Woman's Hour

BBC Radio 4

4.1 (2.7K)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
UPDATED DAILY

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

15 HR AGO

Trudie Styler, Broadcasting to Afghan women, Author Kate Fagan

Trudie Styler has had a career spanning decades, from starting out as an actress for the Royal Shakespeare Company to the last 20 years as a film-maker. Trudie’s newest film Posso Entrare: An Ode to Naples sees her exploring the streets of the Sanita district of the city, meeting residents and finding out more about Naple's history of conflict and violence – and how people are working to heal those wounds. She joins Datshiane Navanayagam to tell us about what she discovered and her career in film. Begum TV is a satellite television channel that broadcasts from Paris into Afghanistan. Its hosts are all women, and they are bringing education and entertainment to those women and girls having their rights stripped away in Afghanistan. Founder Hamida Aman joins Datshiane to tell us more. Kate Fagan has been a US basketball player, an ESPN journalist and has written three non-fiction books. Now she is publishing her first novel, The Three Lives of Cate Kay. Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Laura Northedge

57 min
1 DAY AGO

Israel-Gaza ceasefire, Donald Trump's inauguration, Runner Elise Downing

After 15 months of devastating conflict, a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas, and three female hostages – Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher - have been released and are now back in Israel. This release is the first of several expected over the next six weeks, with a total of 33 hostages to be returned. Ninety Palestinian prisoners were released overnight in exchange for the hostages, the Israeli prison service has said - most of them women and teenage boys. The UN estimates that 1.9 million people in Gaza have been internally displaced since the start of the most recent conflict, some 90% of the population. The humanitarian situation remains critical, with widespread destruction and significant damage to infrastructure including hosptials and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to BBC Chief Correspondent Lyce Doucet. We also hear from Ghada Al-Kourd in Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza strip, and Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were taken hostage by Hamas in October 2023. Geneticists from Trinity College Dublin and archaeologists from Bournemouth University have found evidence of female political and social empowerment during Britain’s Iron Age. DNA sampled from a burial site in Dorset shows that two-thirds of the women were closely related, suggesting that women lived in the same communities and passed on their land and wealth to their daughters, while unrelated men tended to join the community from elsewhere. This type of social structure, known as “matrilocality” is the first documented instance in European pre-history and challenges the assumption that most societies were patrilocal. Dr Lara Cassidy, an Assistant Professor of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin who led the research, discusses the findings. President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated today in Washington D.C. It is of course his second term, having previously served as the 45th US president, he will now also become the 47th. So what will a second Trump presidency mean for women, both in the US and around the world? Datshiane is joined by Jennifer Ewing from Republicans Overseas and the BBC’s Holly Honderich to discuss. Elise Downing is known for running 5,000 miles self-supported around the British coast over the course of 10 months. She was not only the youngest person, but also the only female to have completed the challenge. Along the way she saw Britain at its wild and wonderful best. She has now written Walk Britain, packed with inspiring car-free ideas on how to get out and explore stunning locations – from the Cornish coast to the Yorkshire Dales and the Isle of Arran. She joins Datshiane to talk about some of the 90 different routes across that can be completed on foot, all accessible by public transport. Presented by Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Louise Corley

57 min
3 DAYS AGO

Weekend Woman’s Hour: Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Corridor care, The Mare, AI & IVF, Adwaith

The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, is 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 joined Nuala McGovern to discuss her memoir, The Girl from Montego Bay. A Royal College of Nursing report, On the Frontline of the UK's Corridor Care Crisis, which came out this week, found that the situation in A&E is the worst it has ever been and that a lack of hospital beds means corridor care has been "normalised". One nurse described caring for a 95-year-old woman dying with dementia who had spent eight hours lying on a trolley in a crowded corridor next to a drunk person who was vomiting and being abusive. Others describe women having a miscarriage in side rooms. Professor Nicola Ranger, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing joined Anita Rani to discuss what is going on. 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 joined Nuala and explained what inspired this book. Can AI improve the success rates of women undergoing fertility treatment? Anita discusses the impact of AI on IVF with Dr Cristina Hickman, an embryologist, co-founder of Avenues, and Chair of the Global AI Fertility Society, and Dr Ali Abbara, a Clinician Scientist at Imperial College London, and Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. 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, joined Nuala to talk about The Mare, her novel based on Hermine’s life. The all-female, Welsh-language, post-punk trio Adwaith are the only band to have won the Welsh Music Prize twice, for their first two albums. They are about to release their third album, Solas, all about returning to their hometown in Carmarthen. Band members Hollie Singer, Gwenedd Owen and Gwen Anthony performed live in the studio. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

53 min
4 DAYS AGO

AI and IVF, Cousin marriage, Sugarcane documentary, What is 'masculine energy' and how does it affect the workplace?

Can AI improve the success rates of women undergoing fertility treatment? Anita Rani discusses the impact of AI on IVF with Dr Cristina Hickman, an embryologist, co-founder of Avenues, and Chair of the Global AI Fertility Society, and Dr Ali Abbara, a Clinician Scientist at Imperial College London, and Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The second reading is due today of a private members bill that seeks to ban first-cousin marriage. It’s particularly prevalent among Pakistani and Muslim communities. But what would this mean for women? And how would genetic testing to enforce the ban work? Anita Rani speaks to CEO of Karma Nirvana Natasha Rattu and Emeritus Professor of Health Research at Bradford University, Neil Small. The award winning documentary Sugarcane follows an investigation into the Canadian Indian residential school system, and the attempts of survivors and their descendants to try to understand what happened in them. Emily Kassie is the film's producer and co-director and joins Anita on Woman's Hour. Mark Zuckerberg says companies need to embrace more “masculine energy”. The Meta boss told a podcast that instead of trying to get away from it, corporate culture should celebrate the positive side of things like “aggression”. But what even is ‘masculine energy’? And do we really need more of it? Anita talks to Josh Smith, contributing editor of Glamour magazine and Becky Hewitt, Chief Exec of culture change company Kin&Co. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

58 min
5 DAYS AGO

Ofcom's age check guidance, Adwaith, Kamala Harris's legacy, Corridor care

The communications regulator, Ofcom, has published new industry guidance for online services, in which it sets out how it expects online platforms - including social media and porn sites - to introduce highly effective age check measures to prevent children from accessing online pornography and to protect them from other types of harmful content. To discuss the new guidance and its potential impact Anita Rani is joined by Lindsey Fussell, OFCOM’s interim group director for online safety. Kamala Harris made history as the first woman - and first woman of colour - to become Vice President of the United States of America. She rose higher in the country’s leadership than any other woman before her. Anita discusses her legacy and future with BBC News Online Editor, Courtney Subramanian; and co-founder of Higher Heights, an organisation that works to mobilise black women voters, Kimberly Peeler-Allen. What might be next for the woman who could have been the first female president? A Royal College of Nursing report, On the Frontline of the UK's Corridor Care Crisis, out today, finds that the situation in A&E is the worst it has ever been and that a lack of hospital beds means corridor care has been "normalised". One nurse described caring for a 95-year-old woman dying with dementia who had spent eight hours lying on a trolley in a crowded corridor next to a drunk person who was vomiting and being abusive. Others describe women having a miscarriage in side rooms. Professor Nicola Ranger, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing joins Anita to discuss what is going on. The all-female, Welsh-language, post-punk trio Adwaith are the only band to have won the Welsh Music Prize twice, for their first two albums. The critically-lauded band are about to release their third album, Solas, all about returning to their hometown in Carmarthen. Band members Hollie Singer, Gwenedd Owen and Gwen Anthony talk to Anita about writing in Welsh, what home means to them, and being role models for young women – and they perform their latest single Miliwn live in the Woman’s Hour studio. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

53 min
6 DAYS AGO

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
14 JAN

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
13 JAN

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

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4.1

out of 5

2,683 Ratings

Good insights, quite limited

12/02/2024

navsboouwlansnaleju

Really enjoy Women’s Hour mostly. Deeper insights into really people’s lives, their work and sociology-political affairs. However, this is structured and aimed at the middle class. There’s sympathy, for the working class, and an understanding for the elite, however, I imagine this content will be pretty inaccessible for many. More raw, open & in-depth discussion needed/wanted, on daily struggle, the reality UK politics has on people, the reality of people not being seen by the NHS etc and ways to bring people together, rather than just talking it up & actually offering real solutions-or better equipped solutions.
Strictly again.

18/10/2024

BeijingPandora

My first and last time listening to this programme . I can’t believe the level of hate mongering for what was a joke … which incidentally my husband and I never even noticed. The columnist from the independent needs to wind her neck in. Wynne for the Wynne!
Whitewashing terrorism!!

30/09/2024

Hayleyhailey

Was listening to the episode about afghan women where your guest irrelevantly starts to whitewash Hezbollah terrorists! Wow!!! unfollowed.
Frankie

13/08/2024

1983634

Disappointed with your reporting about the riots in the uk, horribly biased, it is a much more complex situation than your reporting signalled in fact there was a lot of virtue signalling, everyone on the left is brilliant and not a racist and everyone working class brown and or white is stupid and bigoted, it’s very lazy and lacked the in depth and nuanced approach it needs and deserves. I want to be informed not told your Whitewashed BBC scripted opinion.