Philanthropist Melinda Gates affirms, in an exclusive interview with Sonia Mabrouk on Europe 1, that women must be placed "at the center of the agenda" for "a good economic recovery" in the face of the Covid crisis.
In this interview, she reveals her vision of feminism and her actions to improve the lives of women around the world.
INTERVIEW
Place of women, health crisis, economic recovery ... In an exclusive interview given to Sonia Mabrouk for Europe 1, the co-president of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation delivers her vision of the world of tomorrow.
Despite the health and economic crisis of Covid-19, Melinda Gates is optimistic.
"I am however realistic. I see what is happening. I see that there is more and more famine, more poverty in the world. Yet I remain optimistic. We have never seen the development of a vaccine in a few months. We were able to come together. The whole scientific community and the whole world decided that we had to think of all the citizens on Earth, not just the rich countries, "said the philanthropist.
"We will get there. But I do not believe that 2021 marks the end of the eradication of the pandemic. I believe that it will take two or three years, but we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel", insists- she does.
And according to her, women will have a leading role to play.
They even already have it.
"They are the ones who are on the front line"
Melinda Gates is indeed happy about one thing.
"Governments now understand that we will not achieve a good economic recovery if we do not put women at the center of the agenda," she said at the microphone of Europe 1. For her, women "already play a crucial role" on a daily basis in the pandemic.
"It is they who are on the front line, who provide care for the elderly, their sick relatives or their children," she continues.
It is for this reason that women exercise power differently from men, according to the philanthropist.
"They have this more holistic view of society. A man often just goes to work and educates himself without taking care of others," she explains.
Before giving the examples of the management of the crisis by Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany or by Prime Minister Jacinda Arden in New Zealand.
They "really take their responsibilities," says Melinda Gates.
Take care of yourself to be able to "rise"
Mélinda Gates is then convinced: women and their children must be in good health in order to be able to "rise".
This is what she tries to improve through the actions of her foundation.
"Women have to take charge of their health and ensure that their children grow up healthy. And only then can they go to take courses, trainings to hope to occupy interesting positions. in society, "she assures us.
Women must therefore be able to free themselves from this burden in order to be able to be fully involved in exiting the economic crisis.
They also need to be able to "set goals and assert their authority throughout life," adds Melinda Gates.
For her, "this is feminism".
The full interview can be found here or in the video illustrating this article.