THE WALLACE GENETIC FOUNDATION, THE COLCOM FOUNDATION, AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

THIS WEEK ON b FIRST, MORE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST OPERA MEGASTAR PLACIDO DOMINGO AS WE LOOK AT THE PROGRESS OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT.

NT.

THEN, ONE REPORT REVEALS WHAT IT CALLS A NEW REASON WOMEN ARE DROPPING OUT OF THE WORKPLACE.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: GETTING MORE WOMEN INTO THE PEACE PROCESS.

>> Bonnie: HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO b CONTRARY,b AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, #METOO.

NEW REPORTS THAT 11 MORE WOMEN ARE ACCUSING OPERA STAR PLACIDO DOMINGO OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

THE LATEST ACCUSATIONS BRING THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE THE ALLEGATIONS TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TO TWENTY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR DOMINGO DISPUTES THE ACCUSATIONS.

JUST ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR TWO YEARS AGO AMERICAN WOMEN WERE STARTLED BY THE REVELATIONS OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT, AS WOMEN OUTED AND FILED LAWSUITS OR SOUGHT PROSECUTION OF THEIR ALLEGED ABUSERS.

ONE WOMAN, MOIRA DONEGAN, COMPILED A GOOGLE DOCUMENT THAT LISTED THE NAMES OF MEN IN THE MEDIA POSTED ANONYMOUSLY BY WOMEN WHO ACCUSED THEM OF EVERYTHING FROM CREEPY DIRECT MESSAGES TO RAPE.

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO THIS WEEK, AUTHOR STEPHEN ELLIOTT HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST DONEGAN FOR DEFAMATION.

HE SAYS HE WAS ACCUSED OF THINGS HE DIDN'T DO AND IT RUINED HIS WRITING CAREER.

ELLIOTT'S LAWSUIT IS NOT THE FIRST AGAINST A #METOO OUTING, BUT IT COULD BE PART OF A TREND.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A TACTIC, ATTEMPTING TO SILENCE SOMEONE BY SUING THEM.

IT EVEN HAS A NAME, SLAPP, OR STRATEGIC LAWSUIT AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

THEY SAP THOSE WHO SPEAK OUT OF THEIR TIME, MONEY, AND MORALE.

IN ANOTHER, WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A STRIKE AGAINST THE MOVEMENT, AXIOS REPORTS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE PREDOMINANTLY MEN HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL OFFENSES SINCE 2017.

BUT SINCE JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S DEATH, ONLY 6 MEN CURRENTLY FACE CHARGES AND 6 OTHERS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED.

ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, IS ONE OF THE LEADERS, REALLY, OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT BACK IN THE '60s WHEN YOU SUED NEWSWEEK FOR ALL THE WOMEN REPORTERS WHO WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE BECOME CORRESPONDENCE, HAS THIS #METOO MOVEMENT FAILED, OR WILL IT BE THE WATERSHED WE WERE ALL HOPING IT WOULD BE?

>> #METOO HAS BEEN A POWERFUL MOVEMENT FOR OUTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, BUT I MUST SAY AS A LAWYER THAT MEN HAVE FOUND A POWERFUL TOOL FOR FIGHTING BACK IN LAWSUITS.

>> I THINK THE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF THIS CASE WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

HIS KIT ACCUSES BY THE TIME THEY HAVE COME OF AGE WOULD NOT OF HAD THE GUTS TO COME FORWARD TO SAY WHAT THEY SAID IF NOT FOR THE MOVEMENT CURRENTLY.

>> I AGREE.

I THINK #METOO HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

THIS MONTH, THE HOUSE WILL PASS A BILL THAT WILL BAN THE FOUR SEPARATE TO ITS ARBITRATION THAT WILL SILENCE WOMEN AND DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO FILE LAWSUITS.

>> IT'S HAD SUCCESS.

I THINK THE OPINIONS TO FIND THIS LIST THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, MY, GOD, SOUNDS LIKE McCARTHY ON THE BLACKLIST WHICH IS SCARY.

>> ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE SUBJECT TO THESE FORCED ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS, WHERE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO PUBLIC.

ONCE THEY CLAIM THEY'VE HAD SOME KIND OF HARASSMENT, THEY HAVE TO GO INTO THIS ARBITRATION -- >> 40 PERCENT?

>> 40 PERCENT.

THEY GO INTO THIS ARBITRATION SYSTEM.

UNDER THAT, THERE IS AN NDA AND YOU CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT IT.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW THEY RESOLVED IT, YOU HAVE NO RECOURSE, NOT ALLOWED TO GO TO COURT.

IT'S ALL KIND OF SNUFFED OUT.

IT WOULD BE LIKE GOING INTO A FIGHT IS A WRESTLER AND YOU FIND OUT, OH, AS YOU GO IN THAT THE JUDGE AND REFEREE ARE ALL BEING PAID FOR BY YOUR OPPONENT.

WONDER HOW THAT FIGHT WILL GO.

SO I THINK THAT THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING IN THIS WHISPER LIST AND IT WAS JUST THAT.

THEY WERE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TRYING TO WARN PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE LEFT WITH.

>> IT REALLY IS THE SAME AS THE BLACKLISTING.

>> WELL, THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE IS WHEN YOU COME OUT AND ANONYMOUSLY CALL OUT SOMEBODY AND THEY HAVE NO WAY TO FIGHT BACK, EVEN THOUGH FOR WOMEN, THERE IS ALMOST NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.

BY THE WAY, BY THE TIME THEY DO IT, LAWSUITS -- VEHICLE THEY CAN EVEN BE FOUGHT.

BUT THEY DO RAISE IN A SOCIETY LIKE OURS A QUESTION OF HOW DO YOU FIGHT BACK IF SOMEONE CALLS YOU OUT.

I THINK WE NEED TO THINK THIS THROUGH INSTEAD OF SAYING, OH, NO, WOMEN HAVE FOUND MEN ON SOMETHING THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT A LONG TIME AGO.

LET IT BE.

THE LAW WILL NOT ABIDE THAT.

>> I THINK OF THE LAWS ON SOMEONE'S SIDE, THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION.

IF THIS IS ABOUT WOMEN FEELING SAFE ENOUGH TO SPEAK OUT AND SPEAK THEIR TRUTH, ABOUT HOW THEY'VE BEEN TREATED AT THE HANDS OF A SUPERIOR, FOR EXAMPLE, OR SOMEONE IN A POSITION OF POWER, SOMEONE LIKE MOUNT MARK HALPERIN WHO'S IN THE HEADLINES AGAIN THESE DAYS, HE'S A SORT OF POLITICAL JOURNALIST WHO WAS ACCUSED OF MANY ABUSES.

NOW HE'S SHOPPING AROUND A BOOK.

HE HAD CONVERSATIONS LIKE DONNA BRAZILE AND OTHERS.

DONNA AND OTHERS ARE CATCHING FLAK FOR EVEN SITTING WITH MARK AND HAVING A CONVERSATION BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SO MANY OFFENSES.

HOW DOES SOCIETY DEAL WITH THIS?

I THINK THAT'S THE LARGER QUESTION, IS -- SHOULD MEN WILL CONSTANTLY WALK AROUND FEELING LIKE IF I -- ARE THEY ON EGGSHELLS, REALLY?

>> IF THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO BEHAVE, THEN YES.

>> YES.

[LAUGHTER] >> TURNS INTO A THING OF WHAT IS TOO MUCH?

EVERYONE'S DEFINITION SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT.

THIS IS WHAT I GET FROM CONSERVATIVES IS I HAVE A SON AND I'M WORRIED IF HE DOES SOMETHING SLIGHTLY WRONG, HIS LIFE IS OVER.

IT'S RUINED, OUT IN PUBLIC.

>> THERE ARE ALL THESE PROTECTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE AWARE THAT WOMEN WHO ARE THE VICTIMS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING.

>> [CROSS TALK] >> FIRST OF ALL, AS A LAWYER, IS HE GOING TO WIN OR WILL HE JUST -- >> WHEN AND WHAT?

>> STEVE ELLIOTT, THIS GUY, IF YOU FILE A DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST A WOMAN WHO PUT THE LIST OUT -- LET'S THINK ABOUT IT.

>> -- BUT ALSO THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME, SO FAR, OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT IS THAT THE BRETT KAVANAUGH, CHRISTINA BLASEY FORD.

MOST WOMEN I KNOW SAT THERE AND WATCHED AND SAID YOU CLEARLY DID THIS AND YET SHE WAS GIVEN NO CREDIBILITY AND THE SENATORS, ONE BY ONE, WENT ALONG AND APPROVED HIM.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK UP AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF GUTS.

SO THE WOMEN WAIT AND THEN EITHER IT IS TOO LATE TO FILE A LAWSUIT OR YOU CANNOT PROVE IT.

HE SAYS, SHE SAYS.

THAT'S THE BASIC PROBLEM HERE.

THIS IS AN UNWITNESSED OFFENSE.

SO HOW DO YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT WITH A MOVEMENT LIKE THE #METOO MOVEMENT?

>> OR GET MORE LEADER WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.

IN THE CASE OF PLACIDO DOMINGO, THEY HAVE THESE FORCED ARBITRATIONS, AND A SAFE IT'S BEEN GOING ON SO LONG, HOW DO WE NOT KNOW?

MAYBE THAT'S THE REASON YOU DON'T KNOW.

ALSO NOT ALLOWED TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT UNDER THE FORCED ARBITRATION.

TALK TO DEBORAH WRITER WHO IS AT THE KENNEDY CENTER, WHO LEADS THE KENNEDY CENTER IN WASHINGTON, 20 CULTURAL AGENCIES ARE HEADED BY WOMEN.

SHE SAYS TO EMPLOYEES ALL THE TIME, YOU SEE SOMETHING AND YOU TELL ME.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ACTIVIST LEADER WHO WILL PUT IT OUT.

>> I LIKE THAT BETTER, BUT, BONNIE, TWO THINGS: FORD'S LAWYER WAS IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK BECAUSE THEY ARE SAYING SHE REALLY WAS NOT DAMAGED BY IT AND IT'S ONLY COME FORWARD FOR POLITICAL REASONS, THAT IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT WAS PORTRAYED; THAT WAS INTERESTING.

SECONDLY, MIKE PENCE, THERE IS A WHOLE THING OF MIKE PENCE SYNDROME WHERE CORPORATE EXECUTIVES, POLITICAL, EVERYONE IS AFRAID TO GO TO DINNER WITH A WOMAN BY THEMSELVES.

THEY TAKE A SECOND PERSON BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN GLORIA STEINEM HAS BEEN RECORDED A BILLION TIMES ABOUT SAYING WOMEN NEED A MAN LIKE A FISH NEEDS -- BUT SECOND WAVE FEMINISM, AND THERE WAS AN OVERREACTION AT THAT POINT.

WOMEN WERE ANGRY, HELD DOWN FOR CENTURIES.

BUT IN THIS -- AND THAT HAPPENED -- IS NOW HAPPENING I THINK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

>> THEY HAVE CORPORATE WOMEN ALSO AFRAID SOMETIMES TO GO OUT WITH OTHER WOMEN.

>> NO, NO.

DON'T BE CONCERNED.

THIS IS AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD.

IT'S REALLY AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD.

PEOPLE ARE OVERREACTING, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACT.

WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

>> THE BOYS WILL BE BOYS BEHAVIOR I THINK IS PHASING OUT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS IS ALMOST AT PLAY WITH KAVANAUGH DEBACLE.

FRANKLY, THIS WAS PEOPLE SAYING BOYS WILL BE BOYS AND OTHER PEOPLE SAYING, NO, CLEARLY A REFLECTION OF HIS CHARACTER.

>> BOYS WILL BE BOYS, THE REAL QUESTION IS MEN HAVE LEARNED HOW TO FIGHT BACK.

WHAT YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

>> QUICK QUESTION: HOW LONG BEFORE -- HOW MANY MORE THOUSANDS OF MEN WILL HAVE TO BE OUTED AND SUED FOR DEFAMATION IF THEY FEEL -- IF THEY REALLY FEEL IT WAS WRONGFULLY DONE BEFORE WE FEEL LIKE THE #METOO MOVEMENT IS A SUCCESS?

>> ONE OF THE WOMEN IS COUNTERSUED AFTER BEING SUED, SHE IS COUNTERSUED.

I THINK IT WILL PLAY ITSELF OUT IN THE COURT DURING AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

>> I WILL SAY THE MOVEMENT IS A SUCCESS, BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS IT WILL GET MUDDY AND MURKY IN SOCIETY .

THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE WILL GET MURKIER.

THINK OF COMEDIAN AZIZ ANSARI WHO HAD A DATE AND IT WENT KIND OF ARRIVED BECAUSE HE DID THINGS AND SHE DID THINGS AND PEOPLE WERE UNCOMFORTABLE.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE OF.

THE MOVEMENT ITSELF HAS BEEN A SUCCESS [CROSS TALK] >> IT WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE HOUSE.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE SENATE -- >> IT SHOULD TAKE A GENERATION I THINK.

>> WOMEN HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING TO MAN'S SUPERIORITY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION.

YOU CANNOT EXPECT SUBMITTING TWO MEN, PERIOD, FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND CANNOT EXPECTED TO BE FIXED AND 50.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM THE METOO MOVEMENT TO CAREGIVING.

THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION IS GRAYING AND LIVING LONGER.

THESE CONDITIONS HAVE FORCED SOME OF THEIR CHILDREN, MAINLY WOMEN, TO FORGO WORK AND BECOME CAREGIVERS.

EXPERTS SAY THE LACK OF SUBSIDIZED ELDER CARE IN AMERICA IS WHY THE SHARE OF WOMEN TAKING PART IN THE LABOR FORCE STALLED IN THE LATE '90S AFTER RISING FOR 50 YEARS.

THE LABOR DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES 5.5 MILLION WOMEN COULDN'T ENTER THE WORKFORCE IN 2014 DUE TO CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES.

THEIR WORK WOULD HAVE ADDED 3.5% IN GDP GROWTH.

MANY FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD A PAID HOME CARE WORKER, EVEN THOUGH WAGES ARE LOW IN THIS FIELD.

DESPITE THE UNGLAMOROUS NATURE OF THE JOB AND RELATIVELY POOR PAY, CAREGIVING IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING INDUSTRIES IN TERMS OF NUMBERS OF JOBS.

OVER 150,000 NEW JOBS OF THIS TYPE WERE CREATED LAST YEAR ALONE.

>> Bonnie: SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

>> I THINK NEW JOBS IN THIS INDUSTRY OF CAREGIVING IS CERTAINLY A GREAT THING BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO LOVE HEALTHCARE AND THIS IS AN EXTENSION, A WAY TO PROVIDE CARE AND GET PAID FOR IT, WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FINDING ATTRACTIVE, THAT THESE JOBS ARE HIGH-PAYING, MANY OF THEM, WHETHER SKILLED NURSING OR STUFF EVEN LIKE HOME VISITS.

THERE ARE ALL THESE THINGS THAT HAVE CROPPED UP AND DONE WELL TO SERVE OUR AGING POPULATION.

THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITIVE OF DON'T THINK BARBARA SAID.

I REALLY HOPE AND WISH MORE AMERICANS WOULD TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS AND LIVING WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THEY ARE SO MANY AMERICANS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE FORGOTTEN.

THEY ARE OLDER, OLDER AMERICANS, EITHER MISTREATED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, SOMETIMES MISTREATED BY FAMILY MEMBERS.

I WISH I HAD MORE STATS, BUT THE SITUATION IS SO PERSONAL TO ME.

I TOOK CARE OF MY AGING FATHER.

I MADE SURE MY MOTHER DID NOT SUFFER ALONE BY HELPING MY FATHER MOVE INTO OUR HOME.

OF COURSE HE DID NOT DO IT PERSONALLY, BUT THE HELP WE GOT FROM MY HUSBAND HERE AND THERE, MY BROTHER HERE AND THERE, EVEN THE JOY OF MY CHILDREN TO MY FATHER IN HIS LAST DAYS, THAT WAS BIG.

I HOPE WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE AMERICAN FAMILY BY TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN INSTEAD OF PUSHING THEM OUTSIDE THE HOME.

>> I THINK YOU ARE AHEAD OF YOUR TIME.

I THINK THE TIME MAY BE COMING.

I THINK, FIRST, WE HAVE NO CHILDCARE.

NOW WE HAVE NO ELDER CARE.

WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY IS THIS?

E DON'T TAKE CARE OF MOST VULNERABLE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM.

YOU CANNOT GET THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, NOT THE DEMOCRATS, TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THIS IS A TERRIBLE CRISIS, BECAUSE WHO IS, AGAIN, WHO WAS IT FALLING ON, THE WOMEN ALONE?

YOU CANNOT HANDLE IT AT BOTH ENDS.

I MUST SAY THIS: WOMEN HAVE GOT TO SPEAK UP.

THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAYING MUCH MORE ABOUT CHILD -- WHAT ARE THEY DOING ABOUT CHILDCARE THAT THEY ARE FALLING OUT OF THE WORKFORCE INSTEAD OF FORCING CONGRESS TO DO WHAT EVERY OTHER CIVILIZED MARKET ECONOMY IS DOING?

>> PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.

>> I'M SORRY, THERE ARE MORE WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE THAN EVER BEFORE.

I THINK THAT'S A RED HERRING.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS, AGAIN, WE KNEW -- >> WELL, IT'S KIND OF TOP OUT AT ABOUT 80 PERCENT.

>> IT GREW AGAIN LAST MONTH.

AGAIN, BUT -- >> IS 80 PERCENT A TOP?

DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE MORE -- >> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> ARE THERE 100 PERCENT OF MEN IN THE WORKFORCE?

>> NO, BUT I'D GO HIGHER THAN 80.

WE NEED MORE TEACHERS, MORE PEOPLE IN HEALTHCARE, BECAUSE WE SAW BABY BOOMERS, LARGEST PART OF THE POPULATION WHO WILL REACH THIS.

LIKE YOU, WE AT MULTIGENERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MY SISTERS 20 YEARS OLDER THAN ME IN HER LAST DAYS.

THE FAMILY ALL PITCHED IN, WE ALL HAD OUR PARTS WE DID.

WE HAD HER AT HOME IS MUCH AS WE COULD.

SHE UNFORTUNATELY WAS IN A STATE WHERE SHE HAD TO BE IN ASSISTED AND NURSING CARE.

IT IS REALLY SOMETHING.

THE MEN IN THE FAMILY STEPPED UP AS WELL AS THE WOMEN.

I'M GLAD TO REPORT THAT.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TOORE AND MORE OLDER WOMEN TOO ARE DOING GOLDEN GIRLS WHERE THEY JOINED TOGETHER IN HOMES AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER.

THEY MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CHECKED ON.

I HAVE OLDER NEIGHBORS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

I CALL EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OKAY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT EVER TO SEE A STORY OF ANYONE THAT LIVES NEAR ME BEING DEAD FOR FOUR DAYS OR A WEEK BEFORE ANYONE FOUND THEM.

TO ME, THAT WOULD BE UNCONSCIONABLE.

>> IT'S SO SAD.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE, THEY'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS TO OVERCOME, FROM HARASSMENT TO LOW PAY.

AND A CRITICAL TIME IS WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN AND THE CAREGIVING.

I'M AT THE STAGE IN LIFE WHERE, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYONE I KNOW IS OUT THERE GOING GANGBUSTERS ON THEIR CAREER BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE LAUNCHED, THEY PAID THEIR DUES, DID THE CAREGIVING BECAUSE THEIR HUSBANDS DID NOT DO MOST OF IT.

AND NOW THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR PARENTS.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER WOMEN'S PROFESSION.

TALKED ABOUT TEACHERS NEEDING MORE PAY.

YOU NEEDMORE ROAD PAID FOR CAREGIVERS AND THERE WOULD BE MORE CAREGIVERS OUT THERE FOR YOUR ELDERS.

>> SO TRUE.

>> SOMETHING EARLIER YOU SAID, THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS GIG ECONOMY WORK WOMEN PICK UP MORE JOBS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THEY ARE NOT TELECOMMUTING, SAW WORKING TO SOLVE SOME OF IT [CROSS TALK] >> WITH THE TECHNOLOGY WE CAN DO OUR FACE TIME SESSIONS, SO MUCH FROM HOME WHICH IS GREAT.

ALSO, FAMILIES CANNOT DO IT ALL ALONE BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT ROLES.

WHAT WE WERE GETTING WITH MY DAD, WOMEN WOULD COME IN THE EVENING'S THAT WERE WORKING OTHER JOBS AND GETTING FLEXIBLE DAY TO PAY THE BILL TAKE CARE OF DISABLED FOLKS AND MY DAD POST SURGERY, HELP US WITH MEALS WHEN WE COULD NOT BECAUSE WE HAD YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE.

WE HAD OLDER PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE THAT MY MOTHER AND I WERE STILL WORKING AND MY BROTHER AND HUSBAND WERE OUTSIDE.

IN THESE SITUATIONS ARE UNIQUE IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

WHAT THERE IS, CERTAINLY MARKET-BASED ECONOMY, IS A MARKET FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO GIVE INTO -- >> [CROSS TALK] >> HER FATHER IN HIS LAST DAYS, IT WAS ALMOST ALL EXCLUSIVELY MALE CAREGIVERS CAME IN.

>> AS WE SEE A LOT MORE MEN OF MILLENNIALS TAKING CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, WE WILL BE SEEING THEM HELPING TO PITCH IN, LIKE YOUR BROTHERS.

>> STRENGTHEN THE AMERICAN FAMILY.

>> OKAY.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: WOMEN IN THE AFGHANI PEACE TALKS.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS NEGOTIATING PEACE WITH THE TALIBAN, BUT EXPERTS FEAR THE WRONG DEAL COULD RESULT IN A RETURN TO CONFLICT AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, PARTICULARLY AGAINST WOMEN.

I SPOKE WITH CONGRESSWOMAN LOIS FRANKEL, WHO HAS WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE URGING FOR MORE PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

>> Bonnie: FIRST OF ALL, IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE TALIBAN HAS GREAT POWER AND IS OBVIOUSLY HORRENDOUS TO WOMEN, HOW DOES THAT PREVENT WOMEN FROM GETTING INVOLVED IN THE PEACE PROCESS?

>> Lois Frankel: AS THE TALIBAN IS GETTING MORE INFLUENCE, WOMEN ARE GETTING LESS AND LESS RIGHTS.

LET'S STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT: WHEN THE TALIBAN WERE IN POWER, WOMEN COULD NOT WORK, THEY COULD NOT GO TO SCHOOL, THEY COULD NOT LEAVE THEIR HOMES BY THEMSELVES.

AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACK AND THE INTERVENTION OF THE UNITED STATES IN AFGHANISTAN, THE TALIBAN, OBVIOUSLY, WERE PUSHED BACK.

AND WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE EARLY 2000S, REALLY, THE EMERGENCE OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, THOUSANDS OF MORE WOMEN, GIRLS IN SCHOOL, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WERE TRAINED TO BE TEACHERS, WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT, WOMEN WHO ARE DOCTORS.

SO WE'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

BUT WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN SUBSTANTIAL GAINS FOR WOMEN, WHICH ARE ALL THAT IS THREATENED TO BE JUST IMMEDIATELY ERADICATED IF THE TALIBAN TAKE OVER AND THEY DO WHAT THEY DID BEFORE.

>> Bonnie: REPRESENTATIVES LOIS FRANKEL, A DEMOCRAT FROM FLORIDA, IS WORKING WITH SUSAN BROOKS, A REPUBLICAN FROM INDIANA, IN PUSHING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO TO INCLUDE MORE WOMEN IN PEACE TALKS IN AFGHANISTAN.

MORE THAN 75 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SIGNED ON AS WELL.

>> Bonnie: DO YOU HAVE ANY GREAT HOPE THAT EVEN WITH WOMEN THAT A PEACE CAN BE BROUGHT ABOUT THAT WILL BE VIABLE FOR A LONG TIME?

>> Lois Frankel: IF IT IS A GOAL OF THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TALIBAN, AND A LASTING AGREEMENT, THERE IS A GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH THAT SAYS WHEN WOMEN ARE AT THE TABLE, AGREEMENTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND SUCCESSFUL FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WILL SHARE THIS SENTIMENT THAT I HAVE, WHICH IS WHEN WOMEN ARE HEALTHY, WHEN THEY ARE EDUCATED, WHEN THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COUNTRY THAT WILL BE MORE PEACEFUL AND MORE PROSPEROUS.

>> Bonnie: AFGHANI WOMENb RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WARNED THAT THE WRONG PEACE DEAL COULD MEAN A b CHAOS,b >> Lois Frankel: WHEN WOMEN ARE AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, ANY AGREEMENT YOU HAVE IS 65% MORE LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND 35% MORE LIKELY TO LAST ONE MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.

SO LET'S START -- LET'S START WITH THAT.

AND IT IS NOW A LAW.

WE PASSED THIS IN A BIPARTISAN EFFORT RECENTLY.

IT DOES REQUIRE OUR GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN ARE PART OF, FOR EXAMPLE, PEACE EFFORTS.

>> Bonnie: HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH IVANKA TRUMP ON THIS?

>> Lois Frankel: I'VE TALKED TO IVANKA TRUMP A NUMBER OF TIMES.

WE WORKED ON IT AT AN EFFORT CALLED b WOMAN'S EMPOWERMENT EFFORT.

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ACTUALLY GAVE HER THE LETTER THAT SUSAN BROOKS AND I HAD LED, AND SHE READ THE LETTER.

SHE SAID SHE AGREED WITH IT.

>> Bonnie: HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE U.S. HAS TO STAY THERE?

>> Lois Frankel: I THINK MOST AMERICANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR TROOPS OUT.

I TELL YOU, I KNOW MYSELF AS A MOTHER OF A WAR VETERAN, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE MORE MEN AND WOMEN GO INTO AFGHANISTAN.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO DEPEND UPON WHAT COMES OUT OF THIS PEACE NEGOTIATION.

WHAT WILL BE THE INCENTIVES FOR THE TALIBAN TO KEEP ITS WORD?

>> Bonnie: MOST AMERICANS WHO FOLLOW THIS ISSUE WOULD LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO SEE WOMEN TREATED FAIRLY, BUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SUCH AN ARCHAIC SOCIETY.

I'M SORRY, I JUST CANNOT SEE IT HAPPENING.

>> I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO DRAW AS MUCH ATTENTION AS WE CAN, LIKE YOU ARE TODAY ON THE SHOW, TO THE FACT THAT WOMEN ARE NOT AT THE PEACE TABLE AND IT WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO SIGNED THE WOMEN PEACE AND SECURITY ACT, WHICH WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU HAVE WOMEN AT THE TABLE BECAUSE, SHE IS RIGHT, 66 PERCENT OF THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE MUCH STRONGER IF YOU HAVE WOMEN AT THE TABLE.

>> BUT THERE HAS TO BE A REASON -- SURE, BECAUSE AMERICANS HAVE PUSHED FOR IT OR THE TALIBAN IS NOT ALLOWING -- >> WHY AREN'T WE DEALING WITH THE NATIONSTATE, AFGHANISTAN?

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

>> BECAUSE IT ONLY CONTROLS LESS THAN HALF THE COUNTRY.

>> LET ME SAY THIS: ONE, YOU WANT CALLS FOR TWO RESOLUTION 1025 WHEN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE STABLE.

BOTTOM LINE, AND OF DISCUSSION.

NOW SOME AND GROSSMAN WHO WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOULD CHALLENGE THAT ARCHAIC SOCIETY, TELL EVENTS OR FAIRLY RECENT INNOVATION.

THEY DATE BACK -- WAIT A MINUTE.

BEFORE THAT, WE WERE VERY WESTERNIZED.

[CROSS TALK] >> GOING BACK -- >> RIGHT, ONLY SINCE THE '80s -- [CROSS TALK] >> THE TALIBAN, THE KEY TO GETTING HOLD OF THE TALIBAN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN WHO ARE CENTRAL TO PEACE ARE INCLUDED ON -- AT THE BARGAINING TABLE, BUT IN THE AGREEMENT.

THIS IS NOT LIKE WORLD WAR II OR VIETNAM.

WOMEN ARE CENTRAL TO WHY SOCIETY HAS BEEN IN CHAOS.

IT WILL REMAIN IN CHAOS UNLESS THE WOMEN'S QUESTION IS SETTLED.

>> DIDN'T DEFENSE SECRETARY MATUS JUST READ A BOOK WHAT AM I GETTING THE WRONG -- FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY.

SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP TROOPS THERE IF YOU WANT AGREEMENTS ADHERED TO?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> IS KEEPING 8000 THERE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, THAT THE PRESIDENT DOES BECAUSE A LOT OF AMERICANS, AND THIS IS WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S VIEWS HAVE COME FROM AND WHERE HE SAT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL HE WANTS THE PULLOUT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY YEARS.

IN MY GENERATION, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE THERE'S A SENSE THE WAR HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN.

OUR ESTABLISHMENT HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN.

WHAT ARE AMERICAN TAXPAYING DOLLARS DOING?

THE TALIBAN DOES NOT WANT PEACE.

EXTREME SUM IS ON THE RISE, THE WORLD OVER.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS MUCH MORE SINISTER AT PLAY.

I THINK WOMEN ARE BEING RADICALIZED OVER THERE IN AFGHANISTAN WAY MORE THAN WE ARE WILLING TO RECOGNIZE.

>> GREAT POINT.

WE HAVE TO GO.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TO-THE-CONTRARY.

WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK, TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, THE COLCOM FOUNDATION, AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR SEE AN ONLINE EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.