Meghan Markle Goes Into Detail Why Paid Leave Is A Humanitarian Issue

Meghan Markle spoke at New York Times DealBook summit on Tuesday. The Duchess of Sussex participated in a 30 minute panel with Andrew Sorkin, who edits DealBook, the Times’ financial newsletter and Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based investment company.

The Duchess of Sussex used some of her time on the panel to advocate for paid leave for all, which she says is a “humanitarian issue”. This comes three weeks after she stepped outside royal protocol with a letter to Congress asking them to consider introducing paid family leave for all Americans.

Markle brings up the Royal family and how the United States of America are one of the only countries in the world that doesn’t offer paid family leave policy among nations in an organization made up of the largest economies called the OECD.

“My husband has always said that with great privilege comes great responsibility and before I had any privilege I always stood up for what was right. I’ve been away from the U.S. for a long time, I was in Canada for seven years and then I went to the U.K. I have come back and I am a mother of two.”

“The U.S. is one of only six countries in the world that did not offer any form of paid national level. I said, “Let me put pen to paper and make some phone calls.” To me it seems very logical and obvious to do,” she said.

“I honestly don’t see this as a political issue. There is a precedent in my husband’s family, the royal family, for not getting involved in politics. From my point of view, this is a humanitarian issue.”

https://twitter.com/sussexsquadpod1/status/1458159799477080069?s=21

The conversation got deeper when Meghan Markle spoke about how society has a problem with women being ambitious.

Meghan: “Why is it culturally we are equipping girls and women to think that if you are ambitious there’s something negative about that.”#MeghanMarkle #DealBook pic.twitter.com/E53TZ7c3uD

— COWBOY DANI 𐚁 (@ArchLiliHazMeg) November 9, 2021

During the session there was a joyful moment when Markle revealed she uses discount promo codes for shopping online and that it gave her a sense of pride and value.

I felt this…I deadass will only buy a meal online unless I see a deal or promo code. 😩😂 #MeghanMarkle pic.twitter.com/s8svonlEm0

— BLACKLIVESMATTER (@Jasamgurlie) November 9, 2021