Bustle Exclusive
The activist is furious about the rollback of reproductive rights.
And she wants you to be, too.
Gates was born with a big following.
(She declined to comment on the topic.)
She watched both her parents traverse the globe for theirphilanthropic foundation,fundinglifesaving health and education initiatives.
But one issue resonated most deeply.
Her going into reproductive freedom was what ignited my interests.
In the Gates household, sex ed and abortion were discussed openly but smartphones were restricted.
I got a phone when I was 12 or 13.
Youre using your phone in your room.
Oh, my gosh, I remember getting in trouble for that.
Optimism was definitely something that was pushed around the table at dinner, Gates says.
How can you be thinking optimistically about these things?
(Theyve alreadycollaboratedwith Stella McCartney on a handbag collection.)
Yeah, I mean its a huge amount of pressure.
How did you become so passionate about abortion rights?
Being around the abortion care providers, its hard not to get inspired.
These people work so selflessly all the time.
Now, for a lot of them, their work is outlawed.
And theyre doing everything to help women who need it.
My parents were pretty open about that stuff.
Im the third kid, so Im sure they were more open with me than they were withmy sister.
This issue is not just about abortion.
Its an attack on womens personal freedom and the ability to choose whats right for you.
Having body autonomy is the only way you’re free to do that.
It unlocks financial freedom, educational freedom.
What gives you the courage to speak out so publicly?
So its the most minor thing I can do.
Im angry about the entire situation.
So there actually is a layer of sexism to it.
For me, I just dont read the comment section.
Would it be a deal-breaker if someone you were dating did not share your views?
Are you shocked to see how rights have been dismantled in your lifetime?
Im not shocked because it really is about power.
What role does TikTok play in this fight?
I view social media as a huge tool I can use in my advocacy.
How old were you when you were allowed to start using social media?
But they were pretty good about monitoring my presence online.
You wrote in an essay forVoguethat people need tostay angry.
What do you mean by that?
My fear was that people would get complacent.
This isnt going to be a quick win.
This is going to be a slow burn, long battle.
What can someone reading this do about it?
Get out there and vote.
The abortion issue isnt just about abortion.
Its about having the ability to make decisions about your body with the people you love.
We know that personal freedoms and abortionsdowin elections.
Vote for your freedom.
Vote for the freedom of other women around you.
Vote for the women who dont have access.
Vote for the abortion care providers who are literally risking their lives every day.
Vote, vote, vote.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
