Watch: Hillary Clinton tells Auckland audience holding women to 'impossibly high standards needs to change'

May 7, 2018

Ms Clinton says the “minute a women (in the US) stands up and says ‘Id like to lead’ everything changes”

Hillary Clinton has spoken out against what she says are the "impossibly high standards" women who aspire to leadership roles are held to.

Speaking to an audience in Auckland tonight, Ms Clinton - who ran against Donald Trump in the 2016 US Presidential election quoted recent comments from former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

"A few days ago Michelle Obama pointed out the consequences of holding women to impossibly high standards," Ms Clinton said.

"She (Ms Obama) said: 'If we still have this crazy bar for each other that we don't have for men. If we're not comfortable that a women could be a president then we have to have these conversations with ourselves.'"

"I think she's so right. This is something we have to explore, understand and change."

Earlier Ms Clinton said the more successful women become the less popular they are and women are also seen unfavourably when they advocate for themselves.

"Historically people like me when I'm serving a supporting role …. but the minute a women at least in our country (US) stands up and says 'I'd like a chance to lead' everything changes," Ms Clinton said.  

But Ms Clinton said being a woman in a leadership role "can also be rewarding".

"Just being at the table can bring a perspective that can be overlooked."

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