CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, AN OLYMPIC DOCTOR GOES TO JAIL FOR ABUSING MORE THAN 150 ATHLETES.

THEN, ARE WOMEN VOTERS JUST AS MOTIVATED AS THEY WERE A YEAR AGO?

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: BIRTHRIGHT, A WAR STORY.

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

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

UP FIRST, THIS MUST STOP.••.

THAT WAS THE MESSAGE FROM A JUDGE AS SHE SENTENCED THE FORMER TEAM USA AND MICHIGAN STATE GYMNASTIC DOCTOR LARRY NASSAR FOR SEXUAL ABUSE.

NASSAR WILL SERVE BETWEEN 40 AND 175 YEARS IN PRISON AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL.

HE'S ALREADY SERVING A 60-YEAR FEDERAL SENTENCE FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY POSSESSION.

BEFORE SENTENCING, ONE BY ONE MORE THAN 150 SURVIVORS TESTIFIED IN COURT RECOUNTING HORRIFYING STORIES OF NASSAR SEXUALLY ABUSING THEM.

PEOPLE ARE WONDERING HOW THE ABUSE WENT ON SO LONG.

A DETROIT NEWS INVESTIGATION FOUND AT LEAST 14 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED REPORTS OF ABUSE BY NASSAR BUT A UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATION CLEARED HIM.

NASSAR ALSO WORKED FOR THE USA GYMNASTICS TEAM FOR 11 YEARS.

HE WAS FIRED IN 2016.

EARLIER THIS WEEK THE TEAM ANNOUNCED THREE BOARD MEMBERS RESIGNED OVER THE NASSAR CASE.

SO CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON, FIRST WE HAVE HOLLYWOOD AND JOURNALISM AND MEDIA AND THEN POLITICS AND NOW OLYMPIC SPORES.

WHEN WOMEN COME OUT SPUBLY WITH CHARGES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT WILL THEY NOW GET THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT?

>> SURE.

BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE GONE FROM #METOO TO US, TOO.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO SEE NEXT IS WHERE SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAS NOT GONE AND THAT IS TO THE EVERYDAY WOMAN AND THE EVERYDAY WORKPLACE.

>> I THINK THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT IS LEANING TOWARDS WOMEN AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

WITH THAT COMES A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL.

>> HILLARY?

>> LOOK, FIRST, WE JUST HAVE TO CELEBRATE THE BRAVERY OF THESE YOUNG WOMEN WHO TESTIFIED IN THAT COURT.

THESE THINGS A LOT OF THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT THIS YEAR WAS ABOUT KIDS, ADULT WOMEN BUT THESE WERE CHILDREN REALLY.

AND THAT WAS JUST AN AMAZING THING TO WATCH.

>> I AGREE.

I THINK WOMEN WILL SEE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THERE IS A GROUND SWELL GOING ON AND THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP IS MAKING SURE WE BUILD A NATIONAL CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MEN AND THE VICTIMS CAN SPEAK OUT.

>> AND THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW THE HECK DID THIS GO ON?

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAD THE RESIGNATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

A WOMAN WHO SAID SHE WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS AND SHE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE INTEREST OR SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO IT?

HOW COULD A WOMAN SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT ABOUT A SITUATION LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL IT'S HORRIFYING I'VE SPENT A CAREER SAYING THE MORE WOMEN WERE IN CHARGE OF INSTITUTIONS THE LESS THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE WHERE THIS IS A WOMAN AND LET'S KNOW THAT THESE ARE MORE EXCEPTIONS THAN THE RULE, BUT YOU KNOW, ALL I CAN DO IS JUST LIKE LAMENT IT.

SHAME ON HER.

IT IS A WARNING TO EVERY INSTITUTIONAL HEAD.

WOMAN OR MAN.

THAT WHEN THESE ISSUES COME UP, IF YOU ARE NOT TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY YOU ARE OUT.

AND THERE'S JUST NO FORGIVENESS IN THE WORLD ANYMORE AS THERE SHOULDN'T BE.

>> WELL, THAT'S FOR HER, SHAMELESS.

BUT LET'S BE ANALYTICAL HOW HE COULD HAVE LASTED THAT LONG.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN UNCORROBORATED, UNWITNESSED EVENT.

SO IN FACT, WHEN YOU GO AND YOU SAY THIS HAPPENED TO ME, AND OUR SOCIETY USUALLY SAYS SHOW IT OR PROVE IT.

WE ARE LEARNING, BUT ONLY AS SO MANY WOMEN, THIS CASE GIRLS, HAVE COME FORWARD THAT CORROBORATION IN THE NORMAL ACCEPTS OF THE WORD IS NOT -- SENSE OF THE WORD IS NOT WHAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WHEN IT COMES TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

>> JUST ONE CLAIM?

>> NO, NOT JUST ONE CLAIM BECAUSE WE SHOULD NOT THROW OUT DUE PROCESS BUT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR MORE WOMEN TO STEP UP AND THE MORE IT IS THAT YOU WILL BE BELIEVED EVEN IF IT WAS OF IT IS UNWITNESSED.

>> IT SHOWS HOW THERE IS NOBODY THAT WE SHOULD SAY THEY ARE UNTOUCHABLE.

YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE OWE OLYMPIC TEAM AND HARVEY WEINSTEIN, THE MEDIA INDUSTRY, BUT GO TO JOE PATERNO AND THAT WAS NOT WOMEN THAT WAS YOUNG BOYS.

IT SHOWS YOU SOME OF THE FOLKS GET INTO POSITIONS WHERE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY OR PENN STATE UNIVERSITY OR THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OR HOLLYWOOD DOESN'T WANT TO TOUCH THE PERSON UP AT THE TOP.

SOMEHOW THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE GUILTY OF THESE THINGS AND IT SHOWS ANYBODY CAN BE.

AND WE SHOULD HOLD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE.

>> I THINK HILLARY TOUCHED ON IT.

BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LARGER SITUATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GYMNASTICS WE ARE LOOKING AT YOUNG GIRLS AND NOT JUST WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE WHO WORK IN HOLLYWOOD WHERE THERE IS A HARVEY WEINSTEIN SITUATION.

WHAT CONCERNS ME YOU HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU HAVE A COACH YOU HAVE A TRAINER, YOU HAVE A TEACHER, A UNIVERSITY, PARENTS SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO BE PROTECTED TO BE SECURE.

AND WHEN THAT TRUST IS VIE IT LAKED THEN YOU START TO QUESTION ALL THE OTHER THINGS, TOO, WHICH IS YOU'VE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT HOW LONG CAN YOU TRUST IT ANYMORE.

>> WHEN WOMEN SEE BEGIN COLGIFTS NOW THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER PERSON IN THE ROOM.

WHY NOT THE SAME THING FOR DOCTORS TREATING YOUNG CHILDREN?

>> I DON'T -- IF I HAD A CHILD, A GIRL OR BOY THEY WOULD NOT BE GOING TO A DOCTOR'S OFFICE THAT I WAS NOT IN THERE BECAUSE OF STORIES LIKE THIS.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN STANDARDS AND IT IS A GOOD CHANGE.

AND IT STARTED WITH THE MEDIA.

BECAUSE THE MEDIA USED TO NOT BE WILLING TO PRINT THESE STORIES UNLESS THEY HAD A WITNESS.

NOW CORROBORATION MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT MEANS DID YOU TELL SOMEONE ELSE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT?

AND SO THEREFORE NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS LATER IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO CAN SAY YES, I HEARD THAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

AND THE SECOND PIECE IS THERE A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR?

WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE TWO THINGS COMBINED WE YOU HAVE CHARGES THAT STICK AND CHARGES THAT HAVE TO GET TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

THE THING I MOST WORRY ABOUT ARE NOT FAMOUS PEOPLE.

NOT YOU KNOW, BIG SPORTS TEAMS.

I WORRY THE MOST ABOUT WAITRESSES IN THE DINER AND WOMEN IN THE FIELDS AND WOMEN IN PLANTS AND FACTORIES THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TIMES UP IS FOCUSED ON.

AND THAT IS THE HOPEFULLY ALL OF THIS ATTENTION ON THESE FAMOUS CASES HAVE AN IMPACT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THOSE LESS VISIBLE CASES.

>> AND WHAT IS UNIQUE AND I HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH BEING TALKED ABOUT IS THE JUDGE WHO HAS ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WOMEN AS AN ADVOCATE IN SOME CAPACITY TO BE AN ADVOCATE AND A STEP UP AND ALLOW THE WOMEN TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEIR STORY AND FACE THEIR ACCUSER.

AND ALSO, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE MEDIA AND OUR ABILITY AS WOMEN TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AND SHARE IN THEIR PAIN, I THINK IS POWERFUL FOR OTHER WOMEN CHOOSING TO COME FORWARD AND THAT CORROBORATION.

>> FOR A JUDGE TO SAY I'VE JUST SIGNED YOUR DEATH WARRANT WITH THIS SENTENCE THAT WAS MAJOR.

>> AND I WAS ALSO IRSCARED FOR HER BECAUSE I HOPE THIS GUY DOESN'T HAVE ANY MOB CONNECTIONS OUTSIDE -- >> HE LOOKED WOMEN ANDY.

>> IT'S WORTH NOTING WITH ALL THE CELEBRATION WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE AVERAGE WOMAN IN THE WORKPLACE AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS, SISTERS, WILL HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE AVERAGE WAITRESS OR OFFICE WORKER.

I'VE PUT IN A BILL, THAT WOULD HAVE A COMMISSION A NATIONAL COMMISSION.

THEN YOU WOULD ASK EVERYDAY WOMEN -- >> THE COMMISSION WOULD DO WHAT?

>> ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE OF THE UNITED STATES NOT AMONG HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE.

THEN THAT COMMISSION COULD GO TO WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT BUT COULD NOT COME FORWARD FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU WOULD HEAR FROM A WAITRESS YOU WOULD HEAR FROM AN OFFICE WORKER.

UNTIL WE DO THAT THE CELEBRATION IS PREMATURE.

>> THE HOLLYWOOD WOMEN SETUP THE TIME'S UP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO DEFEND THOSE WOMEN WHO DO NOT HAVE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

>> 12,000 COMPLAINTS A YEAR AT THE EEOC.

LET US HEAR FROM THEM.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT TO PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN FILLED THE STREETS FOR ANOTHER WOMEN'S MARCH LAST WEEKEND, AS NEW POLLS SHOW MANY ARE MOTIVATED BY ANTIPATHY TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S POLICIES.

HIS SUPPORT AMONG WOMEN KEEPS SHRINKING, EVEN AMONG WHITE WOMEN - A GROUP HE WON IN 2016.

WOMEN ARE ALSO SET TO RUN FOR OFFICE AT RECORD-HIGH NUMBERS.

THOUSANDS OF WOMEN ARE EITHER RUNNING OR PLANNING TO RUN, AND MOST OF THEM ARE DEMOCRATS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY GAINED FROM WOMEN'S VOTES IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS.

DEMOCRAT RALPH NORTHAM WON THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE WITH WOMEN GIVING HIM A 22 POINT ADVANTAGE.

SO YOU DO A LOT OF CAMPAIGN CONSULTING.

WHY AREN'T AS MANY REPUBLICAN WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AS DEMOCRATS?

>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD QUESTION AND I THINK THE ELECTION CYCLE THAT HAPPENED IN 2016 SHOWED A BLUE WAVE A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC REACTING TO THE PRESIDENCY AND ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE'RE SEEING FEWER WOMEN BUT THERE IS A SIMILAR TYPE OF MOVEMENT AND SPE IN REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT BUT IT IS A REACTION TO HIS PERSONALITY AND GOVERNANCE STYLE AND LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND CONGRESS' LACK OF LEADERSHIP.

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO ARE PRO-CHOICE, PLENTY OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO DO NOT THINK THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE SOMEBODY WHO IS DESCRIBING GRABBING WOMEN'S GENITALS AND BRAGGING ABOUT IT.

SO WHY AREN'T THEY COMING OUT?

>> WE'RE SEEING A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE WOMEN WHO FRANKLY ARE GOING THROUGH THE MINDSET IF IT'S NOT ME THAN WHO?

AND THAT TAKES TIME AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES ON REPUBLICAN SIDE RAISING MONEY.

WE DON'T HAVE A RECRUITMENT ARM THAT IS TELLING EVERY YOUNG WOMAN COME TO WASHINGTON AND RUN FOR OFFICE.

YOU WILL SEE A LEVEL OF QUANTITY WITH DEMOCRATS BUT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS A MORE TARGETED APPROACH AND OPEN SEATS AND WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY AS WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.

>> WHAT ARE LAST WEEKEND'S MARCHS TELL US ABOUT SUSTAINING THE MOVEMENT TO OUT OF TRUMP POLITICAL -- OUST TRUMP AND HIS PARTY IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS?

>> WHAT YOU SAW LAST WEEK WAS VERY, VERY UNUSUAL.

THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON WROTE A BOOK CALLED FROM PROTEST TO POLITICS, THE DAY AFTER TRUMP WAS VIRTUALLY AFTER HE WAS ELECTED PEOPLE CAME OUT FLUSH THEY WERE SO DISGUSTED.

THAT IS THE THING THAT USUALLY GOES AWAY.

NOW WE ARE SEEING FROM PROTESTS THESE WOMEN TALKED ABOUT NOT RUNNING, NOT NOVEMBER, VOTE.

WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT.

I'M SO ENCOURAGED THAT WE CANNOT ONLY GET TRUMP BUT, DARE I THINK, GET THE HOUSE TO TURNOVER AND THE SENATE.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS?

YOU ARE NOT HOPING FOR THAT?

>> NO I'M NOT HOPING FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

I DO NOT DOUBT THAT FOLKS ARE NOT FIRED UP FROM A YEAR AGO BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016 CAN THEY GET MORE PEOPLE TO COME ALONG SIDE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR DEMOCRATS HAD A 13-POINT ADVANTAGE.

BUT THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN DOING WELL.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SAME CONGRESSIONAL POLLS A WEEK AGO THAT ADVANTAGE DROPPED TO 7 POINTS.

AND -- >> THE STOCK MARKET IS DOING GREAT BUT WHAT IS NOT HAPPENING, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT DELIVERING ON JOBS FOR -- >> THAT IS NOT ACCURATE.

>> FOR LOW INCOME WHITES -- >> THIS IS THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR WOMEN IN OVER 17 YEARS.

SINCE 2001.

3.7%.

>> I DO NOT HEAR WOMEN SAYING THERE ARE TONS OF GREAT JOBS.

>> IT IS NOT OK. FIRST OF ALL FEWER JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED THIS PAST YEAR.

HERE IS THE ISSUE, WHICH IS AND REPUBLICAN WOMEN, I THINK ARE GOING TO RUE THE DAY THAT THEY DID NOT STAND UP THIS YEAR.

BECAUSE THE REASON I THINK MORE REPUBLICAN WOMEN ARE NOT RUNNING IS BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO RUN ON THE SAME TICKET AS PAUL RYAN AND HOUSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO FOR A TAX CUT AND ECONOMIC SECURITY BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY IS NOT WORTH THE PRICE.

THE DIVISION, THE RACISM AND THE DISCRIMINATION AND UNDERMINING OF WOMEN'S HEALTH THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

WOMEN CANNOT BE OK BECAUSE THE STOCK MARKET IS DOING BETTER.

THAT IS WHY YOU ARE SEEING THE UNREST AND THE SILENCE OF SO MANY REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO ARE SECRETLY HORRIFIED AND NOT PART OF THE ACTIVE BASE OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> I TALK TO A LOT OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN AND A LOT ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS PRESIDENT AND NOT JUST ON THE ECONOMY.

LET ME GO BACK TO THE TAKING OUT FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT AND SAYING REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, SPINNING IT, WE ALL KNOW THE ECONOMY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED.

I DO NOT HAVE THE DOUBT THAT THE WOMEN MARCHING LAST WEEKEND WILL BE MOTIVATED NO MATTER WHERE THE ECONOMY IS.

WHAT WILL PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE DO?

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CNN POLL, IT SAID EVEN 57% OF DEMOCRATS WERE HAPPIER WITH WHERE THE ECONOMY IS TODAY THAN THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST EVEN UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.

WILL THOSE BE MOTIVATED TO COME OUT IN A MID TERM ELECTION?

>> YOU BET.

AND THAT IS WHAT HAS CHANGED.

ALL OF THAT MOTIVATION IS NOT JUST DEMOCRATIC WOMEN.

IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OR THE INDEPENDENTS WHERE YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVEMENT THAT COUNTS AND THAT IS WHY I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE IN TROUBLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE CHARGES WIDESPREAD CHARGES BY THE WOMEN ORGANIZERS WHO TURNED OUT HUNDREDS THE NEW YORK MARCH TOLD ME IT WAS 30 BLOCKS LONG DOWN CENTRAL PARK WEST AND DOWN 6TH AVENUE IN NEW YORK.

AND PEOPLE SAID IT WAS 150,000 PEOPLE.

THERE WAS NO WAY IT WAS 150,000.

>> FAKE NEWS.

>> BUT A LOT OF WOMEN ACTIVISTS WERE COMPLAINING THAT THE MEDIA IGNORED THEM.

WERE THEY RIGHT OR WRONG?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MEDIA -- THE ONE PLACE WHERE I THINK THE MEDIA IS DOING A BAD JOB THEY ARE PICKING ON DONALD TRUMP BUT THE MEDIA IS MOSTLY PICKING ON DONALD TRUMP PICKING ON THE MEDIA.

SO THEY ARE MOSTLY OUTRAGED BY THE ATTACKS ON THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE A LITTLE TOO TOO OUTRAGED ABOUT THE ATTACKS ON COMMUNITIES ON HEALTHCARE, ON OUR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, ON YOU KNOW THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SIX WORLD LEADERS IN DAVOS SAYING WE STILL WANT TO BE IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORDS.

WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT A NUCLEAR WAR.

SO I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A SORT OF A LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FROM THE MEDIA ON THE REAL RESISTANCE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY ARE TREATING IT LIKE IT'S NORMAL AND IT IS NOT NORMAL.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: THIS WEEK MARKS THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROE V. WADE VERDICT.

SINCE HANDED DOWN BY THE SUPREME COURT, STATES HAVE SLOWLY RESTRICTED ABORTION RIGHTS, MAINLY IN RED STATES.

TWO DOCUMENTARIANS HAVE PRODUCED A FILM SHOWING THE IMPACT OF THOSE STATE LAWS ON WOMEN'S LIVES.

>> WE HAVE TO SAY THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.

>> WHO SPEAKS TO THE BABY?

WE'VE BEEN PASSING LAWS IN STATE AFTER STATE AND THEY THINK THEY ARE GOING TO WALTZ IN REPEAL THEM?

>> BIRTH RIGHT, A WAR STORY, IS A FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE LONG WAR ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THAT WAR.

>> FILMMAKER CIVIA TAMARKIN AND LUCHINA FISHER SAY THERE IS A WAR AGAINST WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND IT IS CREATING A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.

THEY EXPLORE ISSUES OF MEDICAL CONSENT SEEN THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN, MIDDLE CLASS AND POOR.

CIVIA TAMARKIN FOUND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF ANTIABORTION LAWS DURING HER RESEARCH.

ONE, IS HOSPITAL POLICIES THAT ALLOW DOCTORS TO PERFORM C SECTIONS WITHOUT THE MOTHER'S CONSENT IF THEY CANNOT PERSUADE HER TO GIVE PERMISSION.

>> PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST SHOCKING STORIES THAT PEOPLE FIND SURPRISING TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR FILM, IS THE STORY OF THE WOMAN WHO WAS WHEELED IN FOR A CAESERIAN SECTION WITHOUT HER WRITTEN PERMISSION.

UNDER THE RATIONALIZATION THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO A CAESERIAN SECTION FOR THE WELL-BEING OF HER UNBORN CHILD.

HOWEVER, SHE WAS GIVEN NO INDICATION THAT THE FETUS WAS IN JEOPARDY.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S DATA ON METHODS OF DELIVERY, 32% OF BIRTHS ARE BY CAESERIAN SECTION BUT THE WHO SAYS THE RATE SHOULD NOT BE HIGHER THAN 10 TO 15%.

CIVIA TAMARKIN EXPLAINS THE RISE IS A SYMPTOM OF A FETUS FIRST MENTALITY.

>> WE ARE NOW LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF THE UNBORN AND THE RIGHTS OF THE MOTHER.

AND THERE IS TENDENCY TO VIEW TODAY THE WOMAN AS AN INCUBATOR.

DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS ARE TAKING THE STEPS OF GOING TO COURT AND SAYING THAT A CAESERIAN SECTION IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FETUS.

>> LUCHINA FISHER NOTES HOW ANTIABORTION LEGISLATION CAN ACTUALLY HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ON WOMEN WHO WANT TO START A FAMILY.

>> ANOTHER STORY THAT TOUCHED ME GREATLY WAS THAT OF THE DEVERS.

THINGS DID NOT GO WELL.

AND AT 22 WEEKS, THEIR CHILD STOPPED DEVELOPING.

THIS WAS A FAMILY WHO WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND INDUCE LABOR SO THAT THEY COULD SAY GOOD-BYE TO THAT CHILD.

AND POSSIBLY START THE PROCESS OF GETTING PREGNANT AGAIN.

THIS HAD HAPPENED TO THEM PREVIOUSLY AND IN THE PREVIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO INDUCE LABOR AND MOVE ON TO GET PREGNANT AGAIN.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, A LAW IN NEBRASKA WHERE THEY LIVE, HAD PASSED, MAKING IT ILLEGAL ABORTION AFTER 20 WEEKS.

>> THE FILMMAKERS WANT THEIR VIEWERS TO LEARN THAT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT CAN AFFECT BOTH SIDES; PRO-LIFE AND PRO-CHOICE.

>> THIS IS A FILM THAT SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL REGARDLESS OF SOMEONE'S VIEW ON ABORTION, REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE OF THE POLITICAL AISLE ONE LEANS.

AND WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT THE RHETORIC, THE PHILOSOPHY AND THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE ANTICHOICE MOVEMENT CAN ENTRAP EVERY WOMAN CAPABLE OF BECOMING PREGNANT.

>> SO, HILLARY ROSS EN, WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE WAY I SEE IT TURNING THE FETUS AND THE MOTHER AGAINST EACH OTHER?

WHICH IS WHAT THE LAWS DO?

>> WELL, I THINK ACTUALLY IF THERE WERE MORE WOMEN IN OFFICE THAT HAD TO MAKE CHOICES THEN WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION.

MEN, I THINK, HAVE TOO LONG HAVE TREATED WOMEN'S HEALTH LIKE IT IS A POLITICAL ISSUE INSTEAD OF A PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL ALL BY BLUE IN THE FACE SAYING THIS.

BUT STAY OUT OF OUR BODIES.

LIKE DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH YOUR OWN.

>> BUT WAIT A SECOND.

>> REGULATIONS CALL FOR THESE THINGS WE DO NOT NEED REGULATIONS AROUND THESE ISSUES.

>> FOR THE LAST 45 YEARS, THE PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT RELIED ON ROE AND AT THE STATE LEVEL ESPECIALLY IN RED STATES THEY ARE GETTING OVERTAKEN BY THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT.

>> IT IS A CHIPPING AWAY AT ROE.

AND A CHIPPING AWAY AS A RIGHT TO PRIVACY THERE.

SO THIS CONSENT UNDERMINING WITH ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION AND LAWS, IS NOTHING MORE THAN ANTIWOMAN AND ANTIFAMILY.

>> MANY PEOPLE WANT TO CHIP AWAY AT ROE BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ABORTION ON DEMAND FOR ALL NINE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY IS WHAT THEY SUPPORT.

MAYBE PEOPLE SUPPORT UP TO THREE MONTHS BUT MOST AMERICANS REGARDLESS OF THE PARTY DO NOT THINK AB.S SHOULD HAPPEN UP UNTIL A BABY IS BORN.

STATES ARE SAYING WE ARE NOT BANNING AORIGINAL BORINGS BUT PUT -- ABORTION BUT PUTTING RESTRICTIONS WHEN THEY CAN OCCUR.

>> BUT THE END GAME IS BANNING ABORTION ENTIRELY.

>> THAT IS THE END GAME FOR SOME.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO SAY WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT AFTER FIVE MONTHS WHEN A BABY CAN FEEL PAIN AND A BABY CAN BE BORN AND LIVE, THAT THEY OUGHT TO HAVE THEIR LIVES TAKEN ESPECIALLY I MEAN WE SAW THE COUPLE THAT WAS SHOWN HERE, THEY HAD A BABY WHO HAD SOMETHING WRONG.

THIS IS HAPPENING FOR PEOPLE WHO DECIDE AT FIVE MONTHS I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE BABY THAT IS WRONG.

AND THAT IS WHY YOU SEE PEOPLE PASSING THE LAWS.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

THAT IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ABORTIONS.

>> IT'S SO TINY IT'S NOT THE REASON.

FOR THIS WAR OF ATTRITION.

AND THAT IS THE WHAT IT IS.

AND IT'S BEEN WORKING.

THIS NOTION IS THE ARGUMENT THAT PEOPLE STARTED OUT WITH RIGHT AFTER ROE V. WADE AND THAT IS NOT HOW THEY WON.

THEY HAVE WON THE ARGUMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PURPOSEFUL AND THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN UP, BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE TO THE STATE LEGISLATURES AND ONLY RECENTLY HAVE THEY INVOKED SCIENCE.

NOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THOSE OF US WHO ARE PRO-CHOICE BETTER TAKE SERIOUSLY.

THESE ARE SCIENCE DENIERS ON EVERYTHING ELSE.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE MOST PROMINENT EXAMPLE BUT HERE THEY HAVE IN FACT EMBRACED SCIENCE AND FOR A REASON THAT WE WOULD ALL AGREE WITH.

THIS COULD LEAD THE COURTS TO CURTAIL ABORTION AND WE HAVE GOT TO THINK THIS MATTER THROUGH INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID WHICH IS THAT THEIR BASIC AIM AND BEGAN WITH WHAT THEY WERE AGAINST THEY HAVE SIMPLY UNDERSTOOD MAYBE THEY CANNOT GET THAT.

ELIMINATE THE WHOLE THING.

>> THE THAT IS NOT WHAT I SAID.

I THINK THE SCIENCE DOES SHOW THIS IS A BABY AND YOU ARE RIGHT, I THINK THE PUBLIC IS HAVING TO COME TO DEAL WITH THAT VERY, VERY FACT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS FOR THIS EDITION.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.