‘Paid leave is a humanitarian issue’: Meghan Markle just powerfully spoke out about female economic empowerment

Meghan Markle has opened up about female economic empowerment, highlighting that the US is currently one of six countries in the entire world that doesn’t offer any form of national paid leave.

Last month, the Duchess of Sussex submitted an open letter to the US Congress urging lawmakers to vote in favour of paid family leave. She received criticism for using her royal title in the letter, as the British Royal Family has traditionally stayed out of politics.

According to Royal Family’s official website, “The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matter,” and this is generally observed by the rest of the Royal Family. 

However, in a rare interview with The New York Times DealBook Online Summit, Meghan made the point that paid family leave shouldn’t be considered a political issue. She said, “I don’t see this as a political issue,” before continuing, “Look, there is certainly a precedent amongst my husband’s family and the royal family of not having any involvement in politics but I think […] paid leave, from my standpoint, is a humanitarian issue.” 

Meghan then made the point (via Forbes), “To come back and now be a mother of two and to see that the US 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.

“We have a five-month-old baby, and so it’s a really sensitive [issue] for us […] We have the luxury of being able to have that time – not just for moms but for fathers as well – to be with our newborn.”

The Duchess is no stranger to advocating for causes close to her heart. In her interview, she referenced the fact that when she was just 11, she famously called out a Procter & Gamble commercial for advertising it’s dishwashing soap solely to women.  After she wrote a letter to the company, they changed their slogan from “Women all over America” to “People all over America.”

She said, (via People), “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.

“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 […] There’s a sense of pride that comes from that.”

We guess that’s the Meghan Markle effect for you. 

For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.