Melinda French Gates is one of the world’s most powerful women and philanthropists, and the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She’s written extensively about her journey to reconcile her Catholic faith with her pro-choice advocacy. Speaking on a recent episode of her podcast The Jamie Kern Lima Show, the 60-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist recounted tales from her incredible journey around the globe. These experiences have deeply influenced her perspective on access to contraceptives and reproductive and women’s health.
Since establishing the foundation in 2000 with her ex-husband Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates has traveled to numerous countries, engaging with women and families in rural communities. Here’s what she’s learned along the way. They amplify the pain experienced by women who cannot access contraceptive methods. Through conversations with residents in villages where such resources are scarce, she learned that many women experience pregnancies that are “too close together,” leading to premature births and significant health risks.
I realized, ‘Wow, I need to actually unlearn some of these things because I can’t square the circle,’ Melinda French Gates spoke candidly about impostor syndrome. She works to bridge the gap between her theoretical beliefs and the lived experiences of women in these marginalized communities. She emphasized the need to space births for the overall health of mothers and children. When families can plan their pregnancies, they are in a better position to care for their children.
Her experiences have made her journey so challenging that she has described it as “almost a crisis of faith.” Yet she’s managed to find some common ground to make her views meet in the middle. The writings of Richard Rohr, a doctrinally progressive Jesuit priest, have further shaped her journey. Melinda French Gates has always been a passionate advocate for “the dignity of existence.” She’s passionate about ensuring that women have the information and the ability to decide what’s right for them and their reproductive lives.
In her speeches and panels discussions like this, she foreshadowed a feeling of obligation that came from being at the foundation. “I felt, given my position at the foundation, I had a responsibility to go voice that and do something about it on the world stage. And it animated my life,” she stated. This dedication has fueled her mission to improve access to contraceptives for women around the world.
Melinda French Gates expressed the urgent call for action in cultures that rob women of their reproductive freedom. “We won’t allow this tool to be given to women,” she remarked, highlighting the systemic barriers that prevent women from accessing essential health resources. She increasingly comes to believe that families will be better off if they have fewer children and advocates for that choice. This would enable them to better care for their families, send their children to school and ultimately fulfill their ambitions.
Reflecting on the testimonials from women she has met during her travels, she noted, “Boy, did it feel right to give voice to what these families and these women were telling me.” Her passion for this cause highlights her commitment to dismantling the inequities that still today exist in accessing reproductive health.