The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World

The introduction explains the significance of the book’s title and outlines Melinda Gates’s advocacy work. It begins with a childhood memory: Gates describes being enthralled by space launches, an interest nurtured by her Catholic parents, her father in particular, who was an aerospace engineer. Launch countdowns end in liftoff. Gates associates this thrilling moment with spiritual writer Mark Nepo’s phrase, “moment of lift” (2), which describes a moment of grace or wonder. For more than two decades, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sought to uplift women and inspire others to do the same. Gates outlines a series of issues that restrict women—notably, a lack of access to contraceptives, being denied the right to study or work outside the home, and not having control over their finances. Gates began her women’s advocacy work by promoting family planning. She soon realized that women’s empowerment demands a more comprehensive approach, including the commitment of male allies. Her memoir focuses on her 20 years of philanthropy and the inspirational people she encountered through this work.