Woman's Hour

Are you always just a bit late to everything – even when there isn’t an actual reason? Is your time-keeping a source of stress for you and others? Help is at hand. In the latest of our How To series, Jenni discusses how to be on time with Grace Pacie, author of LATE! A Time-bender’s guide to why we are late and how we can change, and therapist and writer Philippa Perry.

On Wednesday this week the Government outlined their response to a landmark report from the Petitions Committee on the impact of COVID-19 on maternity and parental leave. Jenni is joined by the Chair of the Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP to discuss the issues.

We remember the author of the Shere Hite report on women and sex. In 1976 she published her report on female sexuality and told us most women can easily reach orgasm through clitoral stimulation but only 30% claim to achieve it during intercourse. Jenni met her in May 2006.

In 2011, a Bronze Age burial chamber was excavated on Whitehorse Hill on Dartmoor. Inside were astonishingly rare remains of cremated human bone, animal pelts and jewellery. The 3500-year-old remains are thought to belong to a high ranking female, and her story has now inspired a new play being performed this week. ‘Daughters of Sunset’ tells the story of two queens leading matriarchal societies on Dartmoor and Exmoor in 1100BC, and explores the way women lead communities in times of crisis. Florrie Taylor is the play’s co-producer and Jane Marchand is an archaeologist who oversaw the remarkable excavation of the ‘Whitehorse lady’.

The writer and broadcaster Sali Hughes has been talking to women about objects in their lives that are important to them. Today it’s the turn of the violinist Eos Counsell.

Producer: Louise Corley

Laura Bates is founder of the Everyday Sexism Project. In her latest book – Men Who Hate Women - she traces the roots of extreme misogyny across a complex network of online groups - extending from Men's Rights Activists and Pick up Artists to Men Going their Own Way, Trolls and the Incel movement.

Women – and specifically young women – have always been hugely over-represented when it comes to debt. Since the pandemic, charities are hearing from more and more who find themselves in financial difficulty. Anna who’s now 22 shares how she's managed to clear considerable debt. Sue Anderson from debt charity Step Change talks bout the trends they’re seeing when it comes to women and money. Plus financial campaigner Alice Tapper on why she thinks the increasing use of ‘buy-now-pay-later’ methods need much more scrutiny,.

Presenter Jenni Murray

From flapper to femme fatale: Olive Thomas was the wild-living sex symbol of the jazz age and one of Hollywood's first starlets - but ended up dying in agony from poison in Paris Ritz 100 years ago. Suicide... or revenge of a jealous husband? Pamela Hutchinson, Film historian and critic specialising in silent cinema joins Jenni to discuss the story.

The NHS in England employs more than a million women, who make up 77% of the workforce, but that is not reflected in its senior leadership. In 2016 a target was set of 50:50 women to men on NHS boards by 2020. This has been missed, but the figure has risen to 44.7%. The NHS Confederation estimates that another 150 women need to be recruited overall, with some trusts having much further to go than others. Jenni speaks to Sam Allen, Chief Executive of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the Health and Care Women Leaders Network at the NHS Confederation, and Prof Ruth Sealy from Exeter University Business School, who authored the report.

Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK (ONS figures). A new guide for parents who are really worried about their children has been put out by Papyrus, an organisation which aims to prevent suicide. It encourages parents who might be scared to talk to their children, to make sure they do.

It’s been over five months since many of us sat in an office with a collective of colleagues. The work parties and special occasions are happening behind a screen. And more people than ever are thinking about permanently working from home. Is this well and truly the death of office relationships? And why do we love the idea of one so much in the first place? Anna Smith is a film critic and a host of the Girls On Film podcast. Ellen Scott is the Lifestyle Editor at the Metro UK. She met her partner at work four years ago.

CLIP CREDIT: The Office. Written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Presenter Jenni Murray.

PC Andrew Harper’s widow Lissie says she has cabinet support for a new law – under which anyone who kills an emergency services worker would be jailed for life. PC Andrew Harper was killed last summer in the line of duty. The three teenagers who were responsible for his death were jailed for manslaughter. She joins Jane to talk about why she’s campaigning for a new law – under which anyone who kills an emergency services worker would be jailed for life.

Presenter Jane Garvey

PHOTO; Jason Bye/MartisMedia

What do we know so far about COVID – clinically and scientifically – in women, including those who are pregnant. Jane talks to Professor Louise Kenny a clinical academic from Liverpool Women’s Hospital

Forty years since Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita was first performed we hear from some real life Rita’s, Willy Russell and Julie Walters on the films influence

Sam Baker, the former editor of Cosmopolitan and Red and author of The Shift, Kelechi Okafor who’s an actor, director and podcaster and the journalist, Rebecca Reid, who’s written The Power of Rude on how to be assertive without coming across as angry and unapproachable .

We hear how a book, A Match Made in Heaven, featuring stories by British Muslim Women about Love And Desire is trying to get beyond the stereotypes of subservient Muslim women. Editors Nafhesa Ali and Claire Chambers and the writer Noren Haq discuss.

Dame Cressida Dick the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells us how the force is managing during the ongoing pandemic

Stephanie Walker on how she went from a fourteen year old pregnant teenager to a fully qualified midwife.

Plus the author Ann Cleaves talks about her latest novel The Darkest Evening – the ninth in the Vera series

Presenter: Jane Garvey

Hilary Swank, the two time Oscar-winning actress of Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby, stars in new Netflix drama Away. She plays Commander Emma Green who leaves behind her husband and daughter to lead an international crew of astronauts on a perilous three-year mission to Mars. She talks to Jane about being an astronaut, dealing with claustrophobia, caring for her Dad, Devon cream teas, and parrots.

1 in 4 women will lose a baby during pregnancy or birth. During lockdown NHS maternity services carried on, but new rules were brought in to minimise patient contact to protect pregnant women and staff – but how did this affect people who were going through a miscarriage? Helen and Fatma who both miscarried at the height of lockdown share their experiences and we hear from consultant gynaecologist Dr Christine Ekechi.

New book A Match Made in Heaven – British Muslim Women Write About Love And Desire tells many different stories about sex and relationships. Featuring emerging writers who took part in writing workshops in Leeds, Bradford and Glasgow as well as more established talent, the aim was to get beyond the stereotypes of subservient Muslim women. Editors Nafhesa Ali and Claire Chambers and the writer Noren Haq join Jane.

In the latest of our How to guides, we discuss the art of being assertive and explore why it can be so difficult for women to stand up for themselves, assert their own needs and make themselves heard. Jenni is joined by journalist and author of the Power of Rude, Rebecca Reid, Journalist, broadcaster and author of The Shift, Sam Baker, and actor, podcaster and writer Kelechi Okafor.

Recently we spoke to 16 year old Rhea in Shetland about the stories she had collected about sexual violence in her area. Last year, Judith, who moved to the Scottish Highlands from London, told reporter Kathleen Garragher about the culture of privacy and keeping yourself to yourself. When her husband became abusive she didn’t feel able to ask for help.

The author Helen FitzGerald on her latest domestic noir thriller – Ash Mountain – set in a small Australian town threatened by bush fires and the impact of historic sex crimes. Helen trained as a social worker in the probation service and her novel The Cry about the disappearance of a baby following a flight to Australia was adapted for BBC TV in 2018. How much of her life has been influenced by her own childhood experiences growing up in Australia?

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, talks to Jenni about working with women in the community to help combat violent crime. She wants both the victims of things like domestic abuse and knife crime and those around them have the confidence to speak out about what’s happening in their area. She’s been working closely with mothers who’ve lost children to violence and is exploring how the Force can work with them to help protect our young people from being drawn in to, or becoming victims of violent crime.

Stephanie Walker was 14 when she became pregnant. She was so impressed with how her midwife looked after her that she decided to go into the profession herself. Fourteen years on from the birth of her first child, Stephanie has just become fully qualified to deliver babies herself. She joins Jenni.

Lady Barbara Judge, whose death was announced today, was on the Woman’s Hour Power list in 2013. She was described as one of the best connected women in the country – a real pioneer for women in the law, banking and business. Her roles included Chairman of the Pension Protection Fund, Chairman of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and UK Business Ambassador. She spoke to Jane about her influences and career.

The history of women being empowered by the death of their husband is explored in the book Widows - Poverty, Power and Politics. The author and historian, Maggie Andrews, explains how many widows used their newfound autonomy and financial independence to improve women’s lives for the better.

Producer: Louise Corley

Annette Bening stars in a new film 'Hope Gap' about the collapse of a marriage after 29 years. She joins Jane to discuss the disintegration of that union.

The Covid realities project from York and Birmingham universities chronicles the experiences of low-income families during the lockdown period. Jane hears about the project from Dr Maddy Power, Research Fellow at the University of York and founder of the York Food Justice Alliance, and from Shirley who is taking part in the project.

Ann Cleeves is the author of more than thirty critically acclaimed novels. She previously worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook, and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. Her latest novel is The Darkest Evening – the ninth in the Vera series.

What impact does corroboration have on conviction rates for rape in Scotland? We hear from Emma Bryson, a founder member of Speak Out Survivors, and Grazia Robertson, a criminal lawyer based in Glasgow who sits on the Law Society of Scotland Criminal Law Committee.

Presenter: Jane Garvey