Woman's Hour

Are women in the UK jazz scene facing discrimination and sexual harassment? Sarah Raine, an academic and anthropologist, carried out research of ten interviews with anonymised female jazz musicians of a “notable level of success” who performed at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival event in 2019. Emma discusses the issues with

In her last book, Don't Hold My Head Down, Lucy-Anne Holmes, writer and founder of the 'No More Page 3' campaign, described her “sexual odyssey” and compiled a list of things that would improve her sex life. She has now gone a step further and collected the testimonies of 51 women around the world, revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings during sex. There are women of all ages and sexualities. Lucy-Anne joins Emma to talk about the very varied experiences of female sexuality.

Just days after Japan's Olympics chief was forced to resign over sexist comments, a prominent politician has announced that women will be invited to its all-male meetings - as long as they don't speak. What does this say about equality in Japan? BBC correspondent Mariko Oi joins Emma to discuss.

Dehenna Davison was just 13 years old when her father Dominic died as a result of a single punch at a pub in Sheffield in 2007. Fourteen years on Dehenna, who is now Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland, has launched an all-party parliamentary group to investigate the impact of one punch assaults and to try and improve the lives of victims and their families. The first meeting will take place on Tuesday.

Presented by Emma Barnett

Anita Rani talks to Love Island Star Zara McDermott about her new documentary on the growing issue of Revenge Porn and we hear from Baroness Morgan about the government's efforts to tackle the problem. Dr Angela Joyce and Dr Tracey Jensen about the idea of the "Good Enough" Mother, a phrase first coined by the paediatrician and child psychoanalyst D W Winnicott as we mark the 50th anniversary of his death and presenter Mehreen Baig talks about the new tv film campaign urging people from BAME backgrounds to get the covid-19 vaccine.

Harry Dunn was 19 years old when he was killed on his motorbike by an American woman driving the wrong way. His parents have been fighting for justice for their son since it happened in 2019. It happened near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire. The suspect, Anne Sacoolas returned to the States claiming diplomatic immunity. Now Harry's family has been told Anne Sacoolas will face a civil claim and it'll be held in the States. Charlotte Charles joins us on Woman's Hour.

There's a consultation going on about whether or not the mini-pill should be sold over the counter in UK pharmacies. The public are being asked for their views. We speak to Dr Sonia Adesara, who's a doctor with a special interest in reproductive health.

Kiran and Nivi are American twin sisters who've become a TikTok sensation. They've become famous for their harmonies, emotion-filled lyrics plus doing versions of songs with an Indian twist. One track has had more than 15 million views. They join Emma to talk about the surprising way they discovered their voice and talent.

When Rosie Green’s husband walked out after 25 years, he declined to leave a forwarding address. She was devastated. She says "heartbreak happens every day, but it doesn’t happen to YOU every day." As a writer for Red magazine, she was able to describe her heartbreak in articles and get advice from experts. That's all come together in her book How to Heal a Broken Heart. Rosie joins Emma to describe her journey from rock bottom to reinvention.

Emma Barnett presents Woman's Hour with Mary Beard who talks about her new BBC Two show Inside Culture looking at witches and their enduring presence in culture. We get the latest from the Salmond Inquiry from BBC Scotland's Political Editor Sarah Smith and we hear from Dr Naomi Crouch and Alex Fox about the problem of vulva anxiety in teenage girls.

Presenter: Emma Barnett

The pandemic has pushed many working mothers to breaking point. Juggling family and career is nothing new, but working a full-time job while simultaneously home schooling children for many weeks is unprecedented. A recent TUC report revealed that women are shouldering the lion's share of this responsibility, and that a lack of employer flexibility has left mums in an impossible situation. So how are these women coping? And for those that aren't, why do they feel so reluctant to talk about their struggles? Emma Barnett speaks to mum-of-three Annie about her experience. She's also joined by Sam Smethers, who recently stepped back from her role as chief executive of the Fawcett Society, and Leann Cross, the Director of Homestart in Greenwich.

Christine Keeler: the woman who nearly brought down the government in the 60s. She had an affair with Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, when she was just 19. In an unconnected court case, but one which is also linked in a complicated saga, she ended up being sentenced to nine months in prison. She had been found guilty of perjury and obstructing the course of justice in the trial of a man who her son, Seymour Platt, says was obsessed with her. But now Seymour wants a pardon for his mother. Next month he'll send his legal application to the Lord Chief Justice.

Presenter: Emma Barnett

Interviewed Guest: Sam Smethers

Loujain al-Hathloul, the Saudi women's rights activist, has just been released from prison after spending nearly three years in prison. Instrumental in the movement to allow women to drive in the kingdom, she was imprisoned in 2018, just weeks before the ban was lifted. We speak to her sister Lina who has led the campaign to free Loujain for the last three years.

Presenter: Emma Barnett

We hear from Sandra Igwe, co-chair of an urgent inquiry set up to investigate how alleged systemic racism in the NHS manifests itself in maternity care and Dr Karen Joash, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Imperial College.

After the Topshop buyout by online fashion retailer Asos, Topshop worker, and a lifestyle fashion blogger Kirsty Mead tells us what it’s like to pack up one of the shops in Leed for the final time.

Some women in the ultra orthodox Jewish community believe the laws on forced marriage are not serving them adequately and action needs to be taken. We hear from Yehudis Fletcher, the founder of think tank Nahamu and Chaya Spitz, chief executive of the Interlink Foundation, which represents Orthodox organisations.

Nearly a year into the pandemic, all over the UK there has been a push to pass legislation to allow better access to relatives and loved ones in care homes. 23 year old, university student, Lucy Challenor talks During the pandemic her mother and her grandmother have been in care homes with very little access.

Dating expert Charly Lester and film director Richard Kurti talk about Mary Oliver who with her friend Heather Jenner set up the UK's first ever Marriage Bureau in 1939. The book she wrote nearly 80 years ago, the Marriage Bureau, about the successes and failures of her matchmaking business, has just been republished.

LGBT campaigner and co-founder of Stonewall Lisa Power, actor Lydia West and Russell T Davies’ long time friend Jill Nadler discuss his new Channel 4 series It's a Sin and discuss the role women played in the AIDs crisis.

Presenter: Anita Rani

An urgent inquiry to investigate how alleged systemic racism in the NHS manifests itself in maternity care was launched this week. Anita is joined by Sandra Igwe, co-chair of the inquiry and who set up The Motherhood Group to support Black mothers after her experiences of giving birth, and Dr Karen Joash, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Imperial College and spokesperson for race equality at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Girls sit at home waiting for 'Mr Right, a nostalgic fantasy invented by their parents. There has to be a better way." The words of Mary Oliver who with her friend Heather Jenner set up the UK's first ever Marriage Bureau in 1939. The book she wrote nearly 80 years ago has just been republished and the story has caught the imagination of Hollywood producers. So who was Mary Oliver and how relevant is her advice today? Film director Richard Kurti who rediscovered Mary Oliver and dating expert Charly Lester discuss.

As many as one in six young people now experience mental health problems ranging from depression to self harm and anorexia. The situation’s got worse over the last year of lockdowns and school closures leading some doctors to warn that the problems we’re seeing now are just the “tip of the iceberg”. Yesterday Emma spoke to the Children’s Minister Vicky Ford about young people facing mental health issues and where they can go for help. We were inundated with emails from concerned parents who have not been able to access the help they need. One mother, Lucy, shares her story with us.

You may be familiar with the novels of Thomas Hardy- he’s known for his realist novels, often with tragic characters struggling against their passions, fate or the circumstances in which they find themselves. Although many feature strong female characters written with real sympathy – Hardy writes them from the point of view of an omniscient, all-seeing narrator. But over the coming year, Radio 4 is dramatizing some of the novels purely through the eyes of the prominent female characters. Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles will be first – this Sunday at 2pm. Later titles include Jude the Obscure, The Woodlanders, The Hand of Ethelberta and Two on a Tower. Katie Hims dramatized Tess of the D’Urbervilles and she joins Anita Rani to talk about writing the story from a female perspective.

Presenter: Anita Rani

Interviewed Guest: Sandra Igwe

As many as one in six young people now experience mental health problems ranging from depression to self-harm and anorexia. The situation’s got worse over the last year during the pandemic leading some doctors to warn that this is just the “tip of the iceberg” with a “timebomb” on the horizon. The children’s Minister Vicky Ford talks to Emma Barnett about the issues and how Children's and Mental Health Services around the UK are coping as well about her own battles with anorexia whilst growing up.

With almost every elderly care home resident in Scotland now vaccinated and the three-week period to build immunity reached, relatives are calling on the government in Scotland, public health teams and care homes, to let residents see at least one close relative or friend in a more natural and regular way. The Broken Hearts campaign is led by Care Home Relatives Scotland, a Facebook group with 1700 members. Twenty three year old, Lucy Challenor is one of those. She explains the impact of having a mother and a grandmother in a care home with very little access.

Are you a fan of sexy books? Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins inspired Daisy Buchanan to write her first novel 'Insatiable' about the sexual adventures of Violet. She joins Emma to discuss writing fiction about female desire.

Presented by Emma Barnett

Pip Hare has been competing in the Vendee Globe race, sailing around the world, solo, non-stop and without assistance. She is on the home straight now and currently 20th place. Pip speaks to Emma from the Atlantic Ocean.

Following a ruling by the High Court at the end of last year that children under 16 with gender dysphoria are unlikely to be able to give informed consent to being treated with puberty-blocking drugs, younger children now need a clinician to apply to the Court to be able to access puberty blockers, and all current referrals and appointments have been paused. We hear from Dr David Bell, former staff governor at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and a consultant adult psychiatrist and get a response from the Trust.

There is a stalking genre in valentines cards. Slogans on cards such as: Your stalker wishes you a Happy Valentines Day and stalker is a hard word - I prefer valentine. Katy Bourne, Sussex police and crime commissioner and main spokesperson on stalking for association of police and crime commissioners tells us why she wants them banned.

Presenter Emma Barnett