[Applause] [Music]
so three years ago I wrote a story for
so three years ago I wrote a story for Time magazine about the women of the
Time magazine about the women of the
Time magazine about the women of the Senate coming together during the
Senate coming together during the
Senate coming together during the government shutdown to restart the
government shutdown to restart the
government shutdown to restart the negotiations to reopen the government
negotiations to reopen the government
negotiations to reopen the government when none of the men would talk to each
when none of the men would talk to each
when none of the men would talk to each other as someone who covered the Senate
other as someone who covered the Senate
other as someone who covered the Senate for the better part of a dozen years up
for the better part of a dozen years up
for the better part of a dozen years up and to that point I could tell you that
and to that point I could tell you that
and to that point I could tell you that the Senate felt incredibly different
the Senate felt incredibly different
the Senate felt incredibly different that session I mean that was because it
that session I mean that was because it
that session I mean that was because it was the first time women had reached 20
was the first time women had reached 20
was the first time women had reached 20 percent of the Senate and they actually
percent of the Senate and they actually
percent of the Senate and they actually sat atop 11 of the 20 committees and
sat atop 11 of the 20 committees and
sat atop 11 of the 20 committees and they had a huge impact that session they
they had a huge impact that session they
they had a huge impact that session they ended up producing 75 percent of the
ended up producing 75 percent of the
ended up producing 75 percent of the legislation that was passed into law I
legislation that was passed into law I
legislation that was passed into law I got more comment on that story in more
got more comment on that story in more
got more comment on that story in more letters and more feedback than any other
letters and more feedback than any other
letters and more feedback than any other story had ever written for time and that
story had ever written for time and that
story had ever written for time and that includes to cover stories on Sarah Palin
includes to cover stories on Sarah Palin
includes to cover stories on Sarah Palin so that’s telling you something and I
so that’s telling you something and I
so that’s telling you something and I had women across the country writing to
had women across the country writing to
had women across the country writing to me telling me that they were
me telling me that they were
me telling me that they were experiencing pretty much the same thing
experiencing pretty much the same thing
experiencing pretty much the same thing in their own industries so there was a
in their own industries so there was a
in their own industries so there was a woman from the Navy who wrote to me
woman from the Navy who wrote to me
woman from the Navy who wrote to me about how when the Navy was required to
about how when the Navy was required to
about how when the Navy was required to integrate women into their ships thanks
integrate women into their ships thanks
integrate women into their ships thanks to supreme court decision in 1973 they
to supreme court decision in 1973 they
to supreme court decision in 1973 they first started with one or two women then
first started with one or two women then
first started with one or two women then a handful of women it was a disastrous
a handful of women it was a disastrous
a handful of women it was a disastrous experience for everybody involved
experience for everybody involved
experience for everybody involved and then finally they struck upon
and then finally they struck upon
and then finally they struck upon critical mass almost by trial and error
critical mass almost by trial and error
critical mass almost by trial and error now the Navy requires that all of their
now the Navy requires that all of their
now the Navy requires that all of their ships have a minimum of 20% women with a
ships have a minimum of 20% women with a
ships have a minimum of 20% women with a goal of 25% women and they actually
goal of 25% women and they actually
goal of 25% women and they actually introduced officers first that so that
introduced officers first that so that
introduced officers first that so that the rank and file members can get used
the rank and file members can get used
the rank and file members can get used to taking orders and respecting women I
to taking orders and respecting women I
to taking orders and respecting women I got a letter from a woman in the 30%
got a letter from a woman in the 30%
got a letter from a woman in the 30% club it was a group in New York that
club it was a group in New York that
club it was a group in New York that actually works to get 30% women on all
actually works to get 30% women on all
actually works to get 30% women on all corporate boards in America and they had
corporate boards in America and they had
corporate boards in America and they had done all this amazing research that
done all this amazing research that
done all this amazing research that showed that when you reach this tipping
showed that when you reach this tipping
showed that when you reach this tipping point 30% your companies become 26% more
point 30% your companies become 26% more
point 30% your companies become 26% more efficient they have to restate their
efficient they have to restate their
efficient they have to restate their earnings 55 percent less and corporate
earnings 55 percent less and corporate
earnings 55 percent less and corporate boards actually the men on the corporate
boards actually the men on the corporate
boards actually the men on the corporate boards had to study up more because the
boards had to study up more because the
boards had to study up more because the women came much more prepared than the
women came much more prepared than the
women came much more prepared than the men were and according to which study
men were and according to which study
men were and according to which study you wanted to look at you either they
you wanted to look at you either they
you wanted to look at you either they were either 9% or 63% more profitable
were either 9% or 63% more profitable
were either 9% or 63% more profitable who wouldn’t want that it’s sort
who wouldn’t want that it’s sort
who wouldn’t want that it’s sort and insane to me that every corporate
and insane to me that every corporate
and insane to me that every corporate board in America doesn’t have 30 percent
board in America doesn’t have 30 percent
board in America doesn’t have 30 percent women on them so the idea of critical
women on them so the idea of critical
women on them so the idea of critical mass is something I want you to think
mass is something I want you to think
mass is something I want you to think about as I guess I give you this talk
about as I guess I give you this talk
about as I guess I give you this talk because we’re gonna come back to it at
because we’re gonna come back to it at
because we’re gonna come back to it at the end but it’s the idea of essentially
the end but it’s the idea of essentially
the end but it’s the idea of essentially it comes from nature and it’s the idea
it comes from nature and it’s the idea
it comes from nature and it’s the idea of we’re in a chain reaction a chain
of we’re in a chain reaction a chain
of we’re in a chain reaction a chain reaction can no longer be stopped so
reaction can no longer be stopped so
reaction can no longer be stopped so it’s the point in which you cannot stop
it’s the point in which you cannot stop
it’s the point in which you cannot stop essentially a nuclear bomb from going
essentially a nuclear bomb from going
essentially a nuclear bomb from going bomb but when you apply to gender and
bomb but when you apply to gender and
bomb but when you apply to gender and women you can see it happening in
women you can see it happening in
women you can see it happening in congress’s and corporate boards but by
congress’s and corporate boards but by
congress’s and corporate boards but by far the hardest glass ceiling to break
far the hardest glass ceiling to break
far the hardest glass ceiling to break is actually the one to executive office
is actually the one to executive office
is actually the one to executive office because all of the talents that women
because all of the talents that women
because all of the talents that women bring and help them get elected to
bring and help them get elected to
bring and help them get elected to boards and legislatures are actually
boards and legislatures are actually
boards and legislatures are actually considered a weakness and running for
considered a weakness and running for
considered a weakness and running for executive office so those talents would
executive office so those talents would
executive office so those talents would be being good at win-win scenarios being
be being good at win-win scenarios being
be being good at win-win scenarios being really good at consensus building for
really good at consensus building for
really good at consensus building for executive office voters or potentially
executive office voters or potentially
executive office voters or potentially boards want to see in a CEO somebody who
boards want to see in a CEO somebody who
boards want to see in a CEO somebody who can make a command-and-control decisions
can make a command-and-control decisions
can make a command-and-control decisions who can make zero sum game decisions and
who can make zero sum game decisions and
who can make zero sum game decisions and women for better or for worse or
women for better or for worse or
women for better or for worse or perceived to be weak at that so that’s
perceived to be weak at that so that’s
perceived to be weak at that so that’s why there are so few women who break
why there are so few women who break
why there are so few women who break through that glass ceiling only 4.8% of
through that glass ceiling only 4.8% of
through that glass ceiling only 4.8% of our of the Fortune 1000 companies in
our of the Fortune 1000 companies in
our of the Fortune 1000 companies in America are actually one run by women
America are actually one run by women
America are actually one run by women only six of our nation’s 50 governors
only six of our nation’s 50 governors
only six of our nation’s 50 governors and only 17% of our nation’s mayor’s and
and only 17% of our nation’s mayor’s and
and only 17% of our nation’s mayor’s and of course Hillary Clinton is the first
of course Hillary Clinton is the first
of course Hillary Clinton is the first female to actually break through that
female to actually break through that
female to actually break through that glass ceiling and become a major nominee
glass ceiling and become a major nominee
glass ceiling and become a major nominee of a major party and you see so in all
of a major party and you see so in all
of a major party and you see so in all of the executives that I’ve spoken to
of the executives that I’ve spoken to
of the executives that I’ve spoken to there is a capability test that women
there is a capability test that women
there is a capability test that women face that men do not face they have to
face that men do not face they have to
face that men do not face they have to show that they’re not emotional they
show that they’re not emotional they
show that they’re not emotional they have to show that they’re capable enough
have to show that they’re capable enough
have to show that they’re capable enough and not so crazy that at that time of
and not so crazy that at that time of
and not so crazy that at that time of the month they can have their finger on
the month they can have their finger on
the month they can have their finger on the nuclear button and they’re not gonna
the nuclear button and they’re not gonna
the nuclear button and they’re not gonna like blow up Russia and so but it’s a
like blow up Russia and so but it’s a
like blow up Russia and so but it’s a very tough and thin line for women to
very tough and thin line for women to
very tough and thin line for women to cross because very quickly when you’re
cross because very quickly when you’re
cross because very quickly when you’re trying to prove that you’re tough and
trying to prove that you’re tough and
trying to prove that you’re tough and capable you can become too tough and
capable you can become too tough and
capable you can become too tough and people don’t like you anymore
people don’t like you anymore
people don’t like you anymore when running for when I covered for
when running for when I covered for
when running for when I covered for exempt for example Hillary Clinton in
exempt for example Hillary Clinton in
exempt for example Hillary Clinton in 2008 when she was running for the first
2008 when she was running for the first
2008 when she was running for the first time for president she ran arguably as a
time for president she ran arguably as a
time for president she ran arguably as a man she campaigned with lots of generals
man she campaigned with lots of generals
man she campaigned with lots of generals her campaign slogan was ready from day
her campaign slogan was ready from day
her campaign slogan was ready from day one she talked about being prepared to
one she talked about being prepared to
one she talked about being prepared to answer that call at 3 o’clock in the
answer that call at 3 o’clock in the
answer that call at 3 o’clock in the morning
morning
morning and she very she very rarely talked
and she very she very rarely talked
and she very she very rarely talked about the historic nature of her
about the historic nature of her
about the historic nature of her campaign this time around nobody has any
campaign this time around nobody has any
campaign this time around nobody has any doubts that Hillary Clinton is actually
doubts that Hillary Clinton is actually
doubts that Hillary Clinton is actually capable to be President but she’s
capable to be President but she’s
capable to be President but she’s struggling with the likability question
struggling with the likability question
struggling with the likability question and she’s encountering an interesting
and she’s encountering an interesting
and she’s encountering an interesting set of sexism that are a little bit
set of sexism that are a little bit
set of sexism that are a little bit unconscious I think still in our in our
unconscious I think still in our in our
unconscious I think still in our in our in our society so for example Bernie
in our society so for example Bernie
in our society so for example Bernie Sanders can yell at you for 40 minutes
Sanders can yell at you for 40 minutes
Sanders can yell at you for 40 minutes and you’re like yeah yell at me for 40
and you’re like yeah yell at me for 40
and you’re like yeah yell at me for 40 more a man but Hillary Clinton raises
more a man but Hillary Clinton raises
more a man but Hillary Clinton raises her voice and you’re like oh my god
her voice and you’re like oh my god
her voice and you’re like oh my god she’s so shrill why is mom screaming at
she’s so shrill why is mom screaming at
she’s so shrill why is mom screaming at me it’s also really hard for women to
me it’s also really hard for women to
me it’s also really hard for women to achieve sort of that soaring and so like
achieve sort of that soaring and so like
achieve sort of that soaring and so like Rob you know soaring speeches that you
Rob you know soaring speeches that you
Rob you know soaring speeches that you see so often with for example Barack
see so often with for example Barack
see so often with for example Barack Obama when he was running in 2008 he
Obama when he was running in 2008 he
Obama when he was running in 2008 he could talk about the arc of the meal the
could talk about the arc of the meal the
could talk about the arc of the meal the arc of the moral universe bending
arc of the moral universe bending
arc of the moral universe bending towards justice every day of the week
towards justice every day of the week
towards justice every day of the week and everyone would think wow that’s so
and everyone would think wow that’s so
and everyone would think wow that’s so inspiring
inspiring
inspiring but female leaders are expected to be
but female leaders are expected to be
but female leaders are expected to be more pragmatic and that’s something that
more pragmatic and that’s something that
more pragmatic and that’s something that is a social expectation they’re meant to
is a social expectation they’re meant to
is a social expectation they’re meant to be more like essentially the role of the
be more like essentially the role of the
be more like essentially the role of the wives the housewives where they are so
wives the housewives where they are so
wives the housewives where they are so if you think of Golda my or or Margaret
if you think of Golda my or or Margaret
if you think of Golda my or or Margaret Thatcher these are leaders in our
Thatcher these are leaders in our
Thatcher these are leaders in our society who are incredibly pragmatic
society who are incredibly pragmatic
society who are incredibly pragmatic right and it’s very hard for women to
right and it’s very hard for women to
right and it’s very hard for women to soar rhetorically in the same way that
soar rhetorically in the same way that
soar rhetorically in the same way that men do but I think it’s really
men do but I think it’s really
men do but I think it’s really interesting to think about how far we’ve
interesting to think about how far we’ve
interesting to think about how far we’ve come and in the last hundred years so a
come and in the last hundred years so a
come and in the last hundred years so a hundred years ago literally next month
hundred years ago literally next month
hundred years ago literally next month the first woman was elected to Congress
the first woman was elected to Congress
the first woman was elected to Congress jeannette rankin
jeannette rankin
jeannette rankin and that was four years before women
and that was four years before women
and that was four years before women even got the vote in 1932 the first
even got the vote in 1932 the first
even got the vote in 1932 the first cabinet member was named Frances Perkins
cabinet member was named Frances Perkins
cabinet member was named Frances Perkins who was Secretary of Labor under FDR in
who was Secretary of Labor under FDR in
who was Secretary of Labor under FDR in 1984 first Supreme Court Justice Sandra
1984 first Supreme Court Justice Sandra
1984 first Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor named by Ronald Reagan in
Day O’Connor named by Ronald Reagan in
Day O’Connor named by Ronald Reagan in 1992 women finally began to sustain a
1992 women finally began to sustain a
1992 women finally began to sustain a pure list at a pluralistic presence in
pure list at a pluralistic presence in
pure list at a pluralistic presence in the Senate a presence that they still
the Senate a presence that they still
the Senate a presence that they still maintain today and it wasn’t until 2010
maintain today and it wasn’t until 2010
maintain today and it wasn’t until 2010 that women got the first bathroom off
that women got the first bathroom off
that women got the first bathroom off the floor of the House of
the floor of the House of
the floor of the House of Representatives which is kind of
Representatives which is kind of
Representatives which is kind of stunning we’re on the cusp of a
stunning we’re on the cusp of a
stunning we’re on the cusp of a potential another sea change here now
potential another sea change here now
potential another sea change here now and I think it’s amazing to come back
and I think it’s amazing to come back
and I think it’s amazing to come back and let’s think about critical mass we
and let’s think about critical mass we
and let’s think about critical mass we think about the world stage the most
think about the world stage the most
think about the world stage the most powerful organization in the world is
powerful organization in the world is
powerful organization in the world is arguably the g7 the group of seven it’s
arguably the g7 the group of seven it’s
arguably the g7 the group of seven it’s the group of seven industrialized
the group of seven industrialized
the group of seven industrialized nations in the world and they
nations in the world and they
nations in the world and they are the Western most powerful economies
are the Western most powerful economies
are the Western most powerful economies and if Hillary Clinton is elected you
and if Hillary Clinton is elected you
and if Hillary Clinton is elected you look ahead and you look at the next
look ahead and you look at the next
look ahead and you look at the next meeting of the g7 and you have in the UK
meeting of the g7 and you have in the UK
meeting of the g7 and you have in the UK Teresa may you have from Germany Angela
Teresa may you have from Germany Angela
Teresa may you have from Germany Angela Merkel and you have Hillary Clinton
Merkel and you have Hillary Clinton
Merkel and you have Hillary Clinton potentially from the United States and
potentially from the United States and
potentially from the United States and that makes critical mass in the g7 and
that makes critical mass in the g7 and
that makes critical mass in the g7 and we will begin to answer the question
we will begin to answer the question
we will begin to answer the question what happens when women rule the world
what happens when women rule the world
what happens when women rule the world thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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