ISIS Women; Self-Induced Abortions; Verveer & Fast Forward

THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY: FIRST, A SURPRISING NUMBER OF WOMEN JOINING JIHAD.

THEN, THE IMPACT OF CLOSING ABORTION CENTERS.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: PUTTING WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT ON THE FAST TRACK.

[♪♪♪] HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, THE NEW FACE OF EXTREMISM.

IN THE WAKE OF THE DEVASTATING PARIS TERROR ATTACKS, WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT WOMEN JOINING THE JIHAD.

THE ISLAMIC STATE HAS SEEN A 20% GROWTH IN WOMEN VOLUNTEERS.

IN FACT A NEW STUDY FINDS ONE IN SEVEN ISIS RECRUITS IS A WESTERN WOMEN.

THE AVERAGE AGE?

21.

IN THE RAID WHERE THE MASTERMIND OF THE ATTACKS DIED, ONE WOMAN DETONATED HER SUICIDE VEST AND A SECOND WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

EXPERTS SAY GENERALLY WOMEN ARE NOT FRONT LINE FIGHTERS BUT THEIR INFLUX IS A GAME CHANGER.

>> WOMEN REPRESENT A KEY COMPONENT OF STATE-BUILDING.

THEY REPRESENT THE LONGEVITY OF A STATEHOOD, OF CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO THERE'S BEEN A CALL FOR WOMEN TO JOIN, NOT AS COMBATANTS, BUT ACTUALLY AS MAJOR PLAYERS IN BUILDING THIS UTOPIAN IDEA OF A STATE THAT THEY HAVE.

>> AYAAN HIRSI ALI, WAS RAISED MUSLIM BUT HAS RENOUNCED THE RELIGION.

SHE SAYAYEXTREMISTS PRESENT TWO WORLDVIEWS TO POTENTIAL RECRUITS: >> THEY PRESENT THEM WITH A WORLD OF GOOD VERSUS EVIL.

AND GOOD IS ISLAM, IT'S PURE, IT'S JUST.. AND RULES TO OF FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LEAD A LIFE OF SACRIFICE TO WORSHIP ALLAH.

AND EVIL IS WESTERN CIVILIZATION WHERE ALL RELIGIONS AND NO RELIGION IS FINE, IT'S UP TO YOU TO DECIDE.

>> THE INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT STUDIES JIHADIST RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN.

>> WE HAVE AN AGE RANGE OF 14 TO 45.

SOME OF THEM HAVE PHDS, SOME OF THEM ARE LESS EDUCATED AND MORE SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND OTHERS WERE DEFINITELY NOT; THEY CAME FROM VERY STABLE FAMILIES.

>> THEY PRESENT THEM WITH A WE ARE EMPOWERING THE ISLAMISTS: >> SASHA HAVLICEK SAYS THE INSTITUTE PILOTED A COUNTER MESSAGING PROJECT TO RESPOND TO THE SOPHISTICATED ONLINE PEER TO PEER RECRUITMENT BY EXTREMISTS.

>> IF WE WANT TO STOP THIS WE NEED DESPERATELY TO BE REACHING OUT TO GIRLS BEFORE THEY START GETTING RADICALIZED AND RECRUITED WE FACILITATE ONE TO ONE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE EXPRESSING A EXTREMISTS SYMPATHIES ONLINE AND A FORMER EXTREMIST WE FOUND AN EXTRAORDINARY ENGAGEMENT RATE OF OVER 60% WHICH GIVES YOU A CONCEPT OF HOW THIRSTY THESE KIDS ARE JUST FOR THE CONVERSATION.

>> IF WE WANT TO STOP THE NEXT GENERATION FROM JOINING THAT MESSAGE, WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT ISLAMIC SCHOOLS, MOSQUES, MUSLIM CENTERS.

ALL OF THESE.

AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE CONVEYING THIS MESSAGE, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE.

AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MESSAGE THAT THEY ARE THAT THEY ARE CONVEYING TO THE YOUTH WHO THEY TARGET AND WHO FUNDS THESE - YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THEIR AGENDA?

ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY TARGET AND PERHAPS PERSUADE THEM THAT PERHAPS WESTERN CIVILIZATION IS SUPERIOR TO SHARIA AND JIHAD.

FIRST LET ME SAY THE NEWS CAME OUT THAT THE WOMAN IN PARIS IN THE RAID ON WEDNESDAY, MAY NOT HAVE DETONATED HER OWN VEST.

HER OPEN SUICIDE VEST.

AND SECONDLY, HOW IF AT ALL, CAN THE WEST TRY TO STOP THESE YOUNG WOMEN, PARTICULARLY FROM JOINING ISIS?

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO REALLY SEE ISIS AS A GLOBAL THREAT AND THE MORE THE WEST TRIES TO BREAKDOWN WHAT ISIS IS TRYING TO SAY WHICH IS THE WEST AGAINST ISLAM.

IT'S THE WORLD AGAINST ISIS BECAUSE EVERYONE IS BEING TARGETED, CHINA, RUSSIAN AND THE U.S.

BUT THEY ARE NUMBER ONE MUSLIM AND ISIS IS TARGETING EVERYONE AND STRIP THEM AWAY FROM THE RELIGIOUS CLAIM.

>> WE HAVE TO GET MUCH MORE SERIOUS.

THEY ARE NOT ONE-OFF ATTACKS THEY ARE GETTING MORE SERIOUS AND BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND EVERY TIME THEY HAVE A SUCCESS IT MAKES IT EASIER TO RECRUIT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INTO THEIR RANKS.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS ON AN AND EFFORT NOT JUST THE U.S. >> IT'S GLOBAL ABSOLUTELY.

IN TERMS OF MESSENGER WHO IS THE RIGHT MESSENGER?

AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S MUSLIM WOMEN AND WE MUST LISTEN TO MUSLIM WOMEN AND RESPECT THEM AND FUND THEM TO LEAD THIS WORK.

>> PART OF THIS IS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.

YOU ARE SEEING 90,000 TWEETS OUT OF ISIS SENDING A MESSAGE THAT IS COUNTER INTU ACTIVE TO WHAT WE BELIEVEMENT YOU ARE SEEING THE STATE DEPARTMENT TAKE AN ENGAGED EFFORT TO COUNTERACT THAT AGENDA IN A POSITIVE WAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> I WONDER IF PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS BANNING THE DARK NETWORK.

THE DARK INTERNET, RATHER.

MOST OF THESE COMMUNICATIONS HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE DARK INTERNET MEANING INSCRIPTED.

WHY CAN'T WE GO TO THE COMPANIES AND SHUT THEM DOWN THAT ALLOW THAT TECHNOLOGY?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS AN OPTION.

I THINK THERE ARE ALWAYS WAYS AND WE ARE SEEING STRONG SOPHISTICATION IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG BEFORE Facebook AND TWITTER I WAS ON ININTERRELAY CHAT ACROSS THE WORLD AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD THE NAME BIN LADEN AND IT TOOK THE WORLD A DECADE BEFORE THEY HEARD IT.

AND I'VE BEEN SURPRISED HOW PREVENTIBLE HIS GROWTH WAS.

>> DID ANYONE TRY TO RECRUIT YOU?

>> MOST OF THE CHATS WERE REACHING OUT AND SAYING YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE AMERICAN BUT YOU ARE NOT WELCOME THERE.

COME BACK TO YOUR REAL ROOTS THAT WAS THE PRIMARY MESSAGING IN THE CHATROOMS CURIOUS TO SEE THIS GLOBAL COMMUNITY BEGINNING TO FORM IN CYBERSPACE.

>> HOW DID YOU RESIST IT?

>> RESISTANCE WAS RECOGNIZING THAT I AM PART OF THE FABRIC.

I HAVE NEVER FELT ALIENATED.

THIS IS THE FIRST I WALKED THE STREETS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND METRO AND I WAS AFRAID.

MORE AFRAID IN WASHINGTON D.C. AFTER THE PARIS ATTACKS THAN I HAVE BEEN IN A LONGTIME.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ON THE INTELLIGENCE FRONT OUR AGENCIES WERE BUILT IN THE 1950s DIFFERENT WORLD THAN TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO INTELLIGENCE GATHERING.

SOCIAL MEDIA WE ARE INADEQUATELY STOOD UP FOR THIS.

BUT THE U.S. IS BEHIND AND THAT IS WHERE A GOOD CHUNK OF THIS BATTLE IS BEING FOUGHT OUT WAR.

0 SO WE HAVE TO GET ON IT.

>> WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT I MET WITH A NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN LEADERS WHO ARE ENGAGING WITH THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY TRYING TO BUILD WORKING GROUPS THE FOLKS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE A PART OF THE DARK NET AND IT'S LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT.

>> AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE YOUNG WOMEN AND THE GIRLS WHO ARE BEING RECRUITED.

MOMENTLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT WITH THE DARK NET THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THAT TECHNOLOGY CANNOT UNENCRYPT IT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THERE IS OUTREACH TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE COMPANIES CAN HELP US AND HOW WE CAN FIGURE OUT WAYS.

>> BUT WE ARE BEHIND.

THEY ARE PART OF THE WORLD AND CONNECTING ALL OVER AND WE HAVE BEEN SLOW TO REALIZE THIS AND TAKE IT AS SERIOUS AS WE SHOULD INTEREST AND THEY ARE STRATEGIC, CONNECTED AND STRATEGIC AND THEY HAVE BEEN PLANNING THESE MOVES FOR DECADES AND WE ARE CATCHING UP TO THE REALITY WHICH IS WHY WE ARE UP PREPARED.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE, YOU DID THE ON-LINE APPEARANCE WITH THAT ATTRACTED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VIEWERS AND YOU'RE BOTH MY SHEROS, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE?

THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE ANTI-SYRIAN REFUGEE MOVEMENT GOING ON IN THE UNITED STATES BOTH IN THE U.S. HOUSE WHICH PASSED A BAN THAT WILL BE VETOED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THERE RESPECT'S THE VOTES TO OVERRIDE.

BUT WHAT SHOULD THE U.S.

MESSAGE BE?

>> THE U.S.

MESSAGE I WOULD SUPPORT YOU IS TO TAKE THE QUEUE FROM PEOPLE IN THE REGION.

BUT TO DO IT CAREFULLY.

OFTEN WE FIND STRONG ADVOCATES AND THEY ARE ALL THERE FROM NIGERIA TO UGANDA TO THE AREAS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, PAKISTAN, PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING EXTREMISM.

WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM BUT DO IT CAREFULLY TO HUG THEM TO DEATH WHERE THEY DO NOT HAVE MORAL AUTHORITY.

THAT BALANCE IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES UP FRONT BUT SUPPORTING THOSE IN THE HEAT OF THE CONFLICT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE IS VERY IMPORTANT OBVIOUSLY.

BUT THIS MESSAGE IS RESONATING.

SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING IF WE WANT TO WIN THIS LONG-TERM, WE HAVE TO SAY WHAT IS RESONATING ABOUT THIS MESSAGE WITH THE YOUNG GIRLS?

THAT GOES BACK TO MY POINT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE MUSLIM WOMEN LEADING THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST CREDIBLE MESSENGER UNPACKING WHY THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HORRIBLE.

>> IS THERE A MOVEMENT AFOOT BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO RECRUIT WOMEN SUCH AS YOURSELF TO GET ON-LINE AND TALK TO THESE YOUNG GIRLS AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THEY WILL BE USED AS PROSTITUTES THAT THEY WILL HAVE A NEW HUSBAND EVERYDAY.

WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY GIVING THE MAN A RIGHT TO RAPE THEM AND I AM PREGNANT THEM?

>> THERE HAS NOT BEEN MOVEMENT.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNS THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF MUSLIM WOMEN STEPPING FORWARDMENT I THINK IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT RELIGION MORE THAN IN MY 40 YEARS BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THE NEED.

I GOT 100 E-MAILS FROM YOUNG MUSLIM WOMEN SAYING WE ARE TRAPPED WE ARE TARGETED BY OUR COMMUNITY IN AMERICA, I FEEL ANGRY THAT I'M BEING BLAMED FOR SOMETHING AND YET I'M FURIOUS AT SEEING THAT IS MY RELIGION IS BEING USED FOR VIOLENCE WHAT DO WE DO?

THERE IS A THRIFT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE GEEINGLING AND FINDING ME.

THERE IS A HUGE GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED WHERE MUSLIM WOMEN HAVE A PLATFORM TO PUSHBACK.

>> AND ONE IMPORTANT LAST QUESTION I WANT TO ASK YOU.

SHE MAYBE NOT IN THE BYTE THAT WE USED -- ONE OF THE PEOPLE WE INTERVIEWED SAID THAT YOUNG ISLAMIC WOMEN SEE WEARING THE NIKAB AS A FEMINIST STATEMENT BECAUSE THEY CONTROL THEIR SEXIANT.

AND -- SEXUALITY.

AND WESTERNERS SEE ISLAMIC WOMEN COVERING THEIR HEADS AS TRAITORS TO AMERICA.

HOW DO YOU JUGGLE THOSE DIFFERENT CULTURAL INFLUENCES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE I'M ENTRENCHED IN WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

SO I AM ASKED THIS QUESTION ALL THE TIME.

YOU ARE WEARING THE SIPE OF PARTICIPATE ARKY.

AND IT IS A LIBERATING EXPERIENCE TO MAKE A CHOICE IN WHAT YOU WEAR.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE CHALLENGING WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO WEAR SCARVES SUCH AS MYSELF, IT FEEDS THE ISIS NARRATIVE AND PUSHES US AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE.

>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM ISIS & WOMEN TO WOMEN'S HEALTH WOMEN ARE INDUCING THEIR OWN ABORTIONS WITHOUT MEDICAL GUIDANCE WHEN ABORTION CLINICS NEARBY CLOSE DOWN.

THAT'S THE FINDING OF A PAIR OF ONLINE SURVEYS DONE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 100,000 AND ALMOST A QUARTER OF A MILLION TEXAN WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 49 HAVE TRIED TO END THEIR PREGNANCIES BY THEMSELVES.

AND NOT JUST BY USING HORMONAL INDUCED ABORTIONS.

OTHER REPORTED METHODS INCLUDE "HERBS OR HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES, GETTING HIT OR PUNCHED IN THE ABDOMEN, OR USING ALCOHOL OR ILLICIT DRUGS."

THIS FINDING COMES AS THE SUPREME COURT HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL HEAR WHOLE WOMAN'S HEALTH V. COLE, THE CASE WILL DECIDE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF A TEXAS LAW REQUIRING STRICTER BUILDING CODES IN ABORTION CLINICS.

MOST TEXAN CLINICS WEREN'T BUILT TO MEET THE CODES DESIGNED FOR OUTPATIENT SURGICAL CENTERS.

MANY CLOSED DOWN AS A RESULT.

>> SO DO WE KNOW IF ANY OF THESE WOMEN DIED TRYING TO GIVE THEMSELVES ABORTIONS?

BECAUSE YOU CAN GET INEFFECTED IF YOU DON'T GO FOR MEDICAL CARE WHICH THEY WON'T?

THEY CAN DIE?

>> THAT IS A PROFOUND QUESTION AND WE WON'T KNOW THE ANSWER BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT ATTEMPTING TO SHUTDOWN THE CLINICS BUT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING ON THE OTHER SIDE TO CRIMINALIZE AND INCARCERATE WOMEN WHO SELF INDUCE.

A WOMAN IN INDIANA IS SERVING A 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE AFTER CONVICTED OF ORDERING A DRUG OVER THE INTERNET AND SELF INDUCING A MISCARRIAGE.

A WOMAN IN GEORGIA WAS HANDCUFFED AND TAKEN TO JAIL.

IT'S NOT SAFE FOR WOMEN WHO DO SELF INDUCE OR HAVE HOME ABORTIONS TO GO TO THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND GET SUPPORT IF THEY EXPERIENCE COMPLICATIONS.

IT IS A TRAGEDY.

THE TEXAS LAW HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY.

IT'S WONDERFUL THE SUPREME COURT IS TAKING IT ON IT NEEDS TO BE OVERTURNED.

>> THE REAP THIS LAW WAS PASSED BECAUSE WOMEN WERE DYING AT PLACES A DOCTOR RUNNING THIS CLINK.

>> BUT HE WHATS IN PHILADELPHIA.

>> I'M SAYING YOU ARE -- I'M SAYING YOU ARE GIVING EXAMPLES OF INDIANA, WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN TROUBLE.

YOU ARE AN ABORTION CLIPPIC THAT WAS DIRTY AND WOMEN WERE DYING THERE.

AND PEOPLE IN THE PRO-CHOICE SIDE AGREE WITH THAT.

SO TEXAS SAID THAT CAN BE HAPPENING IN OTHER PLACES AND WE THINK IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ABORTION THEY OUGHT TO MEET CERTAIN MEDICAL STANDARDS.

BUT -- >> THAT IS ABSURD.

THAT IS -- OVER $1 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS THE CLINICS HAVE CLOSED THERE WERE 40 AT THE TIME THE LAW WAS PASSED.

>> DID WOMEN DIE OR GET SICK FROM ABORTIONS IN THOSE CLINICS?

>> I HAVE NOT HEARD OF A SINGLE ONE.

AND YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE COMPLICATIONS GETTING ROUTINE DENTAL ROE PROCEDURES THAN HAVING AN ABORTION.

GNAWED [ALL TALKING AT ONCE] >> IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TEXAS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE BORDER CHECKPOINTS THERE ARE WOMEN IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO SEEK -- >> I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS HERE.

THIS IS AN ON-LINE SURVEY OF 800 PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF 30 MILLION.

AND WE AND THE METHODOLOGY, MY HOME STATE, THE METHODOLOGY YOU LOOK AT POLLS IT'S QUESTIONABLE.

AND LOOK AT THE REAL DATA WHICH IS YOU'VE HAD FEWER ABORTIONS SIPS THIS WAS PASSED AND THE NUMBER OF PREGNANCIES FALLEN WHICH WILL TELL YOU THAT UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES HAVE NOT GONE UP AND HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO INDUCE YOURSELF IN AN ABORTION?

IT DIDN'T SAY SINCE 2013.

THE IDEA THESE ARE REAL NUMBERS FOR TEXAS I DO NOT THERE ARE LEGIT AND WE OUGHT TO BE LEGIT NUMBERS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

>> THIS CONVERSATION DEPRESSES ME AND SCARCES ME THAT I SPEND TIME WORKING FOR WOMEN WITH REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND TO THINK WE ARE LOSE TO GO IN THE U.S. AND SEE THE STATISTICS COMING OUT OF THIS SURVEY IS SAD AND DEPRESSING BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ROLE MODEL WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO OVERSEAS.

>> I'M CURIOUS WE TALKED IN A T.T.C.

EXTRA ABOUT THE FACT THAT WOMEN ARE FALLING BEHIND ECONOMICALLY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE USED TO BE NUMBER ONE AND WE ARE 28 IN THE WORLD SURVEY RELEASED THIS WEEK.

DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS FIGHT AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS?

THAT THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS WAGING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS THE CORE ISSUE WE ARE FIGHTING.

ARE WOMEN EQUAL?

SHOULD WE BE CONSIDERED ON AN EQUAL FOOTING AND HAVE JUSTICE IN SOCIETY AND I'M GLAD YOU LYNNICED THIS WITH ECONOMIC SECURITY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WHEN WOMEN ARE NOT ABLE TO DECIDE WHEN AND WHETHER TO HAVE CHILDREN THEY CANNOT SUCCEED IN THEIR LIVES.

ABORTION LEGAL ABORTION ACCESSIBLE ABORTION IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.

IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVANCE.

IT'S SHAMEFUL TO CLOSE CLINICS AND IMMORAL.

>> IS THIS A WINNING ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS DO YOU THINK?

AND ESPECIALLY WITH MILLENNIALS WHO ARE USED TO THE FREEDOM OF DECIDING THEIR WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCESS WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES?

>> THE PLANNED-PARENTHOOD VIDEOS EMPHASIZED THE NEED AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR HIGHER QUALITY WOMEN'S HEALTH NOT RELATED TO BORINGSES BUT THE FACT THAT WOMEN NEED BETTER ACCESS TO GOOD QUALITY HEALTHCARE.

THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS HAVING GONE DOWN IN TEXAS THAT IS POSITIVE THING AND FROM THE LEFT MOVEMENT AT THE END OF THE DAY IS IT AN UNDUE BURDEN TO HAVE STANDARDS IN PLACE BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO A DOCTOR THAT HAS PRIVILEGES IN THE HOSPITAL NEARBY.

THIS IS STILL ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT BUT THE BURDEN IS NOT ABOUT MAKING SURE THE CLIPPICS ARE SAFE.

>> HERE IN VIRGINIA WE HAVE A CLINIC SHUT DOWN LAW THAT I'VE BOSTON POLICE WORKING ON FOR YEARS, A PATIENT I WORKED WITH CAME UP TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND GETTING FRUSTRATED AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS TAKING TO RAISE THE MONEY AND STARTING TO WONDER WHAT SHE COULD DO TO FORCE IT AT ALL HOME.

>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES: PUTTING WOMEN'S EQUALITY ON THE FAST TRACK.

THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE OF A NEW INITIATIVE AND BOOK CO-AUTHORED BY THE FIRST US AMBASSADOR FOR GLOBAL WOMEN'S ISSUES MELANNE VERVEER.

>> THIS IS A MOMENT UNLIKE PERHAPS OTHER MOMENTS IN THAT GREAT JOURNEY OF WOMEN TO EQUALITY AROUND THE WORLD AND AT HOME.

THE MOMENT COMES BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SO MANY WOMEN INCREASING NUMBERS IN POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A STRONG CASE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TECHNOLOGY AND MEANS TO BETTER CONNECT.

BUT IT'S UP TO US TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT.

>> AMBASSADOR MELANNE VERVEER HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES AND RUNS GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY AND SERVED AS AMBASSADOR FOR GLOBAL WOMEN'S ISSUES IN THE CLIP TON STATE DEPARTMENT AND COFOUNDED VITAL VOICES.

THERE'S PROOF POSITIVE DATA THAT CONFIRM INVESTING IN WOMEN AND GIRLS NOT ONLY TRANSFORMS THEIR LIVES BUT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT MAKES THE CASE FOR EQUALITY.

>> BETWEEN 12 TRILLION AND 28 TRILLION IS LOST TO THE ECONOMIES OF THE WORLD AND WHAT THAT REPRESENTS FOR BETTER LIVES FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FULLY CLOSING THAT GAP, TAPPING THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THERE.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER -- WE'VE GOT ENORMOUS NUMBERS OF WOMEN WITH TALENT COMING INTO THE WORKPLACE AND THEY RISE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL AND ARE UP AGAINST CALL IT A GLASS CEILING A STICKY FLOOR OR WHAT A FRIEND OF MINE SAYS IS A THICK LAYER OF MEN.

>> MELANNE VERVEER CO-AUH-UH AUTHORIZED FAST FORWARD WITH KIM AZZARELLI IT'S DESIGNED TO PUSH THE EQUALITY PROCESS AHEAD.

THE BOOK CONTAINS INSPIRING STORIES OF WOMEN USING THEIR POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> I OFTEN THINK ABOUT WOMEN IN A PLACE LIKE INDIA.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS THERE THEY HAD PASSED A QUOTA BILL FOR WOMEN AT THE LOWEST LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE.

I WAS WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SAID THIS WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, THE MEN WILL STILL TELL THEIR WIVES WHAT TO DO AND IT WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.

TODAY IT'S CALLED THE SILENT REVOLUTION IN DEMOCRACY IN INDIA.

BECAUSE THERE ARE OVER ONE MILLION MILLION WOMEN AND THE COUNCILS AND THE STUDIES SHOW THEY ARE MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THEY ARE USING PUBLIC RESOURCES AND MAKING DECISIONS, THEY ARE INVESTING IN SANITATION AND INVESTING IN EDUCATION, THEY ARE INVESTING THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PROSPER.

>> THE STORIES ARE MEANT TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OTHER WOMEN AND MEN TO ACHIEVE EQUALITY.

>> PARTNERSHIPS FOR ANY OF US ARE IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW NONE OF US HAS ALL THE COMPETENCE OR THE RESOURCES OR WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.

WHICH IS WHY WHEN WE SAY KNOW YOUR POWER, FIND YOUR PURPOSE, AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS.

THAT CONNECT WITH OTHERS IS VITAL.

>> MELANNE VERVEER SAYS THE BOOK IS ABOUT TAKING ACTION SO IT INCLUDES A HOW-TO TOOL KIT.

>> IF I HAVE BEEN ASKED A QUESTION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AFTER TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES IT'S WHAT CAN I DO?

I THINK THERE IS A HUNGER TO BE PART OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND FINDING SOLUTIONS.

BUT OFTEN WE DISCOUNT WHAT ANY OF US CAN DO.

OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE AT THE TOP HAVE ENORMOUS POWER ON A SCALE OF A LEVEL TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.

BUT WE SHOULDN'T DISCOUNT THE POWER IN THE MIDDLE AND THE POWER AT THE BASE.

WE SHOULDN'T DISCOUNT THE POWER THAT EACH OF US HAS.

AND THE TOOL KIT IS MEANT FOR ANY PERSON TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT HERSELF OR HIMSELF, BUT PARTICULARLY HERSELF AND ASSESS WHAT IS MY POWER?

WHAT KEEPS ME FROM EXERCISING IT?

HOW DO I FIND MY PURPOSE?

WHAT MAKES ME PASSIONATE?

WHERE CAN I REALLY HAVE IMPACT?

>> THEY HAVE CREATED 'ON-LINE COMMUNITY CALLED SENECA WOMEN NAMED AFTER THE FIRST WOMEN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION HELD IN SENECA FALLS NEW YORK IN 1848.

>> AND WE HOPE THAT YOU JUST WON'T READ UT BOOK BUT WE WILL INTERNALIZE IT AND LINK UP WITH OTHERS AND PROVIDE A RESOURCE ON-LINE, A COMMUNITY ALSO OFF LINE WHERE WOMEN CAN COME TOGETHER, LEARN WHERE CAN I VOLUNTEER, WHAT CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THAT I'M NOT PARTICIPATING IN?

HOW CAN I GET MY COMPANY INVOLVED.

BUT WE ARE ALL PART OF IT AND OUR GOAL IS THAT WE REALLY SEIZE THIS MOMENT AND BE ALL WE CAN BE.

AND FORWARD PROGRESS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS AND DO IT FAST.

AND THAT'S WHY WE SAY FAST FORWARD.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH HER METHODS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M PART OF A GROUP CALLED RUNNING START AND FINDING A WAY TO PUT WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND ROLE MODELS AND THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED AND THE MORE WOMEN WE HAVE THE MORE LIKELY THE ISSUE WILL BE A TOP PRIORITY.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT NICE TO SUPPORT WOMEN IT'S NECESSARY AND WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY BECAUSE OF OUR LACK OF SUPPORT OF WOMEN.

>> AND THE TOOL KIT IS A GREAT IDEA AND R AND PEOPLE GO WHY, BUT WHAT DO I DO.

AND THAT IS A GOOD TOOL.

>> WOMEN LEADERS ROCK AND ANYTHING LESS THAN FULL PARITY IS A SICK JOKE.

>> AND TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE.

WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY NOT JUST ELEVATING WOMEN AND SUPPORTING US BUT WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE FLIP SIDE WE NEED TO SEE WOMEN OCCUPYING 50% LEADERSHIP EVERYWHERE.

>> AND SHOULD THAT BE PART OF THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA?

>> I DO NOT THINK IT WILL BE PART OF THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA SOON BUT IN THE SHORT-TERM I THINK WE CAN FIND WAYS TO ENCOURAGE THE SUPPORT ON BETTER PARITY IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> 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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