NEW ORLEANS, L.A. — Gretchen Carlson encouraged women to come forward and “take that power back” by highlighting three ways to end workplace sexual harassment Thursday at TEDWomen 2017. Carlson began to advocate for workplace equality and women empowerment after she announced her departure from Fox News and filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes, Fox News CEO, in July 2016. Carlson has appeared on television and has done interviews to promote her new book for workplace equality, “Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back.” A recent Washington Post article reported Carlson was given the opportunity to speak at TEDWomen to “shape and direct an uninterrupted message to women everywhere.” Carlson’s history with sexual harassment began before her time on Fox. In her speech, Carlson talked about her experiences when she started her career as a journalist and when she was crowned Miss America in 1989. She hoped that by telling her stories, women would speak up and share theirs. “Thousands of women started reaching out to me to tell their own stories of pain and agony and shame,” Carlson said. “They told me that I became their voice—they were voiceless.” Carlson defined sexual harassment as being about power, not sex, and as “an epidemic” that does not discriminate. “Before somebody harasses you, they don’t ask you if you’re a Republican or Democrat first. They just do it,” Carlson said. “And this is why we should all care.” For victims of workplace sexual harassment to find their voice and take their power back, Carlson identified three solutions to end sexual harassment: turn bystanders and enablers into allies, change the laws and be fierce. Carlson said that while 98 percent of United States corporations have sexual harassment training policies, an overwhelming amount of bystanders and witnesses do not come forward when they have seen sexual harassment in the workplace. Carlson said it is important to help and protect victims by recognizing these incidents. While it is important to recognize and fight against sexual harassment, it is rare for an employee to win their case. Carlson has been working on Capitol Hill to change the laws of sexual harassment. She wants victims to be able to fight and not go unheard. Carlson encouraged women to be fierce. She wants women to speak up with self-confidence and stand tall to tell the world their stories. Carlson’s investigation of workplace sexual harassment revealed that one in three women are sexually harassed, and 71 percent of these incidents are never reported. Carlson listed many reasons why women choose not to report sexual harassment: being labeled as liars and troublemakers, being demeaned and blacklisted. Many women who reported sexual assault are not working in their initial profession today. “Reporting sexual harassment can be, in many cases, career-ending,” Carlson said. With this being said, Carlson emphasized the importance of speaking up about sexual assault. “I know it’s scary, but let’s do it for our kids. Let’s stop this for the next generations,” Carlson said. Carlson addressed the myths that are associated with sexual harassment and called out President Donald Trump on promoting those stereotypes. “Women bring these claims because they want to be famous and rich. Our own president said that,” Carlson said. Carlson said that now is the time to change sexual harassment in the workplace and more women are saying, “Enough is enough.” “We will be the women we were meant to be,” Carlson said. “And above all, we will always be fierce.” .