THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, YOUNG WOMEN CANDIDATES AND VOTERS AND THEIR INFLUENCE IN 2016.

THEN SHOULD WOMEN HAVE TO REGISTER FOR THE DRAFT?

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: ON THIS SUPERBOWL WEEKEND WE ASK CAN A FEMINIST BE A FOOTBALL FANATIC?

[♪♪♪] HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

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

UP FIRST, YOUNG WOMEN.

AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BATTLE IT OUT IN ADVANCE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY MILLENIALS ARE PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE ESPECIALLY ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THE NON-PARTISAN WOMEN UNDER FORTY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE WANTS TO LEVERAGE THE MOMENTUM.

WUFPAC HELD ITS ELECTION YEAR KICK OFF CALLING ON MORE YOUNG WOMEN TO GET POLITICALLY INVOLVED.

>> THERE ARE MILLIONS AND MILLION AND MILLIONS OF US FORTY AND UNDER AND WE HAVE SEVEN REPRESENTING OUR VOICE IN CONGRESS.

AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THIS IF YOU WANT A QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE CANDIDATE, I SEE IT AS AN EXTRA VALUE THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THIS REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WITH MORE FEMALE CANDIDATES AT THE FOREFRONT.

PART OF WUFPAC'S MISSION IS TO GET MORE YOUNG WOMEN INTO CONGRESS SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT THERE ARE MORE WOMEN WHO CAN MAKE UP THE PRESIDENTIAL TICKETS LONGTERM.

>> REPRESENTATIVES GRACE MENG, TULSI GABBARD AND KYRSTEN SINEMA ARE ALL FORTY OR UNDER.

THEY'RE ADVOCATES FOR YOUNG WOMEN SAYING IF YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR ISSUES ADDRESSED YOU HAVE TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS.

AS A VOTER ORGANIZER OR CANDIDATE.

>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHETHER IT IS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OR EVEN FROM LOCAL ELECTIONS, FROM SCHOOL BOARDS TO CITY COUNCILS TO THE STATE LEVELS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN HAVE A VOICE DURING ANY SORT OF DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK AND PARTICIPATE, OTHERWISE WE CAN'T COMPLAIN.

>> PART OF THE REASON IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO VOTE IS SO THAT THEIR VOICE IS HEARD AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS DEBATE ABOUT WHAT WOULD COLLEGE LOOK LIKE, WHAT WOULD YOUR DAD LOOK LIKE, WHEN DO YOU GET TO BUY A HOUSE AND START A FAMILY.

YOU KNOW IF YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T ENGAGED IN THAT DISCUSSION, FOLKS WITHOUT STUDENT DEBT ARE GONNA BE MAKING THAT DECISION FOR THEM.

>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AT THIS JUNCTURE, WHERE YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON ISSUES, EVERYTHING FROM IMMIGRATION, TO NATIONAL SECURITY, TO HEALTHCARE, TO EDUCATION, TO WALL STREET, TO OUR ECONOMY, THAT PEOPLE LISTEN AND ASK VERY DIRECT QUESTIONS OF OUR CANDIDATES ON BOTH TICKETS SO THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE VOTING FOR AND WHAT KIND OF POLICIES THEY WILL REPRESENT IF THEY BECOME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND TAKE THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> HOW WILL IT CHANGE THE COUNTRY AND THE POLITICS OF THIS COUNTRY IF MORE YOUNG WOMEN RUN FOR OFFICE AND VOTE?

>> WE YOUR EGYPTLY NEED EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN ALL LEVELS OF PUBLIC LIFE.

THIS IS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND IT STARTS WITH YOUNG WOMEN.

>> I HOPE IT MEANS WE GET MORE DONE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> I'M ALL ABOUT IT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN CHANGE LEGISLATION AND STOP THE MEN FROM WRITING THE LEGISLATION IS GETTING MORE WOMEN IN THERE.

>> I AGREE.

I THINK WE NEED MORE WOMEN.

I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD CREATE A QUOTA SYSTEM BUT MORE WOMEN IS ALWAYS NECESSARY.

>> I AM SURPRISED YOU AGREE.

MORE YOUNG WOMEN GENERALLY MEANS MORE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN.

AND THEY TEPID TO THINK ON THE WHOLE WAY MORE LIBERALLY THAN OLDER WOMEN?

>> POSSIBLY WE HAVE THE YOUNGEST WOMAN IN CONGRESS IS A REPUBLICAN AND SHE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT REPORT.

>> SHE WAS NOT AT THE EVENT.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.

WE KNOW HOW THIS USUALLY GOES WHENEVER THEY SAY WE NEED MORE WOMEN AND MORE DEMOCRAT WOMEN BECAUSE REPUBLICAN WOMEN GET TREATED DIFFERENTLY AND TREATED POORLY AND SAID THAT THEY ARE TOKE ESPECIALLIES AND BRAIN -- TOKENS AND BRAINWASHED BY MEN AND WHAT THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT IS BEST FOR WOMEN IS WRONG AND THEY ARE ANTI-WOMEN.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET DIVERSE OPINIONS AS WELL AS MORE WOMEN.

>> I WILL DISAGREE WITH THAT, THAT ORGANIZATION WAS STARTED BY A WOMAN WHO IS A DEMOCRAT.

THERE IS NO TEST THEY ARE ENCOURAGING ALL WOMEN.

SHE WORKED FOR -- SHE WORKED FOR HILLARY CLINTON AT ONE POINT.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE -- SAFE ASSUMPTION TO MAKE I'M HEARING.

AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW HONESTLY AS SOMEONE WHO STRONGLY IDENTIFIES AS A PROGRESSIVE AND A FEMINIST, LOOKING RIGHT HERE AT THE TABLE EVERY PERSPECTIVE AT THIS TABLE SHOULD BE RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE AND I BELIEVE THAT IN MY HEART AND SOUL.

AND YOU SEE OFTEN LIBERAL AND PROGRESSIVE WANTING WOMEN OF ALL STRIPES TO TAKE MORE POWER.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN BOTH PARTIES AND BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE.

BUT WE NEED EQUALITY ON BOTH SIDES.

>> OBVIOUSLY WOMEN HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND PROGRESSIVE WOMEN THERE ARE MORE PROGRESSIVE WOMEN AND MORE WHITE MARRIED WOMEN VOTERS BUT THEY ARE MORE YOUNG WHITE AND DIVERSE PROGRESSIVE WOMEN THAN CONSERVATIVE WOMEN.

SO, ON THE OTHER HAND, DID YOU WANT JODY TO RUN FOR THE SENATE IN IOWA?

>> JOANIE -- I BELIEVE IT'S JOANIE.

THE POINT IS THAT YOU KNOW, HER POLICIES ARE ABSOLUTELY HAIN NOWS TOWARD WOMEN.

AND NO I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR JUST PUT A WOMAN IN OFFICE AND THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE EVERYTHING.

BUT THAT SAID EVEN THOUGH I STRONGLY OBJECT TO WHAT THE RIGHT IS DOING, I DO THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN HER DEFEATED BY A PROGRESSIVE WOMAN.

>> ONE THING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THAT WE DO HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ARTICULATING OUR MESSAGES TO WOMEN AND MINORITIES.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE PLENTY OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO WOULD GO INTO OFFICE BUT I THINK THEY DON'T GET THE PROPER ENCOURAGEMENT AS THEY MIGHT GET IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND I THINK YOU COULD SEE MANY, MANY MORE REPUBLICANS DEPENDING HOW REPUBLICANS PLAY OUT THIS ELECTION AND.

IT IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR US.

>> I -- I THINK A LOT OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN DO NOT WANT TO GET IN BECAUSE THEY SEE THE TREATMENT THAT SARA PALIN GETS OR CARLY FIORINA GETS AND THEY ARE CALLED BEING A -- AND THEY MIGHT NOT FRA AT ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY.

>> OR AT ALL.

AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MEN HAVE THOSE SAME VIEWS AND WOMEN THINK A MAN CAN VOTE ON THIS BECAUSE I AGREE WITH WHAT HE SAYS.

YET WE ARE BEING TOLD MEN CAN NEVER HAVE A SAY ON THIS AND IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT THAT IT IS SO DIVISIVE, I CAN SEE WHY WOMEN WOULD NOT WANT TO GET INTO POLITICS.

>> I WOULD NOT WANT TO SAY THEY ARE SCARED OR INTIMIDATED I DO NOT THINK ALL THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN LIKE THE WAY THEIR PARTY IS GOING, EITHER.

BUT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH I MEAN IT'S CONFLICTING THAT IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH OUR VERSION OF FEMINISM YOU WILL BE EXCLUDED BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT TO EXCLUDE WOMEN.

BUT THEN IT'S GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> IT'S NOT JUST AGE IN EITHER PARTY IT IS NOT JUST A PARTY SPLIT WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH BERNIE SANDERS AND HILLARY CLINTON YOU HAVE A HUGE SPLIT BETWEEN THE WAY YOUNGER WOMEN AND OLDER WOMEN ARE SUPPORTING THE CANDIDATES MORE OF THE OLDER ONES GOING TO HILLARY CLINTON AND THE YOUNGER GOING TO BERNIE SANDERS.

IN FACT THERE WAS A "WALL STREET JOURNAL" POLL OUT THIS WEEK THAT SHOWED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, HE HAS 50% OF WOMEN'S VOTES AND SHE HAS 46%.

>> BUT THE OTHER THING IS WITH THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN I'M WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PARTY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SETUP AS AN ANTIWOMAN PARTY.

>> ACCORDING TO YOU.

>> I DO NOT BELIEVE SO IN THE LEAST BUT BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE AND YOUNGER WOMEN BECAUSE YOUNGER WOMEN ARE GOING TO COLLEGE AND INTO A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES SO THEY MIGHT -- OLDER WOMEN MIGHT BE MORE INTO FAMILY ISSUES, SINGLE ISSUES AND YOUNGER WOMEN ARE SEEING MORE OF THE WORLD AND SEEING A BROADER ARRAY.

SO THEY MIGHT GO FOR BERP BERP BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE -- BERNIE SANDERS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE HE IS WITH THEM.

AND OLDER WOMEN MIGHT THINK THAT HILLARY CLINTON IS WITH THEM ON THEIR ISSUES.

>> AND WE HAVE GROWN-UP IN A TIME WHERE WOMEN HAVE MANY, MANY MORE CHOICES.

OLDER WOMEN SEE HILLARY CLINTON AS A SYMBOL.

AND YOUNGER WOMEN HAVE SEEN MANY MORE THINGS HAPPEN, IT DOESN'T MEAN AS MUCH TO THEM.

SO THEY ARE MORE -- >> I WONDER HOW MUCH OF THAT SPLIT HAS TO DO WITH KNOWLEDGE, WHICH OF COURSE YOU GAIN AND EXPERIENCE AS YOU AGE.

WHEN YOU'RE 20 YEARS OLD AND THINK HE IS GOING TO GET ME FREE COLLEGE TUITION.

GREAT I WILL SUPPORT HIM.

AND WHEN YOU ARE 40 AND YOU KNOW THAT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS CONGRESS AND SOME PEOPLE SEE HIM AS LYING JUST TO WOO THE BUY THE VOTES.

IT'S THE WHOLE 1% VERSUS 99%.

THAT IS ALL GREAT BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN THE NEXT 40 YEARS OF THIS POLITICAL CLIMATE.

>> THAT PLAYED OUT BETWEEN SANDERS AND CLINTON AT THE TOWN HALL AS WELL.

WHEN CLINTON SAID YOU MAY NOT PEE WITH ME BUT KNOW I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU.

SHE CANNOT BE THAT SWEEPING ROMANTIC REVOLUTIONARY BECAUSE SHE HAS HAD TOO MUCH EXPERIENCE.

SHE CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT SHE WANT TO HEAR AND BERNIE CAN.

>> BUT HE IS A LOT OLDER.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS THE HE CAN GO WITH THAT.

I FEEL LIKE HILLARY WITH ALL MY EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A 50-YEAR-OLD FILIBUSTER.

ASK YOUR DAUGHTERS TO ASK ME THAT QUESTION.

>> SHE CANNOT GO UP ON CHANGE WITH HER HAIR UNKEMP AND MISMATCHING CLOTHES SHOUTING.

SHE GETS ACCUSED OF SHOUTING BY BERNIE SANDERS HIMSELF.

AND SHE GETS CALLED OUT ON IT LAST NIGHT YOU HAD THE EDITOR OF THE HILL CALLED HER OUT FOR SHOUTING.

WHEN HILLARY SHOUTS SHE LOSES.

HE SAID MEANWHILE SHOUTING IS SEEN AS BERNIE'S STRONGEST ASSET AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A GENDER PHENOMENON THAT SHE IS ENCOUNTERING SEXISM.

FROM POLITICS TO WOMEN IN THE DRAFT.

>> MALE CITIZENS 18-25 MUST REGISTER FOR THE DRAFT.

SHOULD IT BE THE SAME FOR WOMEN?

AT A SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE TOP ARMY AND MARINE BRASS URGED EQUALITY.

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS NOT OFFERED HIS SUPPORT YET INSTEAD CALLING FOR A DEBATE ON THE ISSUE.

THE HEARING WAS HELD TO HEAR ASH CARTER'S CALL TO OPEN ALL MILITARY POSITIONS TO WOMEN.

BUT THE CONTROVERSIAL CHANGE IN THE DRAFT WAS DEBATED THOUGH MEN ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER MILITARY SERVICE BECAME VOLUNTARY IN 1973.

SO IS THIS AN IMPORTANT DEBATE SINCE THERE IS NO DRAFT ANYWAY RIGHT NOW, DOES IT MATTER?

>> WELL, I DO NOT THINK IT MATTERS SINCE THERE IS NO DRAFT BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EQUALITY AND WOMEN CAN DO ANY JOB AS A MAN, THEN, YEAH, THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SIGN UP FOR THE DRAFT.

>> I COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY AGREE.

AND I HOPE THAT IT HAPPENS.

NOT THAT I WANT ANYONE TO BE DRAFTED I SUPPORT THE ALL VOLUNTEER ARMY BUT I DO THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE ARGUMENTS LEVELED AGAINST THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD GIVE WOMEN EQUAL RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS WAS WOMEN ARE GOING TO GET DRAFTED.

I'M ALL IN.

>> I CANNOT SAY THAT I AM.

I WORKED AT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FOR A LONGTIME.

AND I REALLY THINK WOMEN ARE POWERFUL, WONDERFUL CREATURES.

WE ALL ARE.

BUT WE HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES.

AND I DON'T KNOW GIVEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE A DRAFT, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MAKES -- MAYBE IT IS SELFISHLY, I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO WAR.

I WILL BE HONEST.

I'M HAPPY TO WAIVE.

BUT I DO NOT THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

I DON'T.

>> BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO -- FIRST OF ALL, HAVING WORKED AT THE MILITARY AT THE DOD, DID YOU NOT SEE DIFFERENT TREATMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN?

I'VE INTERVIEWED SO MANY FEMALE MILITARY BRASS THAT SAY IF WE ONLY WERE TREATED EQUALLY, WE DON'T GET EQUAL ALL THAT STUFF AND IF YOU DON'T NO PAIN NO GAIN, RIGHT?

>> HERE IS THE THING.

DO YOU CHANGE THAT BY REQUIRING ALL WOMEN TO SIGN UP?

I MEAN, MAYBE PEOPLE ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY IN CORPORATE AMERICA AS WELL.

YOU ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY IN THE MILITARY S THAT JUST A FACTOR OF BEING A DIFFERENT GENDER?

>> I AM ALL FOR IT.

DRAFT THE WOMEN.

WOMEN WILL BE ALL FOR IT.

BUT PLEASE DON'T DRAFT ME.

I BECAME AN AMERICAN TWO YEARS AGO.

>> I'M BEYOND THAT RANGE SO I FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING YOU ALL SHOULD SIGN UP BECAUSE I'M SAFE FROM IT.

>> THAT IS NOT THE POINT.

>> I DON'T SEE IT -- FIRST OF ALL, WOMEN TO GO INTO COMBAT HAVE TO PASS CERTAIN PHYSICAL TESTS.

30% OF THE MEN TRYING TO SIGN UP FOR THE ARMY FLUNK THE PHYSICAL.

AND NOW OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF MEN WHO WOULD STILL GO INTO COMBAT ROLES.

>> IT'S HARD FOR ANYONE TO GO INTO THE MILITARY.

JUST TO TEACH A MAN, MAN, WOMAN, TO MAKE SOMEONE PULL A TRIGGER AND GO INTO THE FIRE REGARDLESS, THAT IS A HARD THING FOR ANY HUMAN BEING TO DO INCLUDING MEN.

HOWEVER, WOMEN CAN VOLUNTEER, I AM HAPPY WITH THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

I AM HAPPY NOT TO HAVE A DRAFT.

AND YEAH, I AM OK. >> WOULD YOU BE OK WITH ABOLISHING THE DRAFT COMPLETELY?

>> I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KNOWING WHERE YOU KNOW, MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE ARE NOT KNOWING WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

SO I AM OK WITH THE SELECTIVE SERVICE BUT IF YOU WANTED TO ABOLISH IT ISN'T FINE.

>> THIS IS ABOUT EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW AND THE MILITARY BECOMES THE PLACE THAT WE START TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

DON'T ASK DON'T TELL IMPACTED A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.

>> HOW MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES HAVE 1.2 MILLION EMPLOYEE -- 1.5 MILLION IN THE SERVICES?

>> BUT IT WAS A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR LGBT RIGHTS FOR GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE WHEN DON'T ASK DON'T TELL WAS ENDED AND THIS COULD BE A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR WOMEN IF WE STOP DISCRIMINATING THEM.

>> DOESN'T -- LET ME GET BACK TO THE PHYSICAL TEST.

IT'S ONE THING TO BE A WOMAN IN THE OFFICE AT THE PENTAGON OR OFFICE JOB, DOESN'T THE FACT THAT THE PHYSICAL LIMIT FACES OF WOMEN COMPARED TO MEN WHICH ARE REAL AND DO EXIST WILL KEEP SO MANY WOMEN OUT OF COMBAT POSITIONS WHERE THE DANGER LIES, WHERE MOST OF THE DANGER LIES NOT ALL OF IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE WOMEN IN JOBS ON BASES IN AFGHANISTAN THAT COULD BE BOMBED ANY MINUTE.

MOST OF THE DANGER STILL LIES IN THE COMBAT POSITIONS THAT WILL NOT SEPARATE OUT ENOUGH WOMEN FOR YOU?

>> HERE IS THE THING, THE COMBAT AREA HAS CHANGED BECAUSE WOMEN WERE KILLED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WHO WERE NOT IN COMBAT POSITIONS.

AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THE MILITARY WARFARE, YOU WON'T NEED PHYSICAL BRUTE POWER AS MUCH AS YOU NEEDED IN VIETNAM OR WORLD WAR II OR CARRYING YOUR BUDDY BECAUSE YOU ARE FLYING DRONES FROM VEGAS AND PLANES AND IT'S TECHNOLOGY.

AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO WHETHER OR NOT WE REALLY WANT FOR THE MILITARY TO BE A SORT OF SOCIAL EXPERIMENT OR IS THE MILITARY ABOUT ACTUALLY CREATING THE BEST DEFENSE AND MAKING THE DECISIONS NECESSARY TO GET THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE ROLES THAT WE NEED TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY.

>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES.

FOOTBALL AND FEMINISM.

WOMEN MAKEUP CLOSE TO HALF OF PRO FOOTBALL FANS.

IT'S TRUE FOR THE NFL AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

BUT AMID DOMESTIC ABUSE SCANDALS AND CONTROVERSIES HOW CAN ADVOCATES RECONCILE BEING FANS OF THE SPORT?

>> DIANE ROBERTS HOLDS A DOCTORATE FROM OXFORD AND TEACHES LITERATURE AT FLORIDA STATE AND HAS BEEN A DIEHARD SEMINOLES FAN SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD.

>> I CAME TO BE OBSESSED WITH AND ADDICTED TO FOOTBALL BECAUSE MY FATHER DIED WHEN I WAS 9, I INHERITED HIS SEASON TICKETS AND MY MOTHER NEEDED A DATE FOR THE GAME AND SHE TOOK ME.

AND I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE GAME BUT THERE WERE ANIMALS AND BANDS AND CHEERLEADERS AND NOISE AND VIOLENCE AND KIDS LOVE VIOLENCE.

AND WHEN I LEARNED THE GAME I LIKED IT.

I FOUND IT FASCINATING.

AND FOR YEARS IT DID NOT DAWN ON ME THERE WAS THE LEAST BIT THAT WAS STRANGE ABOUT FOOTBALL.

>> AS ROBERTS FURTHERED HER EDUCATION SHE CAME TO SEE PROBLEMS IN THE SPORT SHE LOVED.

>> AS A FEMINIST, IT DAWNS ON ME THAT A SPORT WHICH CELEBRATES THE MOST EXTREME GENDER REPRESENTATIONS, FOR ONE THING, AND GENDER ROLES, IS KIND OF DUBIOUS.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AT A FOOTBALL GAME, THE MEN THEY ARE VERY LARGE, THEY ARE EXAGGERATEDLY MALE WITH THE HUGE SHOULDER PADS AND THE TIGHT PANTS AND HELMETS THEY LOOK LIKE GLADIATORS.

AND AND THE WOMEN ARE ON THE SIDELINES CHEERING THEM ON.

AND CHEERLEADERS ARE TINY AND SAYING GO, GO, GO TO THE GUYS EVEN IF THE GUYS ARE FAILURES.

>> ROBERTS WROTE THE BOOK TRIBAL AS AN ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS WITHIN FOOTBALL AND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE WOMEN IN EQUAL NUMBERS TO MEN ENJOY IT.

>> WE ACTUALLY DO IN TALLAHASSEE THINK THE PEOPLE IN GAINESVILLE ARE WEIRD.

THEY ARE EXACTLY LIKE US BUT WE DECIDE THAT THEY ARE WEIRD.

GAINESVILLE, YOU UNDERSTAND, IS AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF AWAY.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY WERE THE SAME INSTITUTION AT ONE POINT THEY SPLIT INTO TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

AND YET WE THINK THEY ARE TOTALLY OPPOSITE.

THIS IS THE HUMAN MADNESS WHERE WE WANT TO SEPARATE OURSELVES INTO TRIBES.

>> THIS TRIBAL MENTALITY CAN LEAD TO FANS EXCUSING CRIMES BY THEIR STAR PLAYERS UP TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND.

>> WE DO PUT UP WITH BAD BEHAVIOR.

CASE IN POINT WAS TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN OUR VERY, VERY GOOD QUARTERBACK, AT FLORIDA STATE, FELLOW JAMEIS WINSTON WHO PLAYS FOR THE TAMPA BAY BUCKS WAS ACCUSED BY A YOUNG WOMAN OF RAPE AND THE WHOLE TOWN REARED UP AND SAID WELL, OBVIOUSLY SHE IS WRONG OR SHE IS LYING OR SHE IS A GOLD-DIGGER BECAUSE OUR SWEET BOY WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AS IF WE ALL KNEW HIM.

NONE OF US KNEW HIM AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE IS GUILTY OF ANYTHING BECAUSE THE POLICE MESSED UP THE INVESTIGATION AND THE UNIVERSITY DRAGGED ITS FEET AND IT WAS REALLY AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

I'M SORRY TO SAY.

THIS HAPPENS IN COLLEGE TOWN AFTER COLLEGE TOWN.

A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS SPECIAL.

AND TENDS TO BE TREATED ACCORDINGLY.

>> IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF ACADEMIC FAVORITISM AND SPORTS STARS.

>> THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT GOES AROUND SOMETIMES THIS IS TRUE OF ALL UNIVERSITIES, ESPECIALLY STATE UNIVERSITIES, TRYING TO GET THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS THROUGH THEIR CLASSES SO THEY DO NOT LOSE THEIR ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY.

>> WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS HOW CAN A HIGHLY EDUCATED FEMINIST REMAIN A FOOTBALL FAN?

>> I'M LIVING WITH THE CONTRADICTION.

I THINK HUMAN BEING BUILDING ARE PARADOXICAL WE CAN CARRY CONTRADICTORY FEELINGS.

WE CAN EVEN LOVE THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOOD FOR US.

WE CAN ENJOY THINGS THAT WE KNOW BETTER ABOUT.

>> SO, DO YOU KNOW BETTER OR NOT?

>> I HAVE TO SAY, I AM A BIG REDSKINS FAN AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL WHEN A QUARTERBACK MEETS A WIDE RECEIVER FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

IT'S SORT OF POETRY IN MOTION.

>> TO ME IT'S CONCUSSION IN MOTION.

>> NOW, SEE THAT IS A WHOLE ANOTHER THING.

BUT PEOPLE TAKE RISKS AND I THINK IT'S TERRIBLE THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE RISKING THEIR HEALTH FOR ENTERTAINMENT BUT PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES AND THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY INVOLVED.

AND I LOVE FOOTBALL.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SINCE 1991 SINCE THE REDSKINS WON A SUPER BOWL.

I'M DESPERATE FOR A GOOD GAME.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, AS SOMEONE WHO DOES WATCH FOOTBALL, OFTEN WITH MY DAUGHTER WHO IS A SUPER FAN.

MY TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS A SUPER FAN AND I WAS NOT A FOOTBALL FAN BEFORE I CAME TO FOOTBALL THROUGH MARRIAGE.

BEFORE I WAS A GUACAMOLE FAN I LOVED THE PARTY AND THE FOOD.

BUT I THINK THERE'S EXCITING CHANGES HAPPENING.

YOU HAVE THE BUFFALO BILLS HIRED THE FIRST EVER FULL-TIME COACH THAT SHE IS AN ASSISTANT COACH.

AND THAT IS EXCITING.

SO I THINK ABOUT IT FROM MY LENS AS A MOTHER OF A DAUGHTER THAT SPORTS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CULTURE IT COMES IN NETWORKING AND WORK AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO PARTICIPATE.

THAT SAID THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TROUBLING THINGS ABOUT FOOTBALL AND THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN.

>> I THINK THE RAY RICE INCIDENT WAS HANDLED POORLY AND VERY, I THINK IT'S STILL ONGOING BECAUSE NOW HE IS SUING BECAUSE HE WAS WRONGFULLY.

THERE ARE ISSUES IN THE GAME AND CERTAIN PLAYERS THAT DO BAD THINGS.

BUT OVERALL, I MEAN IT IS A GAME.

LIKE JUST HAVE FUN AND ENJOY SOMETHING.

WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO OVERANALYZE THING FOR GENDER ROLES INSTEAD OF FINDING ENTERTAINMENT IN LIFE FOR A COUPLE HOURS A WEEK?

>> MAN, I COULD ANSWER YOU FOR HALF AN HOUR BY MYSELF.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU CAN ENJOY THE GAME BUT IT'S HARD WHEN YOUR WIDE RECEIVER OR STAR PLAYER IS BEATING UP HIS WIFE IN AN ELEVATOR AND THERE'S VIDEO OF IT.

>> LET ME JUMP IN FOR A SECOND.

THE WHOLE CULTURE IS REPULSIVE TO SOME PEOPLE.

FORGET ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS OR WHETHER THEY RAPED SOMEBODY BUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF WOMEN IN THE HALF NAKED RUNNING AROUND.

>> BUT THE WOMEN CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

>> THAT IS FINE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M GLAD YOU LOVED IT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO LOVE IT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN LOTS OF OTHER WOMEN WHO FIND IT OFFENSIVE.

>> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THE WOMEN WHO DO ENJOY IT IT.

>> NOBODY IS TALK ABOUT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT EXPRESSING OPINIONS THAT IT IS A HORRIBLE MATERIALLISTIC AND SEXIST INFLUENCE ON U.S. SOCIETY.

AND IT IS.

>> ARE WOE ALLOWED TO CLAP.

>> YOU THINK THAT FOOTBALL IS A NET NEGATIVE TO AMERICA?

DO NOT MAKE ME YOUR NEXT COLUMN TOPIC.

YES, THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IT IS A CONTRADICTION IF YOU ARE A FEMINIST AND YOU LOVE FOOTBALL NOT BECAUSE YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ENJOY YOURSELF.

ASIDE FROM THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CULTURE AND THE SEX TRAFFICKING CULTURE.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION FOLLOW ME AND TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[♪♪♪] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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