Hillary Clinton & Millennials; Egg Donors; Gloria Steinem

CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... FIRST, CAN HILLARY CLINTON ENERGIZE MILLENNIAL VOTERS?

WHY SOME EGG DONORS WANT TO SELL THEIR EGGS IN A FREE MARKET.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES, GLORIA STEINEM.

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

UP FIRST, IS THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN OLD NEWS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> HILLARY CLINTON IS MAKING GAINS AMONG MILLENNIALS BUT HAS NOT SECURED THEIR VOTE.

YOUNG PEOPLE PREFER BERNIE SANDERS AS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

DURING THE PAST MONTH CLINTON HAS FOCUSED HER CAMPAIGN ON ATTRACTING MILLENNIALS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN PARTICULAR.

RESULTS ARE MIXED.

SHE IS CONSIDERED THE OVERWHELMING FAVORITE MANY SUPPORTERS FRET ABOUT THE LACK OF ENTHUSIASM SHE INSPIRES IN YOUNG VOTERS.

PAIGE GARDNER OF THE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER.

>> HILLARY CLINTON WILL DRIVE A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM AMONG WOMEN AND YOU WILL SEE THAT ENTHUSIASM GROW AS THE ELECTION SEASON GOES ON.

THE ENTHUSIASM GAP THAT WE SEE NOW WILL CLOSE AS TIME GOES ON BETWEEN NOW AND THE PRIMARIES AND AS TIME GOES ON BETWEEN NOW AND THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> GARDNER'S GROUP IS RELEASING A POLLENEX WEEK AND SAYS IN THE POLL ONE TREND IS CLEAR.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER UNMARRIED WOMEN, MILLION MILLENNIALS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WILL MAKEUP THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS AND THAT COULD PUT DEMOCRATS ON TOP IN KEY STATES AND SWING CONTROL OF THE SENATE.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON WILL PEOPLE OF COLOR AND MILLENNIALS TURNOUT TO VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON AND THE U.S. SENATE?

>> SURE, BONNIE.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT COMPETING FOR THE NEW MAJORITY.

>> AND THE QUESTION IS THE PRIMARY VERSUS THE GENERAL ELECTION.

RIGHT NOW HILLARY CLINTON NEEDS TO REMEMBER THAT POLITICS IS PERSONAL.

>> THE RISING ELECTORATE WILL BE TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS BY 2016 WHICH IS DOOM FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> 18-40-YEAR-OLDS NEED TO KNOW WHAT HILLY WILL DO FOR THEM.

>> WHY IS SHE HAVING TROUBLE WITH MILLENNIALS RIGHT NOW?

>> BERNIE SANDERS IS RESONATING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> HE HAS THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT -- >> HE HAS THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO WIN THE NOMINATION AND GO NOWHERE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> FOR OTHER REASONS HE IS NOT GOING TO WIN THE NOMINATIONS BUT HE IS RAISING A MESSAGE THAT REPUBLICANS NEED TO LISTEN TO.

THE REPUBLICANS DO NOT KNOW WHY THEY HATE EVERYBODY UP THERE BUT THEY HATE THEM FOR THE SAME REASON THAT THE MILLENNIALS ARE DRAWN TO BERNIE SANDERS.

IT'S BECAUSE FOR 40 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN NO INCREASE IN WHAT PEOPLE EARN.

AND THE ONLY REASON THEY DID NOT SEE IT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE THEY PUT THE WOMEN TO WORK.

NOW NOBODY ELSE TO PUT TO WORK.

SO PEOPLE ARE ANGRY THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT DISTRIBUTES THE WEALTH MORE EVENLY AND FAIRLY.

>> YOU ADVISE REPUBLICANS ON THESE ISSUES ARE YOU TRYING TO GET THEM MORE HIP TO WHAT THE MILLENNIALS WANT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE THERE WAS A STUDY THAT CAME OUT THAT SHOWED OVER 55% OF VOTERS WANT TO VOTE FOR A PERSON OR A CANDIDATE WHO IS A CHAMPION ON ISSUES AROUND WOMEN, EQUAL PAY AND CHILDCARE THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND SINGLE MOTHERS AND REPUBLICANS CANNOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

YOU ARE HEARING MARCO RUBIO TALK ABOUT PAID LEAVE AND OTHER CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT STUDENT LOANS AND ISSUES THAT IMPACT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT LOOK AT POLICIES TO CAPTURE THAT AUDIENCE IT'S DEAD IN 2016.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT HILLARY CLINTON NEEDS TO DO?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST IS GET OUT THE VOTE.

WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE AND TALKING MILLENNIALS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND UNMARRIED WOMEN ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE.

AND THE SECOND PIECE IS GETTING THEM TO THE POLLS.

>> THEY TURNED OUT LIKE CRAZY IN 08 FOR OBAMA AND SHE IS NOT OBAMA.

CAN SHE MAKE SURE SELF INTO OBAMA IN THE WAY TO APPEAL TO YOUNG PEOPLE?

OR IS THE FACT THAT SHE'S THE AGE SHE IS AND A WOMAN, SO GETTING TOOISM, SEXISM AND AGEISM IS IT IRREVERSIBLE?

>> LET'S BE CLEAR THAT HILLARY CLINTON AND OBAMA ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT CANDIDATES WE DO NOT NEED TO COMPARE THEM BUT IT'S TRUE HILLARYHILLARY HAS A BATTLE BECAUSE WE DROWN OUT OLDER WOMEN.

SHE WILL HAVE TO CLIMB THE HURDLE BUT THE KEY IS GOING TO BE GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.

>> IS THERE WHY SHE DID AN INTERVIEW WITH AMY POEHLER ON THE WEBSITE AND A PICTURE OF THE KID TRICK-OR-TREATING?

>> THERE IS IMAGE REMAKING WITH HILLARY CLINTON.

BUT THE LARGER POINT IS THAT THIS IS WHERE POLICY AND POLITICS DIVERGE.

HILLARY CLINTON HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND TALKING ABOUT WOMEN AND WOMEN'S POLICIES.

AND MADE IT THE FOCAL POINT OF HER ECONOMIC AGENDA AND PEOPLE DO NOT VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE BECAUSE OF THEIR TAX POLICY OR HEALTHCARE POLICY THEY VOTE ON THEM BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THEM THAT THEY CONNECT WITH AND A QUEUE THEY PICK UP ON.

MAYBE THEY ARE LIKE ME.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE HILLARY CLINTON IS FALLING SHORT WITH A LOT OF MILLENNIALS LOOKING FOR THE AUTHENTICITY, BERNIE SANDERS IS AUTHENTIC.

HE IS WHO HE IS.

AND.

>> WHO AMONG REPUBLICANS COULD DRAW THAT AUDIENCE IF ANY?

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING.

I'M WATCHING ALL THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AS WELL FOR THE SAME REASON A LOT ARE HAVING TROUBLE COMING BACK DOWN TO THE KITCHEN TABLE LEVEL.

BEN CARSON HAS BEEN DOING WELL WITH WOMEN.

AND THERE IS THAT CONNECTION WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIKE HIS POLICIES HE HAS A STYLE ABOUT HIM THAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING TRUSTWORTHY OR SIMILAR TO THEMSELVES.

>> HE DOES NOT HAVE THE ELECTRICITY THAT CANDIDATE OBAMA HAD IN 08.

>> NO, NOTHING LIKE THAT.

ALSO A LOT OF WOMEN SHY AWAY FROM THE HOSTILITY IN POLITICS HE REMINDS THEM THAT POLITICS CAN BE SOMETHING NOT ANTAGONISTIC.

>> STYLE IS IMPORTANT IN POLITICS BUT STYLE WILL NOT GET YOU THE PRESIDENCY.

PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT WHETHER YOU ARE FOR THEM AND THE POLICIES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THAT IS WHERE THE REPUBLICANS FALL WAY SHORT NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT TALKING ABOUT IT THEY ARE AGAINST MOST OF THOSE POLICIES.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN APPEAL FOR EXAMPLE, DONALD TRUMP, TO HISPANICS BY INSULTING THEM?

GOODNESS.

IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE WE INSULTED ANY ETHNIC GROUP.

WE WERE WAY OTHER THAT.

AND REPUBLICANS BROUGHT IT BACK.

IT'S RACISM PURE AND SIMPLE.

AND GUESS WHAT?

WHO DOESN'T LIKE THAT RACISM?

IT'S NOT JUST HISPANICS.

IT TURNS OFF INDEPENDENTS.

IT MAKES BLACKS SAY EXACTLY WHAT HE THINKS OF US.

IT'S THE WORTH THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT A TIME WHEN THEY HAVE DONE AN AUTOPSY WHICH SAID THEY NEEDED TO WIN BACK HISPANICS IN PARTICULAR.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE BLACK VOTE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BEN CARSON OBVIOUSLY.

BLACK VOTERS, YOU RUN AROUND ASKING BLACK PEOPLE WHO THEY SUPPORT AND IT'S NOT BEN CARSON.

BUT HILLARY CLINTON HAS HAD HER PROBLEMS TOO IN THE PAST CAUSED BY BILL COSBY'S BIG MOUTH.

-- BILL CLINTON'S BIG MOUTH.

>> BLACKS DO NOT HAVE THE SLIGHTEST PROBLEM GRAVITATING TOWARDS HILLARY.

BLACKS IS NOT WHO SHE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT.

SHE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT INTRODUCING HERSELF TO THE MILLENNIALS.

>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM VOTERS TO EGG DONORS.

>> WHEN A WOMAN DONATES EGGS TO A COUPLE WANTING A CHILD HOW MUCH SHOULD SHE BE PAID AND WHO DECIDES?

GUIDELINES SET BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE IN 2007 CAPPED PAYMENTS AT $10,000.

AND MEDICAL AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.

ANYTHING MORE ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES COULD LEAD TO DONOR EXPLOITATION.

BUT A GROUP OF EGG DONORS IS SUING CHARGING THE GUIDELINES AMOUNT TO PRICE FIXING UNLIKE SPERM DONATIONS EGG DONORS DO NOT START THE RISKY MEDICAL PROCESS UNTIL AN AGENCY MATCHES THEM WITH THE INTENDED PARENTS.

COUPLES REQUEST WOMEN WITH PARTICULAR TRAITS, HEIGHT, HAIR COLOR, EDUCATION, RELIGION AND ATHLETIC ABILITY.

SOME WOMEN WANT TO SELL THEIR EGGS IN A FREE MARKET ARRANGEMENT.

SO QUESTION: WHY NOT?

LET'S FACE IT PEOPLE ADOPT BABIES AND PAY $40,000 FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, AND UP, UP TO $200,000.

SO WHY IF THERE IS NOT A FEE A CAP ON ADOPTION FEES SHOULD THERE BE A CAP ON DONOR FEES?

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS AND THAT IS LENS THE CATEGORIZATION OF THINGS LIKE ORGANS AND BONE MARROW FROM A LEGALITY STANDPOINT AND CATEGORIZED EGGS IN THE SAME.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS THROUGH THE LENS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THERE ARE TIGHT ENOUGH GUIDELINES TO PROTECT THE DONOR AND INSURE THERE IS NOT EXPLOITATION AND PRICE GOUGING.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK CAPPING IT PROTECTS THEM?

YOU ARE A DONOR AND LET'S SAY YOU ARE 5'11" BASKETBALL EXPERT, GREAT PLAYER, YOU ARE AT HARVARD, YOU HAVE I DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR YOU HAVE BLOND HAIR AND BLUE EYES WHATEVER YOU HAVE, WHY SHOULDN'T YOU -- IT IS A HORRIBLE PROCEDURE WOMEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

WHY NOT BE ABLE TO CHARGE $75,000 TO A RICH COUPLE?

>> IS THIS A SOCIEITAL ISSUE MORE THAN ETHICAL BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PLACING A DOLLAR VALUE ON THE NOTION OF CONCEPTION AND THAT IS A TRICKY DYNAMIC THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT'S NOT JUST SAYING WE PUT GUIDELINES IN PLACE.

>> THESE ARE GUIDELINES.

THESE ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE AS SUCH BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE GUIDELINES OUT THERE.

OR ELSE IT SEEMS IT OPENS THE DOOR TO EXPLOITATION ESPECIALLY IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE TO OPEN IT A LITTLE BIT TO FIND PEOPLE WHO WILL EXPLOIT.

YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO INCENTIADVISE BUT TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO FEELS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS AND LIKE TO GO THROUGH WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS AND SOMEONE ELSE WHO WANTS THEM TO DO IT.

AND THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE FREE MARKET.

>> BUT WHEN COUPLES ARE REQUESTING THINGS LIKE HAIR COLOR AND INTELLIGENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT LEVEL, LET'S FACE IT THE WOMAN WHO IS DONATING THE EGGS IS NOT DOING IT BECAUSE SHE FEELS FOR THESE PEOPLE YOU KNOW.

SHE IS DOING IT BECAUSE IT IS A WAY TO MAKE MONEY.

>> AND I WONDER ALSO HOW MANY ARE THE OUTLIERS.

MOST PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE A CHILD WANT A HEALTHY BABY AND AMOUNT OF PAIN.

IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT HEY WAIT THE GUIDELINES ARE ARBITRARY AND THE OTHER PIECE IS THERE ARE DONORS WHO ARE GETTING PAID FAR MORE THAN THE GUIDELINES.

IN FACT -- >> BUT FEW.

>> FEW.

BUT PERHAPS THE GUIDELINES ARE BEING USED AGAINST SOME DONORS WHY SHOULD ONLY SOME PEOPLE GET PAID MORE?

>> YOU ARE A >> SO WHAT ARE YOU THINKING IN TERMS OF SHOULD THE CAP BE RAISED?

>> I'M NOT SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ASSESS THAT WITHOUT HAVING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT DONORS' RIGHTS ARE.

I THINK THERE IS A SUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUE GOING ON WHICH IS DETERMINING WHETHER THE SUPPLY MA MEETS THE DEMAND AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

>> IT SEEMS TO ME THE COUPLE THAT WANTS THE CHILD THEY ARE ALLOWED TO COMMODITIZE EVERYTHING THEY WANT HAIR COLOR AND IQ LEVEL AND THIS AND THAT AND YET THE WOMAN IS NOT ALLOWED TO COMMODITIZE IT.

SHOULDN'T IT BE MAYBE THAT ANYONE WHO DONATES YOU PUT YOUR EGG INTO A POOL AND INSTEAD OF SITTING AT A COMPUTER AND LOOKING AT THE WOMAN HOW PRETTY SHE IS AND HOW SMART SHE IS AND HOW ATHLETICALLY CAPABLE SHE IS YOU TAKE WHATEVER YOU GET HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> TO BE HONEST I WAS NAIVE I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE ALONG THOSE LINES I DID NOT REALIZE THAT PARENTS DID HAVE THE CHOICE MAKING OPPORTUNITY HERE.

BUT I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO BALANCE IT OUT.

IT'S CLEARLY AND WE HAVE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE REALLY DOING THIS?

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS ARE DEALING WITH THIS.

IS THIS REALLY AN OUTLIER?

OR THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DONATING AND TRYING TO COP RECEIVE.

CONCEIVE THAT CHANGES THE CONVERSATION.

>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES GLORIA STEINEM AT 81 SHE IS CAMPAIGNING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND IT MEANS A LOT OF TRAVELING.

SHE RELEASED A BOOK ABOUT HER LIFE OPPORTUNITY THE ROAD.

LIFE ON THE ROAD.

>> IT WAS ONLY BEING ON THE ROAD THAT MADE ME UNDERSTAND THERE WAS AN AUDIENCE FOR A FEMINIST MAGAZINE.

>> GLORIA STEINEM FOUNDER OF MS. MAGAZINE IS KNOWN AS AN AN ACTIVIST, FEMINIST, ORGANIZER AND EDUCATOR.

MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW SHE COMES FROM TOLEDO OHIO AND HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.

STEINEM INTRODUCES READERS TO HER FATHER AND THE LIFESTYLE HE CREATED FOR THE FAMILY.

>> PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT I HAD NOT GROWN-UP IN A TRADITIONAL WAY AND AN ECONOMICALLY PRIVILEGED WAY.

I WAS SHOCKED.

I THINK WE MAKE SUCH ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT EACH OTHER WITHOUT KNOWING WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO LISTEN EACH OTHER'S STORIES.

>> STEINEM HAS LISTENED TO WOMEN'S STORIES AS SHE HAS CRISSCROSSED THE COUNTRY CAMPAIGNING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE SINCE THE 1960s.

A TURNING POINT CAME IN 1977.

>> THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN HOUSTON WAS NOTHING LESS THAN A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FOR WOMEN.

WE HAD NOT BEEN AT THE FIRST ONE SO WE MADE OUR OWN.

WOMEN FROM A CROSS-SECTION BECAUSE THEY HAD TO BE ECONOMICALLY, RACIALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AREA THEY CAME FROM, DECIDED WHAT ISSUES THEY THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT AND ELECTED DELEGATES.

THAT TOOK TWO YEARS.

THEN AT THE END OF THE TWO YEARS THERE WAS A MASSIVE CONFERENCE IN HOUSTON WHERE THOSE ISSUES WERE VOTED ON AND WE CAME UPON A COMMON AGENDA FOR THE DIVERSE BIG NATIONAL WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

I THINK IT WAS THE ONLY ECONOMICALLY AND RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY REPRESENTATIVE MEETING NATIONAL MEETING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN THE COUNTRY.

>> DIVERSITY HAS BEEN AT ISSUE IN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT AND ORGANIZERS DEBATED WHETHER TO INCLUDE LESBIAN RIGHTS IN THE AGENDA.

BUT STEINEM SEEKS TO DISPEL THE MYTH THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE EXCLUDED.

>> BLACK WOMEN INVENTED THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

BUT WHEN MS. MAGAZINE STARTED WE DID THE FIRST BIG NATIONAL POLL OF WOMEN ON WOMEN'S ISSUES.

BLACK WOMEN WERE TWICE AS LIKELY TO SUPPORT THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT AS WHITE WOMEN.

>> WHAT ARE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FOR WOMEN TODAY?

IF WE ADD UP -- >> IF WE ADD UP THE MOST HURTFUL ISSUES, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WORLDWIDE, YOU KNOW BECAUSE IN ALL OF ITS FORMS WHETHER IT IS SOME PREFERENCE THAT MEANS FEMALE OR IT IS HONOR KILLINGS OR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY WHICH IS ENORMOUS WE HAVE NOW COME TO A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE FEWER FEMALES ON EARTH THAN MALES.

THE NEED TO CONTROL WOMEN IN ORDER TO CONTROL REPRODUCTION TO VALUE CHILD MARRIAGE AND VIRGINITY AND ENDLESS CHILDBIRTH AND ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT MALE-DOMINANT SYSTEMS HAVE PURSUED IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS TO WOMEN BUT IT'S DANGEROUS TO MEN, TOO.

>> STEINEM BELIEVES THERE'S STILL MUCH TO BE DONE BEFORE WOMEN ACHIEVE TRUE EQUALITY AND THE OBSTACLES HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR.

>> I CAN TESTIFY THAT THE SAME PEOPLE ONCE SAYING TO ME OH, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, YOU ARE GOING AGAINST NATURE, GOD, SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

ARE NOW SAYING WELL IT'S OVER.

IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER FORM OF OBSTRUCTIONISM.

>> PEOPLE SHE MEETS OPPORTUNITY THE ROAD KEEP HER HOPEFUL DESPITE THEIR CHALLENGES.

SHE VISITS COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND SPENDS HOURS TALKING WITH AND LISTENING TO THE YOUNG WOMEN.

>> MOSTLY I'M LEARNING FROM THEM WE ARE POOLING OUR KNOWLEDGE.

I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE EACH UNIQUE HUMAN BEINGS.

FOR INSTANCE, I DID NOT GRADUATE IN DEBT FROM COLLEGE.

ANY WOMEN WHO GRADUATE IN DEBT ARE LIKELY TO EARN A MILLION DOLLARS LESS OVER THEIR LIFETIME TO PAYBACK THE SAME DEBT.

THEY WERE CHARGED THE SAME TUITION BUT THEY ARE MAD AS HELL.

SO AND THEY SHOULD BE.

>> AND ONE THING THAT MAKES STEINEM ANGRY IS WHEN PEOPLE SAY HER NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE MOVEMENT.

>> A MOVEMENT IS A MOVEMENT IT IS NOT ONE PERSON.

PEOPLE AT MY AGE NOW SAY THINGS LIKE WHO ARE YOU PASSING THE TORCH TO?

I SAY EXCUSE ME I'M KEEPING MY TORCH THANK YOU AND I'M USING IT TO LIGHT THE TORCHES OF OTHER PEOPLE.

IT IS SO WRONG TO THINK HIGHER ARCLY WE HAVE TO THINK CIRCULAR THAT WE ARE LINKED AND NOT RANKED.

PEOPLE HUMAN BEINGS AND NATURE ARE LINKED NOT RANKED.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK HER MAIN IMPACT ON THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT HAS BEEN, ERIN?

>> GLORIA STEINEM IS AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING AND THANKFUL THAT SHE CONTINUES TO DO THE WORK.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PIECES WILL CONTINUE TO BE WHAT SHE SAID TOWARD THE END THAT WE ARE LINKED AND NOT RANKED THAT WE SHOULD NOT USE SYSTEMS OF HIERARCHY AND DOMINANCE AND CONTROL THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO EACH STORY AND TAKE AN ORGANIZING MOVEMENT BUILDING FRAMEWORK AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEMSELVES AND SHE HAS BEEN UNWAVERING, UNYIELDING.

AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS CONTINUE TO FACE TODAY.

>> WHY IS THERE NO CONSERVATIVE WOMAN LEADER THAT COMES TO FIND THE WAY SHE DOES OF THE PROGRESSIVE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

>> I'M NOT SURE THERE AREN'T.

WE PROFILE DIFFERENT FEMINISTS EVERY MONTH THERE ARE LOTS OF WOMEN STANDING FOR IMPORTANT VALUES AND IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THEM ALL THE TIME.

I THINK ONE THING THAT RESONATED WITH ME, WAS THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBEP I APPRECIATED SHE PUT IT IN THAT CONTEXT AND THE OVERSEXUALIZATION OF WOMEN.

AND WE TALK ABOUT IT MEN MALE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BUT IT IS THE WAY WE ENCOURAGE YOUNG GIRLS TO BE OVERSEXUALIZED IN A WAY THAT SHOULD RUN COUNTER TO THE WAVE OF FETCH NICHE.

>> EVERY GREAT -- FEMINISM.

>> EVERY GREAT MOVEMENT HAS INSISTED UPON AN ICON AND SHE IS THE MOST GENEROUS ICON ANY MOVEMENT HAS SEEN.

BUT SHE IS THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

>> HE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED.

>> BECAUSE SHE WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING.

SO WHOEVER COMES AFTER WILL CLAIM NEW GROUND AND MAY BECOME EQUALLY FAMOUS BUT NO ONE IS EVER AS IMPORTANT AS THE ONE THAT GAVE BIRTH TO THE MOVEMENT.

>> THE FIRST ONES OVER THE FENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS?

ARE THE MILLENNIALS COMING UP CONSERVATIVE MEN MILLENNIAL WOMEN?

>> I THINK THERE ARE ONE OF THE POINTS THE INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM.

AND I THINK THAT IS CRITICAL AT THIS POINT BUT ONE OF THE THINGS SHE POINTED OUT WAS THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF WOMEN OUT THERE LOOKING TO BE EMPOWERED.

HOWEVER WE CHOOSE TO EMPOWER THEM THE AGENDA ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WE WANT TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD.

>> AND WHY IS THERE NO PROGRESSIVE -- IT USED TO BE NOW, BUT AT LEAST FROM WHERE I SIT NOW IT'S KIND OF FALLEN BACK IN VISIBILITY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHY IS YET THE IWF IS ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE PUTTING FORWARD POTENTIAL NEW LEADERS AND PAPERS DOES THE LEFT NEED THAT?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE FEMINIST ACTIVISM OCCURRING TODAY IT DOES SIT WITH PROGRESSIVE YOUNG WOMEN.

SO THE FACT IS -- >> COLLEGE WOMEN?

>> COLLEGE WOMEN AND ABOVE.

YOU'VE GOT IMPRESSIVE YOUNGOPLE LEADING IN MEDIA, IN GOVERNMENT, IN ALL SORTS OF SECTORS DOING POWERFUL GROUNDBREAKING THINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE QUESTION IS THE MECHANISMS OF ORGANIZING ITSELF ARE CHANGING.

IT'S THE SAME BASIC FUNDAMENTALS BUT YOU SEE MORE ON-LINE-BASED ACTIVISM TODAY AND A LOT MORE EMPHASIS ON A COLLECTIVE RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT GLORIA STEINEM WILL BE REPLACED I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT MATTERS.

LOOK AT BLACK LIVES MATTER ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS A MOVEMENT NOT A PERSON.

>> 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 WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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