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On Weekend Woman’s Hour: Kate Bush, Olivia Harrison, Amanda Blanc, Althea Gibson, frozen embryos and women in comedy Jun 25, 2022

Show notes

In a world exclusive, Kate Bush speaks to Emma Barnett about being discovered by a new generation and making it to number 1 in the UK singles charts 44 years after her first chart-topper Wuthering Heights. Running Up That Hill was first released in 1985 and its use in the Netflix hit series Stranger Things has made Kate Bush a social media and streaming sensation.

The physical and emotional challenges of in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, never fade from your memory - whatever the outcome. But what happens when you have been lucky enough to have a child or children and you still have frozen embryos in storage you are sure you will not use? You can donate to another couple in need, to science, let them be discarded or continue to preserve them. Alison Murdoch, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Newcastle University and two women who have faced this join Emma.

The comedians Katherine Ryan and Sara Pascoe have been making headlines in recent weeks following comments they made on Katherine’s new TV show. Both revealed instances when they’ve worked with men they believe to be predatory and despite complaining these men have not been reprimanded. Emma is joined by Kathryn Roberts who quit comedy because of her experiences and also by Chloe Petts who will be performing her show Transience at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Olivia Harrison has penned a book of poetry called "Came the Lightening" to celebrate her husband, George Harrison's life, more than twenty years after his death.. As lead guitarist of The Beatles, his most famous songs included While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and Here Comes the Sun. What prompted her to share her memories in poetry? She tells Emma.

As Wimbledon is set to begin on Monday, we discover the story behind Althea Gibson the first Black woman to win Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. Writer and performer Kemi-Bo Jacobs was so inspired by her that she has written a one-woman play, 'All White Everything But Me' about her. She joins Anita to tell her more.

The Treasury's Women in Finance Charter has published its annual review looking at gender diversity within the financial sector in the UK for 2021. Amanda Blanc is CEO of Aviva, the UK’s leading insurer and leads the Women in Finance Charter and speaks to Emma about the review as well as her experiences of sexism as one of a handful of female FTSE 100 bosses.

Althea Gibson, Bill of Rights, Sexual assault at festivals, Miscarriage & stroke, Viking Festival - Up Helly Aa Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

On Wednesday the government announced plans to create a new ‘Bill of Rights’ to Parliament, that will replace the current Human Rights Act. It argues that these reforms will ‘reinforce freedom of speech, enable us to deport more foreign offenders and better protect the public from dangerous criminals’. But organisations that work with female victims of crime say this is a direct attack on women’s rights. They say the Human Rights Act is an important weapon when it comes to victims and survivors’ ability to seek justice.

Next Monday is the start of this year’s Wimbledon and today we discover the story behind Althea Gibson the first Black woman to win Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. Despite many obstacles her achievements, now more than 60 years ago, led seven-times Wimbledon winner, Serena Williams, to describe her as the ‘most important pioneer for tennis’. Writer and performer Kemi-Bo Jacobs was so inspired by her that she has written a one-woman play about this trailblazer, now on stage at the Alphabetti Theatre in Newcastle.

With festival season well underway, the Association of Independent Festivals has re-launched the Safer Spaces campaign which tackles sexual assault and harassment at festivals. Over 100 festivals have signed up to their charter, and will be rolling out their policies over the summer. Anita Rani is joined by Kate Osler, who is on the non-executive board of the Association of Independent Festivals and is secretary director for the El Dorado festival where she is currently setting up for next weekend, and Bea Bennister, who co-founded Girls Against, a non-profit organisation fighting sexual assault at live music events.

Women who have suffered multiple miscarriages and stillbirths are at greater risk of stroke, according to new research published by the British Medical Journal. The data looked at over 600,000 women around the world, and in particular women aged between 32 and 73 who were then followed up for an average of 11 years. Professor Gita Mishra is from the University of Queensland, School of Public Health and the senior author on this project.

As far as festivals go, Shetland's famous Up Helly Aa fire festival has to be one of the most spectacular. It takes place in January and remembers the Vikings who used to rule the Shetland islands 1,000 years ago. Warriors parade through the streets by torchlight as visitors from across the world gather to watch the spectacle and the day culminates with the dramatic burning of a replica Viking long ship. But women and girls have never been allowed to take part in Lerwick - which is the capital of Shetland - until now. It was announced earlier this week there will no longer be gender restrictions. Johan Adamson is a campaigner from the group Up Helly Aa for Aa and Amy Gear is codirector of arts organisation Gaada who looked at the equality of Up Helly Aa for of their projects.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Interviewed Guest: Hannah Couchman Interviewed Guest: Victoria Atkins Interviewed Guest: Kemi-Bo Jacobs Interviewed Guest: Kate Osler Interviewed Guest: Bea Bennister Interviewed Guest: Professor Gita Mishra Interviewed Guest: Johan Adamson Interviewed Guest: Amy Gear

Decisions about embryos, Female wildlife rangers, Amanda Blanc, Nude images and teens Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

The physical and emotional challenges of in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, never fade from your memory - whatever the outcome. But what happens when you have been lucky enough to have a child or children and you still have frozen embryos in storage you are sure you will not use. None of the choices you face are easy – to donate to another couple in need, or to science, to let them be discarded or continue to preserve them. We hear from Alison Murdoch, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Newcastle University and two women who have come to different conclusions about what they will do.

A new study of over 5000 teenagers in 46 schools has found that more than a third of teenage girls who sent nude images of themselves had been pressured into doing so. Researchers found that girls felt “shamed” when their nude images were leaked, while boys said that the leaking could lead them to gain social status. It also revealed that 34% of girls were first asked to send a nude when they were 13 or younger. Emma is joined by Soma Sara, the founder of Everyone's Invited - a safe place for survivors to share their stories anonymously - and Ruby Wootton, associate director from Revealing Reality, one of the authors of the study - which was done in collaboration with PHSE, that's the national body for personal, social, health and economic education.

Being a ranger in the wild - protecting animals from poachers, leading conservation efforts and sometimes putting yourself in the line of fire - isn't often a job taken on by women. In fact, less than 11% of the global wildlife ranger workforce is female - something many in the sector want to change. Holly Budge is a British adventurer who’s founded World Female Ranger Week following a successful World Female Ranger Day last year. Purnima Devi Barman is a conservationist from the state of Assam in north-eastern India who set up her own 'Stork Army' to save one species of bird. They both join Emma on the programme.

Kate Bush, Lynn Fitch, Cost of living, Electroconvulsive therapy Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

In a world exclusive, today Kate Bush gives Emma Barnett her reaction to being discovered by a new generation and making it to number 1 in the UK singles charts 44 years after her first chart-topper Wuthering Heights. Running Up That Hill was first released in 1985 and its use in the Netflix hit series Stranger Things has made Kate Bush a social media and streaming sensation. We also speak to Caitlin Moran about how rare it is to hear from Kate and why she is inspired by her songs.

A report out today has found that the number of abortions has increased over the course of the pandemic. The cost of living has been cited as a key factor for this rise at an uncertain time in the economy and with job insecurity. Mary-Ann Stephenson is co-director of the Women's Budget Group, an independent body which analyses the impact of government policy on women.

A decision is also expected any day from the US Supreme Court on whether to overturn Roe v Wade – the historic 1973 ruling which has guaranteed women access to abortion nationwide. At the centre of this legal challenge, is a woman who is being hailed by some as the lawyer who could end Roe v Wade. She is the Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch…and the BBC’s Holly Honderich joins Emma to explain more.

Twice as many women than men are receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) according to researchers at the University of East London. ECT is used to treat a range of mental health issues including severe depression, long-lasting mania, and catatonia. But an FOI request to twenty NHS Trusts has also revealed that older women are also more likely to be receiving treatment. They are concerned it causes memory loss and that patients are not given sufficient information to make informed decisions before they give consent to treatment. Emma is joined by one of the lead researchers, clinical psychologist Dr Chris Harrop and by Dr Trudi Seneviratne, Registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatry.

Emma speaks to the writer, DJ and broadcaster, Annie Mac on what has been a big week for music. They discuss Beyonce’s new single, Break My Soul, which marks a change of musical genre for her as it’s a House track. They talk about the history of house music and it’s cultural shifts and about Kate Bush and Glastonbury 2022.

Celebrating midwinter in sub-Antarctic. Olivia Harrison on celebrating her husband though poetry. Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

As we celebrate the summer solstice on the other side of the world it's the shortest day or mid-winter. For the first time the British Antarctic Survey have an all-female team wintering on Bird Island in the sub-Antarctic. Midwinter is a moment of celebration for the teams on sites. The Bird Island Research Station Leader, Imogen Lloyd, joins Emma to tell her about the work they're doing.

A court support service that helps thousands of people who cannot afford a lawyer could be under threat after having its government funding changed. The Chief Executive of Support Through Court Eileen Pereira explains what any loss of core-funding could have on the women they support.

A new story suggests that Boris Johnson may have spoken to Downing Street aides about getting his wife, Mrs Carrie Johnson, two roles while she was living in Number 10 with the Prime Minister as his fiancee. Sources told the Daily Mirror that the Prime Minister raised possible new environmental roles for her in autumn 2020, either on the COP 26 summit or with the Royal Family. His closest advisors are said to have vetoed both suggestions - but what questions does this raise about her being the victim of sexism and the idea of her as a private citizen? We hear from Daily Mirror Political Editor Pippa Crerar

Plus a new coming-of-age TV series was released on Amazon Prime – The Summer I Turned Pretty, The characters are supposed to be 15 and 16 year olds, but the majority of the cast are in their early 20’s. Why are films and television shows that focus on the teenage experience so often played by older actors? We hear from Alex Hart an English and History Student at Durham University and Tianna Haffenden a young actor.

Presenter Emma Barnett Producer Beverley Purcell

#MeToo in Comedy, Prom Dresses, Crowd Surfing Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

School proms return this year, but with more and more families feeling the pinch during the cost-of-living crisis, some students are missing out on this milestone event as they can't afford a dress. Across the UK, pop-up shops for preloved dresses are helping relieve the financial burden for disadvantaged teenagers. We speak to two women involved in such intiatives.

When Amy Maynard offered to take in a Ukrainian lady called Iryna, she didn’t realise the other struggle Iryna had been dealing with – fertility. Her first round of IVF was successful until she had a stillbirth, and she has one embryo left in Kyiv. Amy has now decided to raise money for Iryna and her husband Sergey, so they can have the chance to have a family of their own.

Have you ever tried crowd surfing before? One woman decided she would try her hand at it and won a competition. Amanda Mansell from York has been crowned 'Middle-Aged Crowd Surfing Champion'. She had never done it before but now thinks more women should be doing it.

Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Weekend Woman's Hour: The Whyte Review into British Gymnastics, Lea Ypi, Rosie Kinchen on horticultural therapy Jun 18, 2022

Show notes

Following a two-year investigation into bullying, abuse and discrimination the Whyte Review into British Gymnastics is finally published. We hear from ex-gymnast Claire Heafford, co-founder and campaign director of Gymnasts 4 Change, and Sarah Moore, lawyer and partner at Hausfeld who are acting on behalf of 38 former elite gymnasts against British Gymnastics in relation to allegations of abuse.

In her prize-winning memoir, Free: Coming of Age at the End of History, Lea Ypi describes what it was like to grow up in Albania under a strict communist regime. Lea joins us to talk about her extraordinary coming-of-age story in Europe's last Stalinist outpost.

Rosie Kinchen explains how horticultural therapy helped her overcome depression after having her second child. She discusses finding solace in a community garden.

A new film, Below the Belt, documents the reality of living with endometriosis. We hear from director Shannon Cone.

Listener Christian Peake inherited a huge stack of canvasses painted by her grandmother, the artist Maeve Gilmore, whose artistic work had been over-shadowed by her more famous husband Mervyn Peake. As time went on though she became increasingly determined to get Maeve’s work the recognition she feels it deserves. Her grandmother's first exhibition is now on at Studio Voltaire in Clapham, London.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Lucinda Montefiore

The Whyte Review into British Gymnastics, Women’s Health Ambassador, the Future of Cars Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Following a two year investigation into bullying, abuse and discrimination the Whyte Review into British Gymnastics is finally published. We hear from ex-gymnast Claire Heafford, co-founder and campaign director of Gymnasts 4 Change, and Sarah Moore, lawyer and partner at Hausfeld who are acting on behalf of 38 former elite gymnasts against British Gymnastics in relation to allegations of abuse.

It’s has just been announced that Professor Dame Lesley Regan has been appointed as the first ever Women’s Health Ambassador for England. She’ll support the implementation of the upcoming Government led women’s health strategy, which aims to close the gender health gap and ensure services meet the needs of women throughout their life. We hear from her about what she hopes to achieve in this new role.

This summer marks two years since the start of Covid-19. We hear from psychologist Ciara Dockery at Gurls Talk, the community-led non-profit organisation, about why they are encouraging young women and girls to write a letter to their pre-pandemic selves.

What is the future of cars? Linda Zhang is the Chief Engineer of the Ford F-150 Lightning pick-up truck, the newly-electrified version of the USA’s most popular vehicle. She is in the UK to take part in the BBC World Service’s Future of Cars event staged at the Science Museum with the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. She tells us why bringing out an electric version of this monster vehicle is so important and why young people and women want to drive it.

A house in Hackney, which in the early 20th century sheltered hundreds of stranded and abandoned South and East Asian Nannies – known as Ayah’s, has been commemorated with a blue plaque. Historian Dr Rebecca Preston tells us who these women were and their importance to British and international history.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Women reporting the war in Ukraine, SEND consultation, Red Dress project, former Olympic Athlete, Anyika Onuora Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

Her newspaper only launched 14 weeks before the outbreak of war in Ukraine, but the Kyiv Independent now has over two million followers on Twitter, and has been described by Time Magazine as: "The world's primary source for reliable English-language journalism on the war." Emma speaks to the Editor of the newspaper, Olga Rudenko about the challenges female journalists are facing in Ukraine. She also discusses how her and her team, which are mostly women, launched their newspaper just weeks after being fired from their previous newspaper that was owned by an oligarch.

In a Woman's hour exclusive, two women whose disabled sons died after failing to get their Special Educational Needs supported in the right schools, have written an open Letter to two Secretaries of State warning that the system must change. Ministers are consulting until July 22 on how to make the SEND system better. Our reporter Carolyn Atkinson tells us more, and Emma speaks with Amanda Batten, chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership and Susie who spent £10,000 battling the system to get her disabled child into an appropriate school.

Since 2009, the artist Kirstie Macleod has been working on The Red Dress project. This involves pieces of this red silk dress travelling around the world to be embroidered by mostly female artisans, many of whom have been marginalised and live in poverty. After 13 years, 46 countries and 343 embroiderers, the dress is finally finished.

And, former Olympic Athlete Aniyka Onuora may have stepped away from the track, but in her new memoir: "My hidden race" she details her personal experience with professional sports, racism and sexism, mental health, and growing up in a Nigerian household in 1990’s Liverpool. She joins Emma in the studio.

The housing crisis and women with Vicky Spratt, Rising Covid rates, Christian Peake on Maeve Gilmore Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his "benefits to bricks" plan to tackle the UK housing crisis - the chronic shortage of homes to rent and buy and climbing property prices. According to the charity Shelter at present across the UK there are currently 17.5 million adults without safe, secure or stable homes. If you include children in this number – it is 1 in 3. A new book Tenants is about people on the frontline of Britain's housing emergency – and describes particularly how a shortage of homes is affecting women. The author is journalist Vicky Spratt, housing correspondent for the I newspaper, and she joins Emma in the studio.

Covid rates appear to be rising again and some experts are predicting a new wave of the virus over the summer. In the week to 2nd June, 1 in 65 people in the UK were testing positive – up from 1 in 70 the previous week. But do we actually need to worry about it – and if so, what should we be should we be doing to protect ourselves? Emma will be getting the thoughts of Professor Devi Sridhar, who’s chair of global public health at Edinburgh University, and sits on the Scottish Government Covid-19 Advisory Group.

Listener Christian Peake was given a huge stack of canvasses painted by her grandmother the artist Maeve Gilmore who had died when Christian was 11 and whose artistic work had been over-shadowed by her more famous husband Mervyn Peake. A busy teacher and mother, Christian didn't really know what to do with them. As time went on though she became increasingly determined to get Maeve’s work the recognition she feels it deserves. She has created an online gallery at maeve_gilmore_archive on Instagram and her grandmother's first exhibition is currently on at Studio Voltaire in Clapham, London.

A new report by healthcare charity Doctors of the World reveals that some migrant women have been charged up to £14,000 for NHS maternity services in England. The survey of 257 migrant women - including undocumented, refugee and asylum seeking women - shows that over a third have received a bill for maternity care. The bills range from £296 to £14,000 with half of those receiving a bill being charged more than £7000. To discuss the findings Emma is joined by Anna Miller, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Doctors of the World, and we hear from Kemi, who received a bill for £4900 after having an emergency caesarean section.

Apparently, the naked dress is in - catwalk models and celebrities have been wearing dresses with depictions of the female form on them - some have gilded sculpted breasts with prominent nipples. Fashion journalist, Letty Cole gives her thoughts on this eye-catching new fashion trend.

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