To the Contrary Season 21 Episode 9 May 18, 2012

To the Contrary is a weekly news and talk show that aims to provide a forum for women to discuss issues ranging from politics to social justice. In season 21 episode 9, which aired on May 18, 2012, the panelists tackled a variety of topics that were top of mind at that time.

First up was a discussion on the controversy surrounding the Affordable Care Act's birth control mandate, which required most employers to provide insurance coverage for contraception. There was a lot of debate happening at the time about whether this mandate constituted an infringement on religious freedom. The panelists weighed in on both sides of this issue, with some arguing that access to birth control was a matter of women's health and autonomy, while others claimed that requiring religious employers to cover contraception violated their beliefs.

The show also touched on the 2012 presidential election, which was heating up at this point in the year. Given that it was going to be the first presidential election since the meteoric rise of the Tea Party, there was a lot of speculation about what kind of impact the movement would have on both the Republican and Democratic parties. The panelists discussed this dynamic, as well as issues like the economy, health care reform, and foreign policy that were shaping the race.

Another topic covered on To the Contrary that week was the "pinkwashing" controversy that was bubbling up in the wake of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Some critics had begun to argue that the commercialization of breast cancer awareness was causing harm by making it harder to access objective information about the disease, as well as by putting too much emphasis on mammography and not enough on prevention. The panelists parsed these arguments and sought to shed light on how best to support women with breast cancer.

Finally, the show turned to a segment that focused on the issue of sex trafficking in the US and around the world. Statistics at the time showed that hundreds of thousands of women and girls were being trafficked each year, often for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The panelists discussed ways to address sex trafficking, whether through law enforcement efforts, public awareness campaigns, or changes in policy.

Overall, season 21 episode 9 of To the Contrary was a wide-ranging discussion that touched on a variety of issues that were important to women in the US and beyond. By bringing together diverse perspectives and engaging in thoughtful dialogue, the show provided a valuable platform for viewers to consider complex issues and form their own opinions.