITY WHICH LAUNCHED A WOMEN IN COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM AND THEY WERE SAYING THE EXACT THINGS THE WOMEN ARE SAYING NOW.
AND THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH EFFORT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS AND INDEPENDENT FOUNDATIONS AFFORD HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO LURING WOMEN INTO COMPUTER SCIENCE YET WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS.
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?
>> GIRLS ARE NOT FINDING WOMEN WHO LOOK LIKE THEM.
ANY OF THAT.
>> HOW COULD IT BE WORSE THAN 20 YEARS AGO?
>> BECAUSE WE ARE ENCOURAGING OUR WOMEN AND YOUNG WOMEN IN THEIR MOST FORMATIVE YEARS WE ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO WALK AWAY SAYING THIS IS THE EASIER ROAD.
>> HOW?
>> BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GUYING THEM AND BY DOING THAT WE ARE SAYING TAKE THE LESSER ROAD THE EASIER ROAD.
IT'S EASIER TO STUDY LIBERAL ARTS THAN TO HACK IT OUT IN AN ENGINEERING CLASS WHEN I WAS ONE OF 4 GIRLS AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING STIGMA.
THE STIGMA WAS THERE AND THAT STIGMA CONTINUES TO PER VEIL AND THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
WE WILL SEE THE LOW NUMBERS ESPECIALLY AMONGST MINORITY GROUPS FEWER THAN ONE IN 10 MINORITY WOMEN IS PART OF AN EMPLOYED SIGH ACTIVITY OR ENGINEER.
>> THE VERY FEW THINGS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN GOING BACKWARDS.
>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES IT WORSE?
THIS IS THE FIELD -- >> ALL THE JOBS ARE.
>> NOT JUST ALL THE JOBS ARE BUT ALL THE WEALTH IS AND THE 25-YEAR-OLD BOYS LIKE WHAT IS HIS FACE ON Facebook, YOU KNOW.
>> ZUCKERBERG.
>> OR YELP.
THEY ARE ALL MEN AND GOOGLE.
MAKING THESE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IF NOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THERE ARE NO YOUNG WOMEN.
>> IT SEEMS TO ME WHEN YOU LOOK ABOUT IT GOING BACKWARDS IN THE BEGINNING THERE WERE WOMEN.
AND NOT AS MANY BUT NOBODY COULD COMPLAIN LIKE TODAY.
IT LOOKS LIKE MEN GOT AHOLD OF THE FIELD AND CREATED IT AS A MA KEYS MOW FIELD AND UNWELCOMING TO WOMEN.
WHEN I WAS GOING TO LAW SCHOOL NOT TO MENTION THOSE GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL VERY UNWELCOMING.
YOU CANNOT LET MEN DECIDE WHICH FIELD YOU SHOULD GO TO.
AND YES, I BELIEVE SCIENCE IS CHALLENGING AND IT DOES NOT COME AS EASILY AS OTHER THINGS.
BUT IF YOU START IT EARLY, MAKING GIRLS UNDERSTAND THAT STEM IS REALLY EXCITING BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL, YOU WOULD SEE THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN.
BUT TO CHANGE THE CULTURE YOU HAVE TO START WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG.
>> AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS.
WOMEN AND GIRLS DO AS WELL OR BETTER THAN BOYS IN SCHOOL IN MATH AND SCIENCE.
FROM EARLY ON, THE NUMBERS DO NOT JUSTIFY WHY NOW HERE AS ADULTS SO FEW OF THEM ARE IN THIS FIELD WHEN THE WEALTH IS THERE AS YOU SAID, THE JOBS ARE THERE.
THERE WILL BE GROWTH THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE TRAIL THEY SHOULD TO THESE PROFITABLE JOBS.
WHY?
WHY IS THAT?
>> WE DO NOT EMPHASIZE AS MUCH.
WE DO NOT EMPHASIZE STEM AS MUCH IN OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
>> AND WE CANNOT LEAVE DISCRIMINATION OUT OF THE DISCUSSION.
BECAUSE THERE WAS A STUDY WHERE YOU HAD IN SCIENCE THEY HAD RESUMES PRESENTED TO SCIENTISTS THE SAME RESUME WITH MAN'S UNANIMOUS NAME AND A WOMAN'S NAME.
AND FOLKS WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO THINK THAT THOSE WITH A MAN'S NAME COMPETENT, CREDIBLE AND SOMEONE THEY SHOULD HIRE.
>> SO HOW DO YOU BRING THAT IN?
IT WAS BEING BROUGHT IN 20 PLUS YEARS AGO AT CARNEGIE MELON UNIVERSITY ONE OF THE BEST TECH UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
>> I THINK A PIECE OF THIS, I ABSOLUTELY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS AND FOLKS ARE GETTING AN EDUCATION AND WE NEED TO LOOK THE THE POWER HOLDERS.
AND WE SHOULD BE SHAMING AND CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE TECH COMPANIES THAT WE KNOW ARE OVERWHELMINGLY MALE-DOMINATED AT THE TOP.
I DO NOT THINK IT IS AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE TO SAY THE PIPELINE IS EMPTY AND THERE IS NO ONE TO HIRE.
>> YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT WHEN WOMEN ARE NOT ONBOARDS WE ARE LOSING OUT.
WE ARE NOT SHOWING OUR YOUNG WOMEN WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
BUT I'M HOPEFUL BECAUSE OF GIRLS WHO CODE AND FINDING ADA WHICH THEY TARGET E-MAILS AND WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING TO WOMEN LIKE ME MILLENNIAL WOMEN WHO MAY HAVE STARTED IN ONE FIELD BUT THEY ARE TEACHING US HOW ATTRACTIVE IT COULD BE TO CHANGE OUR CAREERS AND WITH MILLENNIAL WOMEN GIVEN THAT WE ARE FREELANCE MORE AND MORE LIKELY TO CHANGE OUR CAREERS BEFORE MID-CAREER HITS THIS IS BEAUTIFUL WHEN THE ORGANIZATIONS CAN STEP IN AND SAY YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE STUCK IN THAT JOB HERE IS A NEW TECH CAREER LEARN HOW TO CODE.
>> LADIES JUMP IN.
PLEASE.
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.
[♪♪♪] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
[♪♪♪]
