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Part-time work, sexual violence in conflict, graphic novel No Surrender Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Today is day two of an international conference held here in the UK to prevent sexual violence in conflict and Emma Barnett will be talking to Lord Ahmad, who’s the Prime Minister’s special Envoy on this issue. It’s ten years since the conference began and Woman’s Hour will be looking at what progress has been made to date as well as hearing the testimony of Lejla Damon who was born after her mother was raped in the Bosnian conflict of the 1990s. Adopted by a British couple, she is now a campaigner raising awareness about rape as a weapon of war and the fallout for victims. 600,000 people in the UK are actively seeking jobs with part-time hours, most of them women – but just twelve percent of jobs advertised in the UK currently offer part-time hours. Those that do are mostly for low paid jobs. That’s according to new research from social enterprise & flexible working experts Timewise. Emma will be speaking to the co-founder of Timewise, Emma Stewart MBE about the impact this is having on both living standards and businesses as well as hearing from one highly successful working mum who’s desperate for more part time work whilst recovering from bone cancer, but has found it impossible to find anything that reflects her impressive skillset. Sisters Sophie and Scarlett Rickard have brought the suffragette story to life in a new graphic novel called No Surrender. Based on the 1911 novel by the real life suffragette Constance Maud, they hope to make it accessible to a modern audience in a time when protest, and modes of protest, are being debated more than ever in the UK. They tell Emma about their creative process, being women in the world of comics, and living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Ricki Lake talks about latest project. Sexual abuse in the navy. China protests. Camilla's Squad. Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

Ricki Lake is widely known for her American talk show in the '90s and early 2000s. She's an actor and a producer as well as an independent filmmaker. Emma talks to her about her role as Executive Producer, on a new documentary "The Business of Birth Control" which looks at the complex relationship between hormonal birth control and women's health and liberation.

The head of the Royal Navy has defended the way the service handles allegations of rape and sexual abuse. Admiral Sir Ben Key says the Navy had changed how it investigates complaints. His defence follows a very memorable interview earlier this month with a woman we called 'Catherine' . She called for the complaints process to be made independent of the Royal Navy. He gave his response on yesterday's Broadcasting House.

Over the weekend we learned that Camilla, the Queen Consort, has created a squad of her own. Rather than opting for ladies-in-waiting, she will instead be helped by "Queen's companions". Camilla has picked six of her closest friends and their role will include helping her at public events. We hear from journalist Claire Cohen, author of 'BFF? The Truth about Female Friendship.'

Extraordinary protests in China grew over the weekend as people in cities across the country demonstrate their frustration at President Xi Jinping’s zero-covid approach, with some people calling for him to resign. Noticeable among these protestors are the numbers of young women, being called the ‘prominent voices’ of the action. Yuan Ren is a Chinese journalist and former editor of Time Out Beijing, and Isabel Hilton is the founder of China Dialogue, a non-profit independent organisation that works to promote an understanding of China's challenges,.

Presenter Emma Barnett Producer Beverley Purcell

Weekend Woman’s Hour: stalking, long-term relationships and why they fail, women boxers, the clitoris, Andrea Riseborough Nov 26, 2022

Show notes

To mark ten years since stalking became a specific crime in England and Wales, we speak to crime reporter and presenter Isla Traquair. In her day job Isla is used to confronting murderers and travelling to dangerous places but it was in a quiet village in Wiltshire where her stalking ordeal took place. In August this year Isla's neighbour, Jonathan Barrett, was found guilty of stalking. This followed what Isla calls a 7 month period of terror from March to September 2021.

99% of all boxers are men and it remains a male dominated sport in all areas. We speak to Susannah Schofield OBE who hopes to harness the growing appetite for women’s sport with the recent successes of women’s football and rugby by convincing the BBC to show women's boxing.

New research shows the clitoris actually has over 10,000 nerve endings. 20% more than the previously suggested amount from studies on cows in the 1970s. Does this increase in number matter? We ask science journalist Rachel E Gross and Dr Brooke Vandermolen, an NHS Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar.

Why is it that we so often struggle or fail in long term relationships? We’re talking instead about unremarkable everyday behaviours that help to end a marriage. We speak to couples therapist, Joanna Harrison and relationship coach, Matthew Fray.

The actor Andrea Riseborough tells us about playing Mrs Wormwood in the new Matilda the Musical film. The film is an adaptation of Tim Minchin’s hit West End musical of the same name. It stars Emma Thompson as Mrs Trunchbull, Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey and Stephen Graham as Mr Wormwood. She talks about playing one of Roald Dahl’s most famous characters and her life off camera, meeting Patti Smith for the first time.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Surya Elango Editor: Emma Pearce

Women Boxers, Naming Sexual Predators, Fathers & Daughters, Sexual Health over 65 Nov 25, 2022

Show notes

The comedian Katherine Ryan has been in the news this week after she spoke out on a recent documentary with Louis Theroux about confronting an alleged sexual predator while making a tv show. She says this ‘star’ has sexually assaulted women she knows and despite it being an ‘open secret’ in the industry no one has managed to nail him down because he has ‘very good lawyers’. In the documentary she refuses to name the alleged sexual predator and then was called out on this on social media. But what is there to gain for women who name sexual predators in this way?

Comedian Grace Campbell and Psychologist Dr Holi Rubin discuss the complexities of father and daughter relationships with Anita off the back of a new film Aftersun. It stars Paul Mescal, is directed by Charlotte Wells and has been applauded for the way it presents the bond between a father and daughter.

Last month women’s boxing made history when Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall fought in front of a sell-out crowd at the 02 arena to become the World Middleweight Champion. Not only was it the first-ever all female card in the UK but also the first time that two female boxers headlined at a major British venue. Despite this these developments 99% of all boxers are men and it remains a male dominated sport in all areas. One woman trying to change this is Susannah Schofield OBE. With her longstanding career in business and coaching she is using her knowledge, skills, and experience to ensure that women boxers get the same opportunities as their male counterparts, through her organisation championing female boxers. She hopes to harness the growing appetite for women’s sport with the recent successes of women’s football and rugby by convincing the BBC to show women's boxing.

A recent report by the Local Government Association said “the largest proportional increase in gonorrhoea and chlamydia was seen in people aged over 65” leading up to the pandemic. But why are older people so often left out of the conversation about sexual health? Anita Rani is joined by Elaine Kingett, 70, who found herself widowed and having to buy condoms for the first time in her 50s and Professor Kaye Wellings, who is currently working on the next action plan on older adults and sexual health for the government.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Interviewed Guest: Harriet Johnson Interviewed Guest: Polly Vernon Interviewed Guest: Grace Campbell Interviewed Guest: Dr Holi Rubin Interviewed Guest: Susannah Schofield Interviewed Guest: Elaine Kingett Interviewed Guest: Prof Kaye Wellings

Lady Glenconner, Ukraine, Clever girls, The Clitoris Nov 24, 2022

Show notes

Lady Glenconner, Anne Tennant, the eldest child of the fifth Earl of Leicester, was lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret for three decades. She says her mother brought her up to cope with a fundamental truth of her class and time: women must put up and shut up, and so had been taught to smile through life in high society despite the brutality of a husband who left her deaf in one ear. After the success of her first memoir three years ago a second has just been published. Joining Emma live in the studio she explains why she was compelled to write Whatever Next? Lessons From An Unexpected Life.

President Zelensky has accused Russia of "crimes against humanity" after a new missile barrage caused blackouts across Ukraine. Yesterday we heard of a two day old baby dying when a maternity unit was bombed in the southern Zaporizhia region. How are these developments affecting women and girls? Emma hears from Jess Parker, BBC Correspondent in Ukraine at the moment. This Saturday, the Ukrainian Institute in London, alongside other organisations, have organised an event to discuss sexual violence in the war in Ukraine. Emma talks to one of the speakers, Anna Kvit, a research fellow at University College London looking into women in war and their response to war.

With the release of Matilda the Musical in cinemas this week, Emma Barnett speaks to author and podcaster Daisy Buchanan and QI Elf and writer Anne Miller about being so-called 'girly swots' at school and how it has shaped them in adulthood.

You may have heard that the clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings, but that number comes from a 1970s study on cows. New research shows the clitoris actually has over 10,000 nerve endings. Does this increase in number matter? Emma asks science journalist Rachel E Gross and Dr Brooke Vandermolen, an NHS Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar.

Long-term relationships and why they fail, football and politics, Brain of Britain, Susan Seidelman Nov 24, 2022

Show notes

Some may say that football and politics don't go together but anyone watching yesterday's matches might think otherwise. The Iranian team declined to sing their anthem & Wales fans showed their support for LGBTQ+ rights last night by wearing rainbow bucket hats. So how useful are these shows of solidarity? Laura McAllister, the ex-Wales footballer & Beth Fisher, freelance sports reporter & ambassador for the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall discuss. Why is it that we so often struggle or fail in long term relationships? We’re not talking about major marriage infractions such as infidelity, domestic abuse or gambling away the family’s savings. We’re talking instead about unremarkable everyday behaviours that help to end a marriage. Guests are Joanna Harrison, author of Five Arguments All Couples (Need to) Have and why the washing up matters and Matthew Fray, author of This is how your marriage ends: A hopeful approach to saving relationships. Yesterday Radio 4’s Brain of Britain saw its first ever all-women final. 2022 champion Sarah Trevarthen joins Emma Barnett to discuss her victory, as well as her experiences undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer while taking part in the show. Becky Howell, the co-founder of feminist quiz zine Quizogyny, also joins us to talk about the rise of women in quizzing. Susan Seidelman is an American film director, whose ground-breaking feature film Desperately Seeking Susan is considered one of the 100 greatest films directed by a woman. Susan joins Emma to discuss why the film is still relevant today, how she witnessed Madonna’s rise to success and her long career as a female director.

Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Andrea Riseborough, Egg Freezing, Women in Qatar Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

The actor Andrea Riseborough has taken on roles ranging from Margaret Thatcher to Stalin’s daughter. But now she’s playing someone quite different: Mrs Wormwood in the new Matilda the Musical film, which will be released in cinemas on Friday 25th November. The film is an adaptation of Tim Minchin’s hit West End musical of the same name, and stars Emma Thompson as Mrs Trunchbull and Stephen Graham as Mr Wormwood. Andrea joins Emma Barnett to discuss what it’s like capturing the camp, comedy, and darkness of one of Roald Dahl’s most famous and reviled characters.

As Jennifer Aniston speaks publicly for the first time about her fertility struggles and says she wishes someone had told her to “Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favour”, Emma talks to one woman who’s put her future on ice, and a lecturer in Women’s Health from UCL who’s warning against women viewing egg freezing as a guaranteed insurance policy.

In the run up to the men’s football World Cup 2022 being held in Qatar, it was the England women's footballers who were the most outspoken about staging the tournament in a country which outlaws being gay and where women’s rights are severely curtailed. On Woman’s Hour yesterday we asked if there was any point in further protests as fans now clamour to enjoy the game – today we ask Rothna Begum, Senior Women’s Rights Researcher at Human Rights Watch, how the tournament is affecting women in Qatar.

Tampax has been causing quite a stir on social media after a Tweet they posted went viral. Putting its own spin on the popular 'You are in their DMs' memes about men approaching women flirtatiously on social media, the tampon company explicitly referenced how its products are used by women in a tweet on Monday, writing, 'You're in their DMs. We're in them. We are not the same'. The post has racked up more than 360,000 likes and 73,600 retweets proving that there were plenty of fans, but critics accused the brand of going too far and calling people to #BoycottTampax. Emma speaks to Chella Quint, the founder of Period Positive, a menstruation education advisor, comic and author of the books 'Be Period Positive' and 'Own Your Period'.

Ten Years of Stalking Laws: 'Changing attitudes is harder than changing the law' Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

To mark ten years since stalking became a specific crime in England and Wales Woman's Hour has a special programme looking at what’s changed in that time. We have exclusive data on how this is being dealt with by police. The BBC's Gemma Dunstan joins Emma Barnett in the studio to go through the findings.

One question we wanted to answer is what efforts have been made to get to the crux of the problem; to stop stalkers from stalking. Woman's Hour were granted extremely rare access to one of the three specialist stalking units around the UK. These units brings together police, psychologists, probation staff and victim advocates to decide the best steps to take to minimise the risk of stalking incidents. Emma Barnett visited the London Unit which has been in operation for 4 years. We are joined by the crime reporter, presenter and podcast host Isla Traquair. In her day job Isla is used to confronting murderers and travelling to dangerous places but it was in a quiet village in Wiltshire where her stalking ordeal took place. In August this year Isla's neighbour, Jonathan Barrett, was found guilty of stalking. This followed what Isla calls a 7 month period of terror from March to September 2021, she joins Emma in the studio.

How are police dealing with a huge rise in the number of stalking cases? Emma puts this question and others to to Paul Mills, Deputy Chief Constable for Wiltshire Police. He is also the National Police Chief's Council lead for Stalking and Harassment.

Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Weekend Woman's Hour: BBC 100, Auntie Beeb with Mel Giedroyc, Incels, Women in Space Nov 19, 2022

Show notes

Monday marked 100 years since the BBC began broadcasting on radio. To celebrate that centenary, we commissioned a poem by Kim Moore and created a soundscape to show how much women’s lives, and the noises that surround them, have changed - using BBC archive from the 1920s right through to the present day.

Why did the BBC get its nickname ‘Auntie’? And what kind of aunt would she be? We discuss with television presenter and comedian Mel Giedroyc and historian of the BBC, Professor Jean Seaton.

‘The Secret World of Incels’ is a Channel 4 documentary that gives a window into the lives of Incels and explores what makes them engage with these misogynist online forums that have led to some horrific acts of violence. We discuss with its presenter Ben Zand and Dr Kaitlyn Regehr.

The Internet Watch Foundation has been tracking the increasing trend of perpetrators grooming children online and coercing them into sexually abusing themselves on camera. The foundation has recognised a lot of what they are seeing as Category A, the most severe kind of sexual abuse, due to it including penetration with an object. A snapshot study out yesterday looks into the objects being used, and how they are everyday domestic items that can be found in the household. We hear from Susie Hargreaves, CEO of the IWF, and Vicki Green, CEO of the Marie Collins Foundation. The story contains content that some listeners may find distressing.

What does the Artemis moon mission mean for women? We speak to Llbby Jackson from the UK Space Agency.

The Big Swing is the world’s first double female-fronted big band. It is led by jazz musicians Georgina Jackson and Emma Smith who aim to elevate female visibility in the big band world. They join us in the studio for a special performance.

Jill Goldston, Internet Watch Foundation report, Getaway Girls in Leeds, Cash for Babies Scandal Nov 18, 2022

Show notes

The Internet Watch Foundation has been tracking the increasing trend of perpetrators grooming children online and coercing them into sexually abusing themselves on camera. The foundation has recognised a lot of what they are seeing as Category A, the most severe kind of sexual abuse, due to it including penetration with an object. Some of the child victims of this online sexual abuse are as young as 7 years old. For the first time, a snapshot study out today looks into the objects being used, and how they are everyday domestic items that can be found in the household. We hear from Susie Hargreaves, CEO of the Internet Watch Foundation, and CEO of the Marie Collins Foundation, which supports child victims of online abuse, Vicki Green. The story contains content that some listeners may find distressing.

She's been on screen in nearly 2,000 different film and TV appearances and yet she may have completely escaped your notice. Now the woman thought to be Britain's most prolific extra - Jill Goldston - has become the actual star of a short film called "Jill, Uncredited". She joins Anita in the studio to talk about her life lived just out of focus behind some of the world's biggest movie stars.

It's Children in Need tonight so we thought we'd look at one of the projects it funds. Getaway Girls is a charity which first opened its doors to women and girls in Leeds 35 years ago initially offering girls a safe space to go to make friends and learn new skills to empower them and help grow their confidence. Over the years it has worked to support girls who have experienced difficulties at home from domestic violence, exploitation or sexual abuse to newly arrived refugees. Getaway Girls has received funding from BBC Children in Need since 2010 and this year in partnership with BBC Radio 2 it has a new home thanks to the DIY SOS the Big Build team. Alia Nessa, Operations Manager at Getaway Girls talks about the project.

We speak to Judith Kilshaw who was once seen as Britain’s ‘most hated woman'. She caused outrage internationally after she and her husband paid a fee to adopt twin babies in the US. The case led to a change in UK adoption law and now she is speaking out in a new documentary which tells the stories of the three mothers involved. Naomi Angell, head of Adoption, Surrogacy and fertility law unit at Osbornes Law explains how the legal situation has changed.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Interviewed Guest: Susie Hargreaves Interviewed Guest: Vicki Green Interviewed Guest: Jill Goldston Interviewed Guest: Alia Nessa Interviewed Guest: Judith Kilshaw Interviewed Guest: Naomi Angell

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