The Unfairer Sex

The Unfairer Sex
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Bimonthly

We are The Unfairer Sex. Two women, two glasses of wine and a whole world of problems to navigate. Yes, there’s going to be some rage, but there’s also going to be a hell of a lot of laughing, learning, catharsis and camaraderie along the way. So grab a glass of wine and join us. The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms. Music by https://akondas.com

  1. Sep 14

    Ep 56: Surviving Honour-Based Abuse and Rebuilding from Within, with Rashid Begum OBE

    Every year in the UK, thousands of people — overwhelmingly women and girls — experience so-called "honour"-based abuse: forced marriage, female genital mutilation, coercion, violence, and in the most tragic cases, murder. These harms cut across faiths, cultures and communities, yet they remain among the most under-reported and misunderstood forms of abuse in Britain. In this episode, we're joined by Rashid Begum OBE — survivor, former police officer and solicitor — who shares her story in her own words. Rashid speaks candidly about escaping an attempted forced marriage, and how that experience reshaped her closest relationships. We explore her journey through the UK legal system as a victim: what protected her, what failed her, and the gaps that still leave survivors exposed today. Rashid explains how those experiences drove a remarkable pivot — into policing, and later into law — where she now works to protect others at risk. The conversation also tackles one of the hardest questions in this space: how do we confront honour-based abuse and forced marriage head-on without slipping into cultural relativism on one side, or stigmatising entire communities on the other? And what does a genuinely survivor-centred system — in policing, courts and support services — actually look like in practice? Rashid closes with her message to survivors, professionals and anyone who suspects someone they know may be at risk. Content note: this episode contains discussion of forced marriage, FGM and honour-based violence. If you or someone you know is at risk, contact the police on 999 in an emergency, or the Forced Marriage Unit (UK) on 020 7008 0151.

    Ep 56: Surviving Honour-Based Abuse and Rebuilding from Within, with Rashid Begum OBE

  2. May 10

    Ep 55: Public Safety, Performative Protection and the 'Good Guy' Myth with Karen Whybro

    We're back! And in this episode, we speak with Women's safety consultant, Karen Whybro, about the gap between public safety as it’s promised, and how it’s actually experienced. We begin with the Sarah Everard vigil, and the moment that became a catalyst for Karen: laying flowers on Mother’s Day under the threat of a £10,000 fine, and her direct encounter with the police force. From there, the conversation opens out into a broader critique of institutional responses to women’s safety – such as why the Met police choose to advise women to 'flag down a bus' rather than actively respond to allegations against their own staff. The discussion then turns to the cultural framing of violence as something that's inevitable; as well as the persistent myth of the “good guy,” and how narratives of male protection can obscure the deeper work of prevention. We close by asking what meaningful change could look like — from individual actions to systemic shifts — and whether a more preventative, accountable model of safety is within reach. Below are some of the resources Karen referenced during the episode. We unfortunately can't share images here, but have shared on our Instagram: https://www.karen-whybro.co.uk/ https://inews.co.uk/news/casey-report-police-officers-rape-culture-met-change-2226230

    Ep 55: Public Safety, Performative Protection and the 'Good Guy' Myth with Karen Whybro

  3. 06/24/2025

    Episode 54: Not Quite as Decriminalised as We Thought: A Closer Look with Stella Creasy

    On 17 June 2025, MPs had the opportunity to vote on two amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill relating to abortion: NC1 aimed to prevent women from being prosecuted for ending their own pregnancy.NC20 went further, seeking to fully decriminalise abortion by repealing the relevant criminal provisions altogether. Both amendments retained the Abortion Act 1967 as the framework for abortion care, meaning the legal grounds for accessing abortion would remain unchanged. However, only NC20 would have made abortion a human right, protected it from future restrictions, and decriminalised the act for both women and healthcare professionals involved in providing abortion care. While we may not fully understand why abortion groups and charities didn't support NC20, we do know that some of the arguments put forth by MPs to oppose the amendments – such as the claim they were about ‘saving women from themselves’, stopping women from 'getting to full term and deciding that the pregnancy is an inconvenience', or that abortion reform should wait for a standalone bill – were ill-advised, insincere and patronising. In the end, only NC1 was passed. So... Why are British tabloids now claiming that MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion in the UK?Why were MPs allowed to misquote statistics on the record in Parliament to bolster opposition to abortion reform — without judicial correction?And most importantly, what are the real consequences of this vote for women, healthcare providers, and the future of reproductive rights in the UK? We asked Stella Creasy, Labour (Co-op) MP for Walthamstow to join us for an episode to unpack what really happened in Parliament on June 17th, why the vote on NC20 mattered, and what’s next for abortion rights in the UK. This episode was recorded on June 18th 2024. ***** Helpful links: The Mummafesto Podcast, hosted by Stella Creasy: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-mummafesto/id1735494350 Hansard Society Debate Overview: https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliament-matters-bulletin-16-june-2025#tuesday-17-june-2025 Recording of the Debate (start at 16:56:46 in the index): https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/97c409d6-cd51-4596-9921-96e0bfeb7677

    Episode 54: Not Quite as Decriminalised as We Thought: A Closer Look with Stella Creasy

  4. 06/14/2025

    Episode 53: NC1 vs NC20: Decriminalising Abortions in the UK, Part 2

    Know the difference between NC1 and NC20 in the context of decriminalising abortions in the UK? You're not the only one. This episode picks up when our last episode left off, recapping the key details of e-petition 700014 and the two key amendments being tabled to the Crime and Policing Bill – NC1 (Tonia Antoniazzi, Labour MP) and NC20 (Stella Creasy, Labour MP). We also explain the parliamentary process and why it's imperative we put a democratic lock around our right to access abortion healthcare now, in order to prevent future rollback via secondary regulations. If we miss this opportunity, we delay reform for another generation and open up our rights to political mood swings. Why run the risk? To finish up, Rhiannon shares insights from the June 2nd debate and factchecks some of the fast and loose stats being thrown around by Jim Shannon (and others) – an Northern Irish MP with a real investment in denying abortion access for English and Welsh residents. Next steps: The vote takes place on June 17th, meaning you still have time to email your MP and implore them to back NC20. And you should do that. Here's a template you can use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O4CoU9FfVBrXUoLWgM4-ZMAFwYPuYWBTDSqZMkusnxM/edit?tab=t.0 You can also watch the first debate in full here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/9e31c35d-d310-4b07-ad31-6b30fea24032 The Hansard Transcript of the June 2nd debate can be found here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-06-02/debates/600E3036-7871-4198-BD43-467F710AC5E1/DecriminalisingAbortion

    Episode 53: NC1 vs NC20: Decriminalising Abortions in the UK, Part 2

  5. 06/01/2025

    Ep 52: Decriminalising Abortions in the UK

    Unbeknown to some, abortion in England and Wales is still a crime under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, which carries a life sentence for anyone who has or provides an abortion. These laws remain in place despite being repealed in Northern Ireland by Westminster in 2019 and 2020. In this episode, we tackle the relentless control over women’s reproductive choices – from forced birth and restricted access to healthcare, to the criminalisation of abortion. With Parliament set to debate a crucial amendment next week (June 2nd, 2025) to protect women from prosecution for seeking essential healthcare, we explore what’s at stake and why this fight is far from over. We discuss the harrowing case of Adrian Smith in Georgia, a woman kept alive despite being brain dead, her body used as an incubator without her consent. We also address Nigel Farage’s recent comments calling it “utterly ludicrous” that abortion is allowed up to 24 weeks. His statements mirror anti-choice rhetoric, even though most abortions (88%) occur within the first ten weeks, and later procedures are often medically necessary. Rhiannon shares her own personal story of baby loss – having to terminate her pregnancy at 22 weeks due to her son’s severe and incurable heart condition. She warns of the chilling prospect that, if politicians like Farage succeed in reducing the legal time limit, we risk following the same path as the U.S., where reproductive rights have been systematically dismantled and women are forced to carry pregnancies that only lead to suffering. This episode is a call to action. We cannot let our rights be eroded piece by piece. Join us as we unpack the legal battles, the human stories, and the urgent need to protect bodily autonomy before it’s too late. **** Helpful links: www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/exclusive-labour-mp-stella-creasy-calls-for-abortion-to-be-human-right-after-farage-comments-393618/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dqp3dep48o Write to your MP: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O4CoU9FfVBrXUoLWgM4-ZMAFwYPuYWBTDSqZMkusnxM/edit https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q2136.full https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2022/abortion-statistics-england-and-wales-2022 https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2023-12/Legal%20but%20not%20local_Barriers%20to%20accessing%20abortion%20servicesi%20in%20Northern%20Ireland.pdf?VersionId=TMIsqFC1MS2CogIE1kaZHcya0OSG_HYe https://www.gov.uk/government/news/abortion-service-protection-zones-in-place-in-england-and-wales https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/53621/documents/4252 Support Rhiannon's JustGiving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/hudsons-little-heart-bereavement-support

    Ep 52: Decriminalising Abortions in the UK

  6. 05/05/2025

    Ep 51: Institutional Accountability with Issy Vine

    In 2023, a non-profit research organization, More in Common, found that trust in the police fell from 63% to 53% in the wake of Wayne Couzens' sentencing. This sharp decline in public confidence reflects a growing distrust of law enforcement, particularly following high-profile cases of police misconduct. In this powerful episode, we speak with Issy Vine who has taken legal action against the Metropolitan Police, shedding light on the deep-rooted issues of misogyny and discrimination within the force. We explore the incident that led Vine to pursue legal action, the personal motivations behind her decision, and the challenges she faced when reporting misconduct within the force. Vine shares her firsthand experience of the cultural dynamics within the Metropolitan Police and discusses how these systemic issues contribute to a hostile environment for women, both within the police force and in the broader public. Despite the negative publicity that stories like this can generate, Vine explains why it's crucial to share her experience publicly and challenge the status quo. Now campaigning for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and institutional accountability, she outline their priorities and suggests reforms necessary to address misogyny and discrimination in the police and other institutions. Join us for a compelling conversation on justice, accountability, and the urgent need for change within law enforcement institutions. Additional resources: The Baroness Casey Review, March 2023 – https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the-met/bcr/baroness-casey-review/The Angiolini Inquiry,  February 2024 – https://www.angiolini.independent-inquiry.ukThe Met's response to issues raised by the crimes of Wayne Couzens: https://www.met.police.uk/notices/met/our-response-to-issues-raised-by-the-crimes-of-wayne-couzens/Independent Review of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), December 2023: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65f458f6af6a0d001190d4fc/Independent+Review+of+the+Independent+Office+for+Police+Conduct+.pdfNational recommendations relating to 'Wayne Couzens failures' - National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing, August 2023: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/our-work/learning/national-recommendations-relating-wayne-couzens-failures-national-police-chiefs David Carrick, CPS – https://www.cps.gov.uk/stories/david-carrick Support Issy Vine: https://www.change.org/p/review-legislation-and-policies-enabling-police-misconduct-in-the-met-police-forcewww.issyvine.com

    Ep 51: Institutional Accountability with Issy Vine

  7. 09/23/2024

    Ep 50: Witches and Feminism

    Witchcraft* – a crime predominately played out by women in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was not a crime before this time because, well, it was completely made up to punish those destabilising gender hierarchies and social hierarchies. This means it also impacted men. Anyone who was oppressed by patriarchal ideals. So much so, that many scholars in this field look at witchcraft as a study of disenfranchised groups more broadly, rather than just a crime against women. This episode discusses talking points raised by Dr Jennifer Farrell (a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Exeter) in a talk she hosted with Seed Talks in September 2024, titled: The History of Witchcraft and Feminism with Dr Jennifer Farrell. Using Dr Farrell's learnings, Rhiannon and I delve into the emergence of witchcraft at the end of the middle ages, the variety of magical practices (including love magic, healing, and various forms of necromancy), the impact of secular powers on who was accused of witchcraft, and how the genesis paradigm continues to feed the patriarchal fear of women. Enjoy! *Evidence of witchcraft ranged from being considered a 'woman of forcible speech and domineering ways' by a neighbour, to having friends – and 'gathering' with them, to exhibiting menopausal symptoms, being gay, marrying someone 'outside your league', or living in a town which was experiencing a bad harvest or political unrest...

    Ep 50: Witches and Feminism

  8. 08/27/2024

    Ep 49: Ethnicity and Menopause with Dr Wendy Molefi

    We've covered the menopause before, but not like this! Dr Wendy Molefi joins Rhiannon and Ely to discuss the differences in menstrual patterns among various ethnicities, why menopause is still considered a social stigma in many minority communities – and how this affects the treatment of women going through the menopause, as well as how we address the misconception that menopause is a loss of femininity. Dr Molefi will be speaking at Pause Live – the UK’s largest menopause event. It takes place this year on 14th September, in London. Helpful links BMS – Menopause in ethnic minority women 2023 online survey of postmenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause. Rawan Aljumah, Samantha Phillips, and  Joyce C Harper APPG on Menopause inquiry: Assessing the impacts of Menopause and the case for policy reform £25 million for women's health hub expansion “A part of being a woman, really”: Menopause at work as “dirty” femininity, 2022

    Ep 49: Ethnicity and Menopause with Dr Wendy Molefi
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About

We are The Unfairer Sex. Two women, two glasses of wine and a whole world of problems to navigate. Yes, there’s going to be some rage, but there’s also going to be a hell of a lot of laughing, learning, catharsis and camaraderie along the way. So grab a glass of wine and join us. The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms. Music by https://akondas.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Unfairer Sex
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Unfairer Sex
  • Show Website
    The Unfairer Sex

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