Meghan Markle Stands Her Ground About Paid Parental Leave During DealBook Online Summit: It's 'Just A Humanitarian Issue'
Meghan Markle defended her decision to speak out about paid parental leave.
Meghan Markle is sticking up for herself! On Tuesday, November 9, the former actress joined The New York Times DealBook Online Summit, where she spoke out about paid parental leave — something she has been vocal about for the past few weeks.
"I think this is one of those issues that is not red or blue. We can all agree that people need support certainly when they've just had a child," Meghan said during the her conversation with Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments. "Paid leave, from my standpoint, is just a humanitarian issue."
"To come back and now be a mother-of-two and to see that the U.S. is one of only six countries in the entire world that doesn't offer any form of national paid leave just didn't make sense," Meghan, who shares daughter Lilibet and son Archie with Prince Harry, stated.
A few weeks ago, the TV star wrote an open letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
"In June, my husband and I welcomed our second child. Like any parents, we were overjoyed. Like many parents, we were overwhelmed. Like fewer parents, we weren’t confronted with the harsh reality of either spending those first few critical months with our baby or going back to work," she wrote. "We knew we could take her home, and in that vital (and sacred) stage, devote any and everything to our kids and to our family. We knew that by doing so we wouldn’t have to make impossible choices about childcare, work, and medical care that so many have to make every single day."
Then, she went on to call some GOP Senators using her royal title, which did not sit well with many.
However, the 40-year-old is happy with her decision.
"Even before I had any sort of privilege in my life — when my life and my lifestyle were very, very different — I always stood up for what was right," she said.
"I remember the feeling of knowing that I had done something, I had invested in myself and done this labor and been compensated for it," she continued, referring to her scrunchie business which she started when she was younger. "There's a sense of pride that comes from that."
