
2020 Gender Bias; Moms & Housework; Traveling Solo
5/10/2019 | 25m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Possible bias against women, surprising new study, and risks of travel
2020 Gender Bias: Are female presidential candidates being treated unfairly? Moms & Housework:New study shows single moms do less housework than married moms. Traveling Solo: The risks for women who visit foreign countries alone. PANEL: Rina Shah, Latifa Lyles, Patricia Sosa, Patrice Onwuka
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Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.

2020 Gender Bias; Moms & Housework; Traveling Solo
5/10/2019 | 25m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
2020 Gender Bias: Are female presidential candidates being treated unfairly? Moms & Housework:New study shows single moms do less housework than married moms. Traveling Solo: The risks for women who visit foreign countries alone. PANEL: Rina Shah, Latifa Lyles, Patricia Sosa, Patrice Onwuka
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY, IS THERE GENDER BIAS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY?
THEN, MARRIED VERSUS UNMARRIED MOMS AND HOUSEWORK.
A SURPRISING RESULT OF A NEW SURVEY.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES, SAFE TRAVELS AS WOMEN TRAVEL SOLO INTERNATIONALLY IN RECORD NUMBERS, WE TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STAYING SAFE.
HELLO AND WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY.
UP FIRST, WOMEN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
WITH A DIVERSE FIELD OF 21 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, A PINK WAVE IN 2018, AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN ARE THE MOST LOYAL VOTERS IN THE PARTY.
WHY ARE WHITE MEN LEADING THE PACK?
A MORNING CONSULT POLL THIS WEEK SHOWS JOE BIDEN IN THE LEAD WITH 40% FOLLOWED BY BERNIE SANDERS AT 19%, THEN ELIZABETH WARREN AND KAMALA HARRIS IN THE SINGLE DIGIT SES.
THESE NUMBERS HAVE STAYED CONSISTENT AMONG DIFFERENT POLLS.
ALSO CONSISTENT IS POLLING DATA SUGGESTING DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS SUPPORT FEMALE CANDIDATES BUT THEY'RE SKEPTICAL THAT A WOMAN CAN BEAT DONALD TRUMP.
POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY IT'S NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE VOTERS HOLD FEMALE POLITICIANS TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN MEN AND THEY HAVE TO WORK HARDER, DEFEND POLICIES MORE, AND BE MORE LIKABLE.
>> SO LATIFA LYLES, WHY ARE WOMEN NOT BREAKING THROUGH?
>> I WOULD SAY THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH.
WE'RE WORKING IN A SYSTEM THAT SIGNIFICANTLY FAVORS WHITE MEN CONSISTENTLY.
>> WOMEN ARE BREAKING THROUGH IN THIS MOMENT.
WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE AT OUR FINGERTIPS THAN WE USED TO.
I THINK WOMEN ARE CONTINUING TO PUSH BACK AND WE'LL SEE THE POSITIVE EFFECT THAT IS TO COME.
>> I JUST HOPE WE CAN CHANGE BECAUSE IT IS WORRY SOME AND THE MOST WORRISOME PART IS POLLS SHOW THAT MEN ARE AHEAD.
>> IT CAN BE WOMEN AND VOTERS STILL SUPPORT THE CANDIDATES NOT BASTED ON GENDER BUT THE ISSUES AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY SOME WOMEN STRUGGLE TO BREAK THROUGH.
>> OKAY.
BUT CAN YOU -- ON WHAT ISSUE WOULD YOU PREFER AS A VOTER JOE BIDEN TO KAMALA HARRIS?
NO.
AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME MOST DON'T KNOW SO IT'S MORE NAME RECOGNITION AND CULTURAL BIASES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BUT WHY DIDN'T THE ME TOO MOVEMENT CHANGE THIS ALREADY?
WHY DIDN'T SECOND WAVE FEMINISM CHANGE IT?
THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM.
>> AND BONNIE, IT'S WORSE BY THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC BASE IS SO DECEMBER PAT TO DEFEAT -- DESPERATE TO DEFEAT TRUMP BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WHOEVER IS GOING TO BE TRUMP AND PEOPLE TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS NOT THE MOMENT TO TAKE A RISK.
AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT MYSELF.
I LOVE ELIZABETH WARREN.
I THINK SHE'S THE RIGHT CANED CANDIDATE.
BUT I DON'T THINK SHE'S ELECTABLE.
IS IT TRUE OR NOT?
>> AND BUSH, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS SEEN TO BE BUSH THE SECOND, WAS SEEN TO BE, YOU KNOW, LIKABLE.
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT.
BUT LIKABILITY IS A PROBLEM AND DO YOU THINK KAMALA HARRIS, IS SHE LIKABLE?
IS ELIZABETH WARREN OR OTHERS?
>> IT'S A DIFFERENT SET OF LENSES WE SHARE WHEN WE LOOK AT FEMALES VERSUS THE MALES BECAUSE THAT NOTION OF LIKABILITY GOES BACK TO THE BUSINESS WORLD OF MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
WHEN YOU CAN SIT AND HAVE A BEER WITH SOMEONE.
DO YOU WANT TO SIT AND HAVE A BEER WITH YOUR PRESIDENT?
IS THIS HILLARY CLINTON'S FAULT?
>> OH, I DON'T WANT TO FAULT THAT.
>> MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY SHE WASN'T LIKABLE.
SHE'S BRILLIANT.
SHE'S A LOT OF THINGS BUT SHE'S NOT WARM AND FUZZY.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE A TOUGH TIME WITH THAT BECAUSE I NEVER SUPPORTED HILLARY CLINTON POLITICALLY OR FINANCIALLY BUT SHE WAS THE EPITOME OF WHAT MY MOTHER RAISED ME TO BE WHICH WAS STRONG AND ACCOMPLISHED AND PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE AND KEEP PRESSING ON.
BUT, YEAH, THERE WAS THAT ELEMENT OF DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD SIT DOWN WITH HILLARY?
NO SHE HAD A SET OF ASPIRATIONS THAT WERE POLITICAL IN NATURE BUT TO FAULT HER FOR THAT I THINK IS GOING TOO FAR.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THE MEDIA PLAYS A ROLE HERE.
I MEAN, THE SPREADS OF BETO O'ROURKE TRYING TO BOOST HIS LIKABILITY.
I THINK IT MAKES IT HARD WHEN YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS BUSHING BETO ONE DAY AND THEN BERNIE THE NEXT AND NOT GIVING ATTENTION TO WOMEN WHO I WILL TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THE POLICIES FROM ELIZABETH WARREN BUT SHE'S PUTTING POLICIES OUT THERE.
>> SHE'S BEEN WORKING VERY HARD AND ARGUABLY THE LONGEST ON THE ROAD DOING THE TRADITIONAL GRASS ROOTS WORK TO GET ELECTED AND AT THIS POINT -- I WOULD ALSO SAY PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BEER WITH HER.
I THINK SHE'D BE INTERESTING TO HAVE A BEER WITH.
>> DID YOU SEE THE VIDEO THOUGH?
>> SHE DID THAT VIDEO.
[LAUGHTER] >> YOU DIDN'T WANT TO COME IN FOR THAT BEER.
>> BUT I THINK THAT THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW IS SO TELLING ABOUT THE INSECURITY TO HAVE SO MANY CANDIDATES FROM SO MANY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS SHOWING UP WITH CREDENTIALS, WITH HARD WORK, ROLLED UP SLEEVES.
WE'RE IN A BUOYANT OF CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE WE'RE JUST -- WE ARE OVERFLOWING WITH FOLKS WHO VICE PRESIDENT A GOOD MESSAGE AND COULD RUN FOR OFFICE AND BEAT TRUMP BUT I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH INSECURITY.
>> AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
I'M GLAD TO SEE MORE ARTICLES ABOUT IT.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE NOW REFLECTING THEMSELVES, AM I DOING THIS?
AM I PLAYING THIS GAME?
AND THIS IS NOT OVER.
WE'RE JUST STARTING.
WHO KNOWS.
>> WHAT I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT AS CRITICAL IS WHO IS GOING TO BE THE BEST DEBATER?
DOES EVERYBODY THINK JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP IN A DEBATE AND KAMALA HARRIS COULDN'T?
>> I'M GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE THESE ARTICLES ON SUCH A BIG FIELD BECAUSE PUTTING MY STRATEGIST HAT ON FOR A MOMENT I WANT TO SEE WHO CAN TAKE THE PRESIDENT ON.
LIKE, THIS IS NOT A MOMENT FOR EVERYBODY RUN TO THE POOL LIKE SUMMER CAMP JUST STARTED.
THIS IS BEAT THE GUY IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIM THAT MUCH.
SO BE SMART ABOUT IT.
ONE OLD WHITE GUY VERSUS ANOTHER OLD WHITE GUY PRESENTS THE BEST CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT REMOVES THOSE LAYERS.
I KNOW IT'S NOT POLITICALLY THE SAVVIEST AND NICEST TO SAY BUT IT'S TRUE.
BIDEN HAS THAT TELLS YOU LIKE IT IS THING AND TRUMP -- >> MANY HAVE THAT.
>> I REMEMBER INTERVIEWING A DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST WHEN OBAMA WAS RUNNING AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HIS VEEP AND BECAUSE HE'S OF COLOR I WAS TOLD SOMETHING LIKE IT'S GOT TO BE WHITE MILK.
YOU KNOW.
IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING VERY WHITE BREAD.
SOMETHING NOT OFFENSIVE TO ANYBODY BECAUSE RUNNING A PRESIDENT OF COLOR IS GOING TO OFFEND SOME PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WE NOW HAVE TRUMP BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS GOT OBAMA ELECTED.
>> FRANKLY I DON'T THINK THE QUESTION OF DEBATES IS -- I DON'T REMEMBER TRUMP WINNING A DEBATE.
DO YOU?
I DON'T FEEL LIKE IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE HE CAME TOGETHER VERY WELL AT ALL IN THE DEBATES AND NOW WE'RE LIKE WHO CAN BEAT HIM ON THE ISSUES.
HE DOESN'T GO TO TASK ON ISSUES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THIS IS ABOUT HOW MESSAGING WORKS.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO HEARTS AND MINDS.
AND YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE JUST AS SAVVY AS THE NEXT PERSON.
>> THE LAST DEBATE PARTICULARLY HE WAS FOLLOWING HER AROUND AND YELLING.
HOW DOES A WOMAN DEAL -- WOULD YOU DEAL EFFECTIVELY -- WOULD YOU TURN AROUND AND START FOLLOWING HIM AND SCREAMING AT HIM?
IS.
>> YEAH.
THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THIS IS ABOUT POTENTIALITY AND ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE.
AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE BIAS THAT WE'RE SEEING AND THE PEOPLE NOT RECOGNIZING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE FEMALE CANDIDATE IS THEY MAY BE THE BEST CANDIDATE TO GO AFTER TRUMP.
IF WE DO NOT LOOK AT IT THROUGH THE BIAS OF HILLARY CLINTON LOST BECAUSE SHE WAS A WOMAN OR A WOMAN CANNOT REALLY PUT TOGETHER A STRONG FIELD OPERATION.
>> IT IS ABOUT THE ISSUES THIS TIME.
AND I THINK YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS STRONG.
>> EXACTLY.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP COMING TO THE TABLE WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING PRESIDENT.
THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A STELLAR ECONOMY AND DATA TO PROVE THAT IT WAS NOT JUST OBAMA ERA POLICIES.
TALKING ABOUT THE DEBATE, AT THE TIME TRUMP DIDN'T GET INTO ISSUES BUT IT WAS HOW HE WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE SIMPLISTICALLY TO AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO FELT LIKE EVERYONE TALKED OVER THEM AND TALKED ABOVE THEIR HEADS.
I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES ON THE LEFT YOU HAVE PROFESSORS, LAWYERS, THEY WILL BE GUMPRECHTTUALS AND THAT'S GREAT BUT THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT SOMETHING SIMPLE AND BOILED DOWN AND IF THEY CAN'T MATCH THAT SIMPLICITY AND THE FIRMNESS OF THE PRESIDENT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE BEST CANDIDATE AND I THINK THE DIMENSIONS ARE MORE THAN JUST -- >> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
SORRY.
WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
FROM WOMEN IN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS TO MOMS AT HOME.
>> IF YOU ASSUME MARRIED MOMS DO LESS HOUSEWORK THAN SINGLE MOMS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PARTNER AROUND TO HELP OUT, YOU WOULD BE WRONG.
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY THE UNIVERSITIES OF MARYLAND, TEXAS, AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC WORK, MARRIED MOMS DO MORE.
LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT.
MARRIED AND SINGLE MOMS SPEND EQUAL AMOUNTS OF TIME CARING FOR CHILDREN.
THE SURVEY IS REFERRING TO OTHER THINGS SUCH AS COOKING, LAUNDRY, AND HOUSE CLEANING AND ONLY IN HETERO SEXUAL MARRIAGES.
WHY?
RESEARCHERS SAY MOTHERS MARRIED TO MEN TRY HARDER TO MEET OLD FASHIONED GENDER EXPECTATIONS OF PROVIDING HOME COOKED MALES, CLEAN HOMES, AND CLEAN CLOTHES.
THE RESEARCHERS EVEN ADJUSTED THEIR FINDINGS FOR DIFFERENCES IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, RACE, AND NUMBER OF CHILDREN, OR OTHER EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS AT HOME.
THEY REPORT MARRIED WOMEN SPEND AN AVERAGE OF JUST FEWER THAN THREE HOURS DAILY ON HOUSEWORK COMPARED TO JUST LESS THAN TWO AND A HALF HOURS FOR UNMARRIED WOMEN.
A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 32 MINUTES EACH DAY.
RESEARCHERS CALL MARRIAGE A GENDERED INSTITUTION.
WHAT DO MARRIED MOMS GIVE UP?
LEISURE TIME AND SLEEP.
>> I PRESUME YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT BEING A NEW MOM.
DO YOU AGREE THAT MARRIED MOMS IN HETERO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS AND VERY FORWARD ABOUT THIS IN THE SURVEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO WANT TO BE THE PERFECT MOM WHEREAS SINGLE MOMS CAN DO IT THEIR OWN WAY BECAUSE NOBODY IS ELSE IS AROUND?
>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK MOMS WANT TO BE THE BEST MOMS MEANING MAKING SURE THE KIDS ARE READY FOR SCHOOL, TEETH BRUSHED, BELLIES FULL.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE DOES -- WANTING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE THE RIGHT WAY, DONE MY WAY.
AND I DO WHEN SPEAKING WITH OTHER NEW MOMS WE ALL SAY THE SAME THING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS RUNNING THE WAY WE WANT IT TO RUN.
BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT IT'S SOCIETIAL IMPOSED FROM SOCIETY.
I THINK IT'S JUST MAYBE THE TYPE A IN US.
>> I THINK THE PRESSURE TO CONFORM TO A STEREOTYPE IS STRONGER THAN OTHER ESPECIALLY THE DATA SHOWING HOW THIS BEARS OUT FOR WORKING MOMS AND NONWORKING MOMS WHO ARE MARRIED AND THAT THERE'S THIS PRESSURE IF YOU'RE WORKING TOO THAT YOU'RE NOT FITTING THE MOLD SO I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND WORK EXTRA HARD BECAUSE I'M WORKING FROM 9:00 TO 5:00 AND I THINK THAT DATA POINT IS VERY TELLING IN THAT THE BACK LASH STILL TO BE A FULL TIME WORKING MOM IN TODAY'S WORLD IS STILL MET WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SKEPTICISM.
>> SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER?
>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS YOU DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.
AND THERE'S THIS CULTURE OF MARRIAGE IS VERY MUCH BASED -- COUPLES HAVE TO COWHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM.
WOMEN ARE DOING A LOT OF THE CATCH UP BECAUSE OF THE STIGMAS.
>> I GLUE UP IN A HOUSEHOLD WHERE MY MOTHER WAS VERY CONSCIOUS OF IT, OF THE ROLES AND VERY DEMANDING OF MY DAD WHICH WAS VERY RADICAL IN PUERTO RICO.
SUPER TRADITIONAL.
I DISAGREE WITH YOU.
IT'S TRADITION.
IT'S NOT MALICIOUS.
IT'S JUST TRADITION.
THE THING IS THAT IT'S PUTTING A LOT OF STRESS IN WOMEN THAT FEEL THEY HAVE TO BE LITTLE MISS PERFECT.
I HAVE TO CLEAN AND COOK AND ALL THESE THINGS AND ARE NOT DMANGD OF MEN TO SHARE IN THE BURDEN.
SO I THINK THIS IS THE KEY HERE.
WHY WITH ALL THE AWARENESS THAT WE HAVE THAT SURVEYS STILL SHOW THAT THE WOMEN ARE CARRYING THE BURDEN.
WHY ARE THEY NOT ASKING AND WHY ARE THE GUYS NOT OFFERING?
>> BECAUSE THE POPULATION, THE GENERAL POPULATION IS ONE THING AND WHAT YOU SEE PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA IS QUITE ANOTHER.
DO YOU THINK -- DO YOU AGREE WITH THEM THAT MARRIAGE IS A GENDERED INSTITUTION?
IN OTHER WORDS IT'S MORE ENTRAPPING IN TERMS OF MAKING PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY THINK TRADITION REQUIRES OF THEM THAN BEING SINGLE?
>> IT CAN BE BUT I THINK IN MY GENERATION I REMAIN COMPLETELY ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT I SEE SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN THROUGH FRIENDS AND EVEN ACQUAINT TENSES TALK OPENLY ABOUT REAPS.
I KNOW I'M IN A TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE WHERE UNFORTUNATELY MY HUSBAND IS A MAJOR BREADWINNER NOW BUT HE SAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE BIG BUCKS, I WANT TO BE THE STAY AT HOME DAD.
BUT HE MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR ME.
CERTAINLY ROLES ARE BEING CHALLENGED IN THESE NEW GENERATIONS BUT WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT I'M THE FOREVER OPTIMIST.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MOTHERS WHETHER THEY'RE STAY AT HOME OR WORKING.
IT'S BECAUSE OF -- >> IT'S THE AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT AND NOW EVERYBODY HAS AN iPHONE OR ANDROID THAT'S SUPER COMPLEX AND THEY CAN SEE RIGHT AT THEIR FINGERTIPS WHAT ANOTHER MOM IS DOING.
SHE HAS A GREAT STROLLER.
SHE'S OUT TO DRINKS AND DINNER.
THE PICTURES DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
EVERYBODY'S STRIVING FOR THIS PERFECTION AND YOU MAY HAVE MOTHERS THAT -- >> THAT'S NOT NEW.
TEN YEARS AGO WE DID A STORY ABOUT SOMEBODY SURVEYED THE AVERAGE INCOME OF FAMILIES ON TELEVISION AND IT WAS 200 GRAND A YEAR WHICH OF COURSE IS WAY ABOVE THE AVERAGE INCOME OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY AND SO YOU -- IT MAY BE TRUE IN SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT'S ALSO TRUE IN TELEVISION.
SO THIS IS NOT A NEW INFLUENCE.
>> THE AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT.
YOU CAN GO OUT WITH OUR AM EX-AND GET THE SAME SHOES THAT ANYBODY CAN HAVE.
>> I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS IT'S NOT JUST SOME OTHER PERSON ON TV.
IT'S MY FRIEND.
IT'S THE WOMAN IN THE MOMMY CIRCLE.
THE MOM THAT PICKS UP THEIR DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL AND WHAT SHE'S POSTING.
I THINK THOUGH TO THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS WILL, FLEXIBILITY IN THE WORK PLACE I THINK IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT SO WHEN YOU CAN WORK FROM HOME ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU KNOW MOMS AND DADS CAN START TO DO A LOT MORE OF THE CHORES AND SHARE THE CHORES WHERE YOU DON'T FEEL THEY'RE CRUNCHED TO GET IT DONE AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE DAY AND THAT STRESS LEVEL DECREASES.
WE HAVE POLLED MEN AND WOMEN AND RESOUNDINGLY FOUND THAT THEY WANT NOT JUST FLEXIBILITY IN THE WORKFORCE AND IN WORK PLACE BUT ALSO CHILD CARE AND HOW DO WE -- HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT PLAY A ROLE IN THIS BUT I THINK FLEXIBILITY IS HUGE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME ON THIS ONE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES.
TRAVELING SOLO.
WOMEN ARE VISITING FOREIGN COUNTRIES ALONE MORE OFTEN THAN EVER THEY ARE FREQUENTLY MOTIVATED BY A SENSE OF ADVENTURE AND EXCITEMENT.
BUT THAT EXPERIENCE COMES WITH RISK.
AND HARROWING TALES OF SURVIVING VIOLENCE ABROAD.
>> I WAS ASSAULTED BY A ROMAN CITIZEN AND IT WAS QUITE PHYSICAL, THE ASSAULT.
HE WAS TRYING TO RAPE ME.
HE LOCKED ME INTO HIS APARTMENT.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD EXPRESSED A NONDESIRE NOT ONLY TO NOT HAVE SEX BUT TO END THE NIGHT ULTIMATELY I WIND UP MAYBE SIX HOURS AFTER MEETING HIM HANGING OFF A SIX STORY BUILDING FIGHTING HIM OFF AND THEN ESCAPING.
SHE SAYS SHE HAD TO CLIMB ACROSS ROOF TOPS AND DOWN SIX STORIES TO ESCAPE HER ATTACKER.
>> IT WAS 2:00 OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL.
THE EMBASSY DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 8:00 OR 9:00 SO YOU JUST HAVE TO SIT THERE AND WAIT.
WHICH WAS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE MY ASSAILANT KNEW WHERE I WAS STAYING SO I FELT UNSAFE FOR THOSE FIVE OR SIX HOURS.
I HAD THE POLICE IN MY ROOM SCREAMING AT ME TO GO WITH THEM FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT I DIDN'T HAVE AN INTERPRETER.
SO NOW I HAVE THE POLICE YELLING AT ME IN MY ROOM AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, I DON'T HAVE INTERPRETERS.
>> HER FRUSTRATION WITH THE LACK OF SERVICES FOR VICTIMS HAS BEEN ECHOED BY OTHER SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES.
PATHWAYS' MISSION IS TO HELP PROVIDE THEM.
>> WE WILL GIVE THEM VOUCHERS TO MOVE TO A NEW HOTEL.
WE'LL GET THEM ARRANGEMENTS AND UBER TO GET THEM TO A PLACE TO GET A RAPE KIT OR HOSPITAL VISIT.
WE'LL INTERACT WITH THE POLICE.
PROVIDE TRANSLATION SERVICES.
EVERYTHING THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO NAVIGATE THOSE SYSTEMS.
>> BUT JUST HOW RISKY IS IT TO TRAVEL ALONE?
THE TRUTH IS NO ONE QUITE KNOWS.
>> WE KNOW THAT WOMEN DISPROPORTIONATELY FACE VIOLENCE IN PUBLIC SPACES MEN DON'T FACE.
WE SAW A RISE IN SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL IN GENERAL BUT ALSO NO STRAY AT THISESICS AVAILABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR WOMEN WHO TRAVEL ABROAD.
WE DID NOT SEE FIGURES OUT THERE FOR NUMBERS OF ATTACKS.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS QUITE CONCERNING TO US.
>> YOU KIND OF GREW OUT OF SOMETHING WE WERE SEEING ALMOST DAILY TOWARDS TEND OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR.
THESE STORIES OF WOMEN WHO OFTEN WERE QUITE YOUNG, WESTERN WOMEN, TRAVELING ALONE AND HAD BEEN ATTACKED OR IN SOME CASES KILLED.
>> SHE SAYS THE ARTICLE WASN'T MEANT TO SCARE FEMALE TRAVELLERS BUT TO HELP THEM PREPARE TO MANAGE THE RISK.
>> SO WHETHER THAT'S LEARNING SELF-DEFENSE SO YOU FEEL MORE PREPARED IN THESE PUBLIC SPACES WHERE YOU MIGHT BE THREATENED OR WHETHER THAT IS CARRYING A GPS TRACKER SO THAT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT ALL TIMES OR WHETHER THAT'S CHOOSING A HOLE TELL OR AIR B&B THAT HAS SECURITY FEATURES.
>> BUT NO MATTER HOW WELL PREPARE AID WOMAN IS THERE'S NO GUARANTEE AGAINST BEING ATTACKED.
>> ONE THING THAT WE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE WITH THIS STORY AS WELL IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS PART OF A BROADER FABRIC OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
THIS IS JUST A THREAD IN THAT BROADER FABRIC.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ATTACKS ON FEMALE TRAVELLERS, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND HOW NORMS AND SOME OF THE CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE MAKE CAN ACTUALLY FACTOR INTO THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE.
>> SO MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE TRAVELING ABROAD ALONE BUT SHOULDN'T THE TREND BE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION?
JOIN A GROUP IF YOU WANT TO STAY SAFE?
>> WELL, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I'M GLAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE INCREASING NUMBER OF WOMEN ARE TRAVELING ALONE.
THE FACT IS THAT MOST WOMEN SURVIVE AND DON'T HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES.
WE'RE VERY AWARE WHEN WE TRAVEL.
BUT IT HAPPENS AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE PREPARED.
IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE SAFETY ISSUE.
KNOW HOW TO GET READY.
YOU KNOW -- >> SAFETY AND LANGUAGE.
>> SAFETY, LANGUAGE.
>> YOU COULD GETTED ATTACKED IN YOUR HOMETOWN AND IT'S NOT LIKE WE LIVE IN A VIOLENCE FREE COUNTRY OURSELVES BUT AT LEAST YOU KNOW THE COPS.
YOU'RE IN THE SAME LANGUAGE.
ET CETERA.
>> THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE HIGHLIGHTING WHICH IS IMPORTANT IT'S GIVING TIPS FOR WOMEN THAT ARE TRAVELING BY THEMSELVES.
AS YOU KNOW I DO INTERNATIONAL WORK.
I TRAVEL A LOT.
A LOT BY MYSELF AT LEAST TO GET THERE AND GET TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS THAT I GO TO.
I'M SO AWARE OF HOW I DO THINGS, VERY AWARE OF SAFETY BUT THINGS CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE SOME COUNTRIES ARE VERY UNSAFE.
IT'S UNSAFE FOR THE WOMEN OF THESE COUNTRIES AND EVEN MORE FOR A FOREIGNER.
>> I THINK EVERY COUNTRY CAN BE UNSAFE.
IT'S JUST ABOUT KNOWING YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
I'VE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY ALONE PRIOR TO MEETING MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HAPPY TO DO SO.
WHEN I SAW MEN HIKING ALONE I GREW UP IN WILD WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA I THOUGHT I COULD DO ANYTHING FROM GOING TO A CITY TO THE MOUNTAINS.
I WAS NEVER SCARED BUT NOW IN MY MID-30S, I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS NOW TOO.
I WAS JUST RECENTLY ON A TRIP WHERE I WAS GOING TO BE ALONE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND I REMEMBER GETTING READY FOR IT AND BEING VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I WORE AND HOW REALLY CLOSE FITTING MY DRESS WAS.
AND JUST HOW I WAS GOING TO OPERATE AND I JUST THOUGHT TO MYSELF TEN YEARS BACK I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT.
AND I DID NOT DRINK ANY DRINKS BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT WHAT IF SOMEBODY TOUCHES THAT DRINK.
SO IT'S ABOUT BEING AWARE.
IT'S INCUMBENT UPON WOMEN.
I HAD A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN INDIA ON AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TO INDIA WHERE A MAN WAS PLEASURING HIMSELF ACROSS THE AISLE FROM ME.
>> YOU DIDN'T CALL THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT?
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING FOR 30 MINUTES.
WHEN I REALIZED, I FELT SO VIOLATED AND ANGRY I WENT TO THE STEWARDSES AND THEY TOOK THEIR TIME TO MOVE ME.
ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
I REMEMBER FEELING SO WEIRDED OUT AND SCARED IN THOSE MINUTES AND COULDN'T BELIEVE.
I'M STILL HAVING A MOMENT WHERE I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED TO ME TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION WHERE OTHER WOMEN MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING I THINK COULD HAVE GIVEN ME SOME COMFORT BUT I WAS FURIOUS AT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.
>> AT THAT POINT WHEN YOU'RE FLYING IT'S ON THE AIRLINE I WOULD THINK.
>> THEY WERE WOMEN AND THEY COULD NOT EVEN -- >> WHAT THIS RAISES FOR ME AS SOMEBODY IN A COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN OF COLOR ARE TOO ALSO WE POLICE OURSELVES AND HOW WE MOVE AROUND IN SAFETY AND COMMUNITIES.
I THINK LOTS OF COHORTS AND FRIENDS THAT I HAVE WHO ARE WOMEN OF COLOR TRAVELING TAKE THAT APPROACH TO WHERE WE DON'T TRAVEL IN OUR BACKYARDS SOMETIMES BY OURSELVES BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID OF BEING, YOU KNOW, ATTACKED OR SINGLED OUT OR THERE ARE CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT WOMEN OF COLOR DON'T TRAVEL TO FOR THAT REASON.
THERE'S AN APPROACH AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR IN MOVING INTO UNKNOWN SPACES.
>> SO YOU THINK THEY'RE SAFER?
WOMEN OF COLOR MAY BE SAFER?
>> I THINK THERE'S A PRIVILEGE TO FREE MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WHITE PEOPLE HAVE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR DO NOT HAVE AND TRAVELING ABROAD MYSELF TO SOUTH ASIA WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID FIRST WAS TO SAY WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR A BLACK PERSON TRAVELING IN SOUTH AN ATHAT WHERE THERE'S NO BLACK PEOPLE AND THERE WERE RESOURCES AND WEBSITES AND BOOKS IN SOME CASES ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT BUT THE EXPECTATION FOR SOME OF US IS THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ASSUMPTION THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO GO AS I FREE WHERE I WANT TO GO FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A PERSON OF COLOR AND THEN THE DEAL IS RIGHT NOW WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE WOMEN HAVE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT EVEN WALKING TO OUR CARS AFTER WORK.
THOSE THINGS COME TO MIND FOR ME FOR SURE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL.
GREAT SHOW.
GREAT JOB.
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