TEDWomen 2018
Cecile Richards: The political progress women have made -- and what's next
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Women have made enormous progress over the last century -- challenging the status quo, busting old taboos and changing business from the inside out. But when it comes to political representation, there's still a long way to go, says activist Cecile Richards. In this visionary talk, Richards calls for a global political revolution for women's equality and offers her ideas for how we can build it.
Cecile Richards - Activist
Cecile Richards is a national leader for women's rights and social and economic justice, and the author of the bestselling book "Make Trouble." Full bio
Cecile Richards is a national leader for women's rights and social and economic justice, and the author of the bestselling book "Make Trouble." Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Nearly 100 years ago,
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almost today,
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most women in the United States
finally won the right to vote.
finally won the right to vote.
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Now, it would take decades more
for women of color to earn that right,
for women of color to earn that right,
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and we've come a long way since,
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but I would argue not nearly far enough.
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I think what women want today,
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not just only in the United States
but around the globe,
but around the globe,
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is to no longer be an afterthought.
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We don't want to continue to try to,
like, look at the next 100 years
like, look at the next 100 years
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and be granted, grudgingly,
small legal rights and accommodations.
small legal rights and accommodations.
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We simply want true and full equality.
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I think that women are tired
of retrofitting ourselves
of retrofitting ourselves
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into institutions and governments
that were built by men, for men,
that were built by men, for men,
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and we'd rather reshape the future
on our own terms.
on our own terms.
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I believe --
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(Applause)
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I believe what we need is a women's
political revolution for full equality
political revolution for full equality
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across race, across class,
across gender identity,
across gender identity,
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across sexual orientation,
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and yes, across political labels,
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because I believe what binds us
together as women
together as women
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is so much more profound
than what keeps up apart.
than what keeps up apart.
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And so I've given some thought
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about how to build
this women's political revolution
this women's political revolution
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and that's what I want
to talk to you about today.
to talk to you about today.
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(Cheers)
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(Applause)
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The good news is that one thing
that hasn't changed in the last century
that hasn't changed in the last century
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is women's resilience
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and our commitment to build
a better life not only for ourselves,
a better life not only for ourselves,
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but for generations to come,
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because I can't think of a single woman
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who wants her daughter
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to have fewer rights
or opportunities than she's had.
or opportunities than she's had.
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So we know we all stand on the shoulders
of the women who came before us,
of the women who came before us,
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and as for myself,
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I come from a long line
of tough Texas women.
of tough Texas women.
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(Cheers)
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My grandparents
lived outside of Waco, Texas,
lived outside of Waco, Texas,
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in the country.
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And when my grandmother got pregnant,
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of course she was not going
to go to the hospital to deliver,
to go to the hospital to deliver,
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she was going to have that baby at home.
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But when she went into labor,
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she called the neighbor woman over
to cook dinner for my grandfather,
to cook dinner for my grandfather,
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because ...
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I mean, it was unthinkable that he
was going to make supper for himself.
was going to make supper for himself.
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(Laughter)
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Been there.
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(Laughter)
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The neighbor had no experience
with killing a chicken,
with killing a chicken,
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and that was what was planned
for dinner that night.
for dinner that night.
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And so as the story goes,
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my grandmother,
in the birthing bed, in labor,
in the birthing bed, in labor,
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hoists herself up on one elbow
and wrings that chicken's neck, right?
and wrings that chicken's neck, right?
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And that is how my mother
came into this world.
came into this world.
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(Laughter)
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(Applause)
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But the amazing thing is,
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even though my mother's own grandmother
could not vote in Texas,
could not vote in Texas,
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because under Texas law,
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"idiots, imbeciles, the insane and women"
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were prevented the franchise --
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just two generations later,
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my mother, Ann Richards, was elected
the first woman governor in her own right
the first woman governor in her own right
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in the state of Texas.
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(Applause and cheers)
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But you see, when Mom
was coming up in Texas,
was coming up in Texas,
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there weren't a lot
of opportunities for women,
of opportunities for women,
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and frankly, she spent her entire life
trying to change that.
trying to change that.
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She used to like to say,
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"As women, if you just give
us a chance, we can perform.
us a chance, we can perform.
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After all, Ginger Rogers
did everything Fred Astaire did,
did everything Fred Astaire did,
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but she did it backwards
and in high heels."
and in high heels."
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Right?
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And honestly, that's kind of what women
have been doing for this last century:
have been doing for this last century:
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despite having very, very little
political power,
political power,
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we have made enormous progress.
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So today in the United States,
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100 years after getting the right to vote,
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women are almost half the workforce.
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And in 40 percent
of families with children,
of families with children,
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women are the major breadwinners.
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Economists even estimate
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that if every single paid working woman
took just one day off of work,
took just one day off of work,
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it would cost the United States
21 billion dollars
21 billion dollars
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in gross domestic product.
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Now, largely because of Title IX,
which required educational equity,
which required educational equity,
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women are actually now half
the college students in the United States.
the college students in the United States.
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We're half the medical students,
we're half the law students --
we're half the law students --
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Exactly.
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(Applause)
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And a fact I absolutely love:
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One of the most recent classes of
graduating NASA astronauts was ...
graduating NASA astronauts was ...
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What?
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For the first time, 50 percent women.
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(Applause and cheers)
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The point is that women
are really changing industries,
are really changing industries,
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they're changing business
from the inside out.
from the inside out.
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But when it comes to government,
it's another story,
it's another story,
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and I actually think a picture
is worth 1000 words.
is worth 1000 words.
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This is a photograph from 2017
at the White House
at the White House
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when congressional leaders
were called over to put the final details
were called over to put the final details
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into the health-care reform bill
that was to go to Congress.
that was to go to Congress.
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Now, one of the results of this meeting
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was that they got rid
of maternity benefits,
of maternity benefits,
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which may not be that surprising,
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since no one at that table
actually would need maternity benefits.
actually would need maternity benefits.
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And unfortunately,
that's what we've learned the hard way
that's what we've learned the hard way
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in the US for women.
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If we're not at the table,
we're on the menu, right?
we're on the menu, right?
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And we're simply not at enough tables,
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because even though women
are the vast majority of voters
are the vast majority of voters
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in the United States,
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we fall far behind the rest of the world
in political representation.
in political representation.
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Recent research is that when
they ranked all the countries,
they ranked all the countries,
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the United States is 104th
in women's representation in office.
in women's representation in office.
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104th ...
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Right behind Indonesia.
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So is it any big surprise, then,
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considering who's making decisions,
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we're the only developed country
with no paid family leave?
with no paid family leave?
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And despite all the research
and improvements we've made
and improvements we've made
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in medical care --
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and this is really horrifying to me --
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the United States now leads the developed
world in maternal mortality rates.
world in maternal mortality rates.
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Now, when it comes to equal pay,
we're not doing a whole lot better.
we're not doing a whole lot better.
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Women now, on average,
in the United States,
in the United States,
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still only make 80 cents
to the dollar that a man makes.
to the dollar that a man makes.
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Though if you're
an African American woman,
an African American woman,
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it's 63 cents to the dollar.
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And if you're Latina,
it's 54 cents to the dollar.
it's 54 cents to the dollar.
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It's an outrage.
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Now, women in the UK, the United Kingdom,
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just came up with something
I thought was rather ingenious,
I thought was rather ingenious,
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in order to illustrate
the impact of the pay gap.
the impact of the pay gap.
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So, starting November 10
and going through the end of the year,
and going through the end of the year,
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they simply put an out-of-office
memo on their email
memo on their email
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to indicate all the weeks
they were working without pay.
they were working without pay.
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Right?
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I think it's an idea
that actually could catch on.
that actually could catch on.
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But imagine if women
actually had political power.
actually had political power.
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Imagine if we were at the table,
making decisions.
making decisions.
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Imagine if we had our own
women's political party
women's political party
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that instead of putting our issues
to the side as distractions,
to the side as distractions,
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made them the top priority.
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Well, we know --
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research shows
that when women are in office,
that when women are in office,
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they actually act differently than men.
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They collaborate more
with their colleagues,
with their colleagues,
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they work across party lines,
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and women are much more likely
to support legislation
to support legislation
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that improves access to health care,
education, civil rights.
education, civil rights.
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And what we've seen in our research
in the United States Congress
in the United States Congress
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is that women sponsor more legislation
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and they cosponsor more legislation.
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So all the evidence is that when women
actually have the chance to serve,
actually have the chance to serve,
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they make a huge difference
and they get the job done.
and they get the job done.
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So how would it look in the United States
if different people were making decisions?
if different people were making decisions?
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Well, I firmly believe
if half of Congress could get pregnant,
if half of Congress could get pregnant,
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we would finally quit fighting
about birth control
about birth control
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and Planned Parenthood.
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(Applause and cheers)
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That would be over.
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(Applause)
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I also really believe that finally,
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businesses might quit
treating pregnancy as a nuisance,
treating pregnancy as a nuisance,
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and rather understand it
as a primary medical issue
as a primary medical issue
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for millions of American workers.
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And I think if more women were in office,
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our government would actually prioritize
keeping families together
keeping families together
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rather than pulling them apart.
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(Applause)
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But perhaps most importantly,
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I think all of these issues would
no longer be seen as "women's issues."
no longer be seen as "women's issues."
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They would just be seen as basic issues
of fairness and equality
of fairness and equality
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that everybody can get behind.
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So I think the question is,
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what would it take, actually, to build
this women's political revolution?
this women's political revolution?
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The good news is, actually,
it's already started.
it's already started.
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Because women around the globe
are demanding workplaces,
are demanding workplaces,
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they're demanding
educational institutions,
educational institutions,
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they're demanding governments
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where sexism and sexual harassment
and sexual assault are neither accepted
and sexual assault are neither accepted
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nor tolerated.
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Women around the world, as we know,
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are raising their hands
and saying, "Me Too,"
and saying, "Me Too,"
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and it's a movement
that's made so much more powerful
that's made so much more powerful
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by the fact that women
are standing together across industries,
are standing together across industries,
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from domestic workers
to celebrities in Hollywood.
to celebrities in Hollywood.
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Women are marching, we're sitting in,
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we're speaking up.
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Women are challenging the status quo,
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we're busting old taboos
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and yes, we are proudly making trouble.
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So, women in Saudi Arabia
are driving for the very first time.
are driving for the very first time.
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(Applause and cheers)
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Women in Iraq are standing in solidarity
with survivors of human trafficking.
with survivors of human trafficking.
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And women from El Salvador to Ireland
are fighting for reproductive rights.
are fighting for reproductive rights.
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And women in Myanmar
are standing up for human rights.
are standing up for human rights.
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In short, I think the most profound
leadership in the world
leadership in the world
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isn't coming from halls of government.
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It's coming from women
at the grassroots all across the globe.
at the grassroots all across the globe.
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(Applause)
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And here in the United States,
women are on fire.
women are on fire.
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So a recent Kaiser poll reported
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that since our last presidential
election in 2016,
election in 2016,
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one in five Americans have either marched
or taken part in a protest,
or taken part in a protest,
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and the number one issue
has been women's rights.
has been women's rights.
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Women are starting new organizations,
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they are volunteering on campaigns,
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and they're taking on every issue
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from gun-safety reform
to public education.
to public education.
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And women are running for office
in record numbers,
in record numbers,
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and they are winning.
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So -- (Laughs)
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(Applause)
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Women like Lucy McBath from Georgia.
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(Applause and cheers)
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Lucy lost her son to gun violence,
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and it was because of her experience
with the criminal justice system
with the criminal justice system
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that she realized just how broken it is,
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and she decided to do
something about that.
something about that.
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So she ran for office,
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and this January, she's going to Congress.
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OK? Or --
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(Applause)
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Angie Craig from Minnesota.
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(Applause and cheers)
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So her congressman had made
such hateful comments about LGBTQ people
such hateful comments about LGBTQ people
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that she decided to challenge him.
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And you know what? She did, and she won,
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and when she goes to Congress in January,
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she'll be the first lesbian mother
serving in the House of Representatives.
serving in the House of Representatives.
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(Applause and cheers)
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Or --
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(Applause)
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Or Lauren Underwood from Illinois.
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She's a registered nurse,
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and she sees every day the impact
that lack of health care access has
that lack of health care access has
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on the community where she lives,
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and so she decided to run.
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She took on six men in her primary,
she beat them all,
she beat them all,
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she won the general election,
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and when she goes to Congress in January,
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she's going to be the first
African-American woman ever
African-American woman ever
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to serve her district in Washington, D.C.
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(Applause and cheers)
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So women are recognizing --
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this is our moment.
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Don't wait for permission,
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don't wait for your turn.
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As the late, great
Shirley Chisholm said --
Shirley Chisholm said --
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Shirley Chisholm, the first
African-American woman ever
African-American woman ever
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to go to Congress
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and the first woman to run for president
in the Democratic party --
in the Democratic party --
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but Shirley Chisholm said,
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"If there's no room for you at the table,
just pull up a folding chair."
just pull up a folding chair."
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And that's what women are doing,
all across the country.
all across the country.
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I believe women are now the most
important and powerful political force
important and powerful political force
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in the world,
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but how do we make sure
that this is not just a moment?
that this is not just a moment?
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What we need is actually a global movement
for women's full equality
for women's full equality
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that is intersectional
and it's intergenerational,
and it's intergenerational,
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where no one gets left behind.
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And so I have a few ideas
about how we could do that.
about how we could do that.
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Number one: it's not enough to resist.
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13:21
It's not enough to say what we're against.
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13:23
It's time to be loud and proud
about what we are for,
about what we are for,
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because being for full equality
is a mainstream value
is a mainstream value
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13:29
and something that we can get behind.
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13:31
Because actually, men support
equal pay for women.
equal pay for women.
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13:34
Millennials, they support gender equality.
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13:37
And businesses are increasingly adopting
family-friendly policies,
family-friendly policies,
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13:42
not just because
it's the right thing to do,
it's the right thing to do,
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13:44
but because it's good for their workers.
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13:46
It's good for their business.
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Number two:
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We have to remember,
in the words of Fannie Lou Hamer,
in the words of Fannie Lou Hamer,
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that "nobody's free
'til everybody's free."
'til everybody's free."
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So as I mentioned earlier,
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women of color in this country
didn't even get the right to vote
didn't even get the right to vote
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until much further along
than the rest of us.
than the rest of us.
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14:06
But since they did,
they are the most reliable voters,
they are the most reliable voters,
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14:09
and women of color are the most
reliable voters for candidates
reliable voters for candidates
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14:12
who support women's rights,
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14:13
and we need to follow their lead --
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14:15
(Applause and cheers)
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14:20
Because their issues are our issues.
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14:23
And as white women, we have to do more,
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14:26
because racism and sexism and homophobia,
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14:29
these are issues that affect all of us.
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14:32
Number three: we've got to vote
in every single election.
in every single election.
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Every election.
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14:37
And we've got to make it easier
for folks to vote,
for folks to vote,
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14:39
and we've got to make sure
that every single vote is counted, OK?
that every single vote is counted, OK?
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14:43
(Applause and cheers)
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14:46
Because the barriers that exist
to voting in the United States,
to voting in the United States,
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14:51
they fall disproportionately on women --
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14:54
women of color, women with low incomes,
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14:56
women who are working
and trying to raise a family.
and trying to raise a family.
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15:00
So we need to make it easier
for everyone to vote,
for everyone to vote,
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15:03
and we can start by making
Election Day a federal holiday
Election Day a federal holiday
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in the United States of America.
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15:08
(Applause and cheers)
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15:13
Number four: don't wait for instructions.
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15:16
If you see a problem that needs fixing,
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I think you're the one to do it, OK?
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So start a new organization,
run for office.
run for office.
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15:25
Or maybe it's as simple as standing up
on the job in support of yourself
on the job in support of yourself
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or your coworkers.
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This is up to all of us.
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15:33
And number five:
invest in women, all right?
invest in women, all right?
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(Applause)
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Invest in women as candidates,
as changemakers, as leaders.
as changemakers, as leaders.
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Just as an example,
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15:44
in this last election cycle
in the United States,
in the United States,
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women donated 100 million dollars more
to candidates and campaigns
to candidates and campaigns
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15:51
than they had just two years ago,
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15:53
and a record number of women won.
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15:55
So just think about that.
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(Applause and cheers)
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So look, sometimes I think
that the challenges we face,
that the challenges we face,
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they seem overwhelming
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16:05
and they seem like they almost
can never be solved,
can never be solved,
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16:09
but I think the problems
that seem the most intractable
that seem the most intractable
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16:12
are the ones that are most
important to work on.
important to work on.
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16:15
And just because it hasn't been
figured out yet doesn't mean you won't.
figured out yet doesn't mean you won't.
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After all, if women's work were easy,
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someone else would have
already been doing it, right?
already been doing it, right?
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(Laughter)
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16:25
But women around the globe,
they're on the move,
they're on the move,
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16:29
and they are taking strengths
and inspiration from each other.
and inspiration from each other.
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They are doing things
they never could have imagined.
they never could have imagined.
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16:35
So if we could just take
the progress we have made
the progress we have made
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16:38
in joining the workforce,
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16:39
in joining business,
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16:41
in joining the educational system,
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16:43
and actually channel that
into building true political power,
into building true political power,
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we will reshape this century,
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16:49
because one of us can be ignored,
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two of us can be dismissed,
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but together, we're a movement,
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16:55
and we're unstoppable.
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Thank you.
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(Applause and cheers)
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Cecile Richards - ActivistCecile Richards is a national leader for women's rights and social and economic justice, and the author of the bestselling book "Make Trouble."
Why you should listen
As the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund for 12 years, Cecile Richards worked to increase affordable access to reproductive health care and to build a healthier and safer world for women and young people. In 2018, she stepped down from leadership and published the book Make Trouble.
After starting her career as a labor organizer working with women earning the minimum wage, Richards went on to start her own grassroots organizations and later served as deputy chief of staff to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. In 2011 and 2012, she was named one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World." Richards is a frequent speaker and commentator on politics and progressive issues.
Cecile Richards | Speaker | TED.com