【Dear Utol (2025): Catfish Episode 46】

It may be Dear Utol (2025): Catfish Episode 46a new year, but Melinda Gates is still committed to using her platform and voice to empower women throughout the world.

The co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and well-known philanthropist kicked off 2018 by writing an op-ed for Time, which was guest edited by Bill Gates, titled, "It's Time for a New Era for Women."

In the article, Gates examines how powerful, women-led movements and organizations are changing the world, and shares why it's crucial we start investing in them.

"The year 2017 has been a painful reminder that when men hold most of the power it’s all too easy for them to abuse it. But the moment of reckoning prompted by the 'Me Too' conversation has also proven that by coming together and speaking in one voice, women can tip the balance," Gates began.

"Thanks to these brave women, men are being held accountable for their actions as never before. It’s easy to dismiss the whispers of one woman. It’s much harder to ignore a movement."

Gates went on to highlight some of the most successful women's movements in the world, which have taken place everywhere from Pakistan and Ethiopia to Indonesia.

"Simply put, women get things done," she wrote.

For that reason, among many others, Gates has a request: invest in women. "If we want to change the world, we should invest in the people who already are. In 2018 that will mean challenging ourselves to do a better job of finding and funding grassroots women’s movements."

In 2018, Gates wants people everywhere to work harder to support and appreciate women, their talents, and their potential. "Right now, less than 2% of global funding for gender issues goes to local women’s organizations," she noted, encouraging people to make raising funds for grassroots women's movements a priority.

Gates explained that women are motivated by personal impact on issues, which is one of the things that makes their efforts so remarkable.

"Women’s organizations help drive progress that is more inclusive and sustainable. What makes their track record even more remarkable is that many local women’s organizations are running on a median budget of just $20,000 a year," she wrote. "Considering their enormous potential to make life better for all of us, I think it’s time we give them a raise."

In 2018 and the coming years, Gates explained she and her husband Bill will work towards investing in women's movements such as Mama Cash and Prospera — international women's funds and networks that work to financially support women, girls, and transgender people.

Gates wrote another op-ed for Time in November on sexual harassment faced by women in the world, sharing that while 2017 was a tough year, the powerful movement that arose from the pain has left her hopeful.