Woman's Hour

BBC Radio 4
Woman's Hour

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.

  1. 1 UUR GELEDEN

    Author Holly Bourne, SEND, Alcohol pilot scheme at Women's Championship football clubs, Women & cycling

    Services for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) in England are ‘unviable’. That’s the judgement from a report out today by the Public Accounts Committee, who look at the value for money of government services. Anna Dixon MP, who sits on the committee, joins Nuala McGovern to explain more, alongside Katie Ghose, Vice-Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership. Four Women's Championship football clubs will take part in a new pilot scheme beginning this month to allow fans to drink alcohol in the stands. This is something that’s been banned for supporters of the men’s game in the top five tiers. Head of Women’s Football at the Football Supporters’ Association Deborah Dilworth discusses the plans and what this could mean for women’s football matches. Holly Bourne, bestselling author of How Do You Like Me Now? and the Spinster Club series, is back with So Thrilled For You, her most personal novel yet. It’s a story about four friends navigating motherhood, career ambition, and societal pressures, all unfolding during a sweltering summer’s day at a baby shower. Holly explains what inspired her to write this funny, sharp, and moving exploration of friendship, and her experiences with early motherhood. According to stats from Cycling UK, 75% of cycling trips in the UK are made by men - but women are increasingly turning to the gym and indoor classes for their biking fix. Nuala discusses how we can get more women cycling, inside and outside, with Michelle Arthurs Brennan, digital editor at Cycling Weekly, and Clare Rogers from the London Cycling Campaign women's network. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

    57 min
  2. 1 DAG GELEDEN

    Sticky floor jobs, Kiena Dawes, The Mare, Badass Gran

    The term ‘sticky floor’ refers to the difficulties women face in progressing to higher-paid and higher-powered job roles whilst balancing the demands of their careers with personal, unpaid responsibilities. They can get stuck at lower levels, leaving the most senior positions to be occupied by, predominantly, men. Nuala McGovern discusses some of the reasons and solutions with Claire Reindorp, CEO of Young Women’s Trust, and Lucy Kellaway, former journalist, now economics teacher and co-founder of Now Teach. A Lancashire jury has found Ryan Wellings not guilty of the manslaughter of 23-year-old Kiena Dawes. Wellings, who was Kiena's boyfriend, was found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault between January 2020 and July 2022. He had denied all the charges against him, and will be sentenced at a later date. During the trial, the jury heard that Kiena had left a note claiming she was murdered and that Wellings had killed her before she took her own life. Joining Nuala to discuss this case are BBC reporter Yunus Mulla, Crown Prosecution Service domestic abuse lead Kate Brown and Director of the Centre for Women's Justice Harriet Wistrich. Hermine Braunsteiner was the first person to be extradited from the US for Nazi war crimes. She was one of a few thousand women who had worked as a concentration camp guard and was nicknamed ‘the Mare’ by prisoners because of her cruelty; she kicked people to death. In 1964, Hermine’s past was unknown: She was living a quiet existence as an adoring suburban housewife in Queens, New York when she was tracked down by a reporter from The New York Times who exposed her past. Angharad Hampshire, a Research Fellow at York St John University, joins Nuala to talk about The Mare, her novel based on Hermine’s life. Known as Badass Gran to her Instagram followers, Celia Duff is a double world Hyrox champion after taking up the races at 68. After retiring from her career as a doctor in public health medicine, the 70 year old dedicates her time to an impressive fitness regime that includes yoga, pilates, running, strength and conditioning, Olympic weightlifting six times a week, and now she’s fitter and stronger than ever.

    57 min
  3. 2 DGN GELEDEN

    Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Fast-fashion company Shein, Abortion in Texas

    The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin is the Bishop of Dover and the Bishop in Canterbury - Britain's first black woman bishop. She’s a trailblazer, who has been right at the heart of a changing nation for over 40 years. Despite discrimination due to her gender and ethnic minority background, Bishop Rose has never wavered from the call she received to enter ministry at the age of 14. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her memoir, The Girl from Montego Bay. The fast-fashion company Shein, whose customers in the UK are 80% women, may be listing on the London Stock Exchange soon. But questions remain over the company's supply chain and work practices amid allegations of forced labour and human rights abuses. Nuala speaks to sustainable fashion consultant Natalie Binns and Head of Money and Markets at Hargreaves Lansdown Susannah Streeter. We asked Shein for a comment, but they said they didn't want to provide a statement. Zoe Kornberg is a trainee doctor in Texas who says she left her obstetrician and gynaecology training programme because she felt that, under the strict abortion laws, she wasn’t able to care for her patients safely. Nuala and reporter Melanie Abbott speak to women on both sides of the abortion debate in the US, as well as hearing from Zoe herself. If you've walked through Pounds Park in Sheffield recently, you might have seen a 25m-tall heron...it's a colourful mural by street artist Megan Russell, also known as Peachzz, who has been nominated for Street Art Cities' best mural in the world 2024. Megan joins Nuala to tell us more. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

    57 min
  4. 2 DGN GELEDEN

    Weekend Woman’s Hour: Rape gangs, Exploring Antarctica, Deep fakes, Oti Mabuse

    Victims groomed and raped by gangs have told the BBC's Senior UK Correspondent Sima Kotecha that they are adamant the crime is still happening to girls across the country. This week, a Tory amendment to the government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which wanted a national inquiry into grooming gangs, was voted down. Krupa Padhy talked to Sima and Simon Morton, a former senior investigating officer for Thames Valley Police, about what is known about how these gangs operate. Lucy Lawless, best known for playing Xena: Warrior Princess, joined Nuala McGovern to discuss another fearless woman. In her directorial debut, Never Look Away, she explores Margaret Moth, a warzone camerawoman for CNN who covered conflicts from the liberation of Kuwait in the early 90s to the Lebanon War in the mid-2000s armed only with a camera and an attitude. A new law change has made the creation of explicit deepfakes illegal, with those found guilty facing up to two years in prison. Nuala was joined by Durham Law Professor Clare McGlynn to hear more about what this means, and Channel 4's Cathy Newman, who was a victim of deepfakes herself, gives her thoughts. Victoria Melluish is a listener who wrote to us to highlight women working in environmentally hostile environments and to encourage more women to get out in the field. Victoria is currently employed as a marine mammal specialist and expedition guide on a cruise expedition ship. She says, 'I’m 30 and I work in the Arctic and Antarctic, and I often get asked how I manage having endometriosis while driving Zodiac boats around glaciers and marine megafauna.' Nuala spoke to her about her work. 2025 is a big year for former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse who is judging Dancing on Ice, then going on tour and publishing her first adult novel. She joined Krupa to talk about these projects, becoming a mother and how being on I’m A Celebrity taught her the importance of sharing feelings. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

    57 min
  5. 6 DGN GELEDEN

    Rape gangs, Playing Nice, Cancer friends, Erotica

    Victims groomed and raped by gangs have told the BBC's Senior UK Correspondent Sima Kotecha that they are adamant the crime is still happening to girls across the country. Yesterday, a Tory amendment to the government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which wanted a national inquiry into grooming gangs, was voted down. Krupa Padhy talks to Sima and Simon Morton, a former senior investigating officer for Thames Valley Police, about what is known about how these gangs operate. Playing Nice, a new ITV drama, tells the story of two couples who discover their toddlers were accidentally swapped at birth. Actor Niamh Algar, who plays one of the mothers, and Grace Ofori-Attah, who wrote the script for the small screen, join Krupa to talk about the moral and ethical issues within the series, and why they hope it will spark a conversation. Two women who've developed a firm friendship through a shared experience of having a rare eye cancer join Krupa to talk about the incredible bond they have forged. Ocular melanoma affects only five in a million people but Tessa Wingfield-Parry and Joanna Denman, who happen to live just around the corner from each other, both were diagnosed. They talk about how they met, the impact the disease has had on their lives, and how they've discovered they've got a lot more in common than just their cancer. Whilst doing her Masters at the University of Cambridge, Times writer Tyler Bennett earnt extra money on the side writing erotica. Having cracked the code to a good steamy story, she joins Krupa along with the Man Booker shortlisted author Sarah Hall to discuss the genre, breaking taboos and erotica's ability to empower. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt

    57 min
  6. 8 JAN.

    Deep fakes, Female membership on Boards, Exploring Antarctica

    A new law change has made the creation of explicit deepfakes illegal, with those found guilty facing up to two years in prison. Nuala McGovern is joined by Durham Law Professor Clare McGlynn to hear more about what this means, and Channel 4's Cathy Newman, who was a victim of deepfakes herself, gives her thoughts. Author Clare Whitfield joins Nuala to discuss her novel Poor Girls. The title of the book refers to the young, working class women of the 1920s who were destined for a life in service unless they took other, less respectable, opportunities. Like joining real-life all female criminal gang The Forty Elephants, who were famous for their sophisticated shoplifting scams and their hard-partying ways. Victoria Melluish is a listener who wrote to us to highlight women working in environmentally hostile environments and to encourage more women to get out in the field. Victoria is currently employed as a marine mammal specialist and expedition guide on a cruise expedition ship. She says, 'I’m 30 and I work in the Arctic and Antarctic, and I often get asked how I manage having endometriosis while driving Zodiac boats around glaciers and marine megafauna.' Nuala speaks to her about her work. Private businesses in Norway are now required by law to have more women sitting on their executive boards. In 2008, the country became the first in the world to introduce a 40% gender quota for the boards of listed companies. In 2023, the Norwegian parliament decided to extend the quota to private firms, with a deadline of 31st December 2024. Nuala is joined by Hege Rødland, founder of Matae AS, a recruitment company and Linda Litlekalsoy Aase, CEO of Bremnes Seashore Group, to discuss how successful it has been. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

    57 min
  7. 7 JAN.

    Child sexual exploitation, Endometriosis reporting tool, Lucy Lawless on Margaret Moth

    The debate around widescale child sexual abuse and exploitation continues following calls from the Conservatives and Reform UK for a new national inquiry into the issue. Professor Alexis Jay chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. It took seven years and was published in 2022. It warned of "endemic" abuse across society in England and Wales for girls and boys. Professor Jay has called again for implementation of her 20 recommendations. One recommendation was that those who cover up or fail to report child sexual abuse could face professional or criminal sanctions. The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last night announced that has said that will be implemented as a new offence this year. Nuala McGovern speaks to Maggie Oliver, Founder and Chair of the Maggie Oliver Foundation, who was a former detective who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in late 2012 in order to expose the Rochdale Grooming Scandal, and Ken MacDonald, Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008. It's hoped a tool which allows women in Wales to log and report symptoms of endometriosis will empower patients to get help from their GPs and potentially lead to quicker diagnosis. It's estimated one in 10 women suffer from the condition, which can cause debilitating period pain and is linked to fertility issues. Nuala speaks to Dr Robyn Jackowich, one of the academics whose worked on the reporting tool, and Karen Hiu Ching Lo, who suffers with endometriosis. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been urged to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan by a group of more than 160 politicians. The England men’s ODI side are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on 26 February but there are calls for the ECB to refuse the fixture, taking a stand against the Taliban regime’s ongoing assault on women’s rights. Nuala discusses the issues with Felix Jakens, Head of Campaigns for Amnesty International. Lucy Lawless, best known for playing Xena: Warrior Princess, joins Nuala to discuss another fearless woman. In her directorial debut, Never Look Away, she explores Margaret Moth, a warzone camerawoman for CNN who covered conflicts from the liberation of Kuwait in the early 90s to the Lebanon War in the mid-2000s armed only with a camera and an attitude. BBC Eye have released an animation narrated by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe for BBC 100 Women 2024. It tells the stories of three women imprisoned in the notorious Evin prison in Iran. Nuala is joined by former Evin prisoner, Mahdieh Golroo and BBC Persian reporter, Baran Abbasi to discuss the prison’s reputation. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

    56 min

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Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.

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