Woman's Hour

We want to hear how Brexit is affecting your relationship, your mood and your behaviour. Do you feel more or less anxious about the future? Do you see eye to eye with others in your family - have you fallen out with close friends - or have you found yourself becoming peacemaker? Have you started to do things differently? Maybe you've had to make very different decisions about your work? Have you been doing an extra bit of shopping each week in anticipation of shortages? Perhaps you're one of the people we've heard about this week who is trying to build up a supply of medicines for yourself or a loved one? We want to hear from you. Joining Jane in the studio is conflict resolution specialist and psychotherapist, Gabrielle Rifkind. Phone lines are open from 0900 on Monday. The number to call is 03700 100 444. You can email now via the Woman's Hour Website.Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Gabrielle Rifkind, director of Oxford Process Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

In a week of extraordinary politics, how have female MPs and advisors fared? We discuss the “macho” culture and language of parliament with Katy Balls, deputy political editor at The Spectator and Helen Lewis, staff writer at The Atlantic.National Poet for Scotland, Jackie Kay, on a new production of her 1980's play Chiaruscuro.Sisters Maya and Gemma Tutton tell us about their campaign OurStreetsNow. They want to implemented a law like France has done to make verbal sexual harassment illegal and punishable by an on-the-spot fine. What is the impact of high-profile Equal Pay cases? Sam Smethers from the Fawcett Society, Charles Cotton from the CIPD and Paula Lee from Leigh Day Solicitors discuss.When does fussy eating become a danger to health? We get advice from Dr Victoria Aldridge, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at De Montford University, Dr Lucy Serpell, Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders at North East London NHS Foundation Trust and associate professor of Psychology of Eating Disorders at UCL and Clare Tho

Researchers tell us women are responsible for the majority of consumer decisions, making an estimated 80% of purchases, and most of the final decisions on which clothing, food, or even family holidays to buy. We’re also told that women are typically more concerned about the climate, and keener to make environmentally conscious decisions. So how much power and responsibility do women consumers really have? And what are the most efficient forms of sustainable consumerism?In a week of extraordinary politics, how have female MPs and advisors fared? We discuss the sacking of special advisor Sonia Khan, the female Conservative rebels, and the “macho” culture of parliament with Katy Balls, deputy political editor at The Spectator and Helen Lewis, staff writer at The Atlantic.A few weeks ago we asked listeners to send us a picture that somehow captured them at their best. Not just looking it but feeling it. Hundreds of you got in touch with pictures of your best day, and we’ll be running as many of your stories as w

National Poet for Scotland Jackie Kay on a new production of her 1980's play Chiaruscuro.A new survey by NCT (National Childbirth Trust) and Netmums on the limitations of postnatal checks for new mums. Kavita Trevena who's just had a child shares her experience, and we hear from Abigail Wood Head of Campaigns at the NCT, and Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of Royal College of GPs. Tracy Chevalier, writer and author of 10 novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring and At the Edge of the Orchard, talks to Jenni about her latest book, A Single Thread. Set in 1932, it follows the life of Violet Speedwell, who is still mourning the loss of her fiancé and brother in the First World War. Every day 12 families in the UK will receive the devastating news that their child has cancer. Over the next few weeks we'll be talking to both the parents and the children themselves about what life's like for them. Today we hear from two mums, Andrea Hanbury mother of Keeva, and Kate Hewson mother of Charlie. How are their fa

As BBC journalist Carrie Gracie prepares to release her new book, Equal, about her yearlong battle for equal pay, we discuss the impact this case has had on equal pay for all. Have these high-profile cases inspired employees, employers and policymakers to take action? Sam Smethers from the Fawcett Society, Charles Cotton from the CIPD and Paula Lee from Leigh Day Solicitors join Jenni. Now for the final part in our series Off The Rails. We’ve been following the work of South London youth worker Nequela whose personal experience of getting into trouble and prison helps her reach troubled teens. Jo Morris met her one Thursday afternoon when she was getting things ready for the evening's senior youth club.Experts are warning about the risks of extreme fussy eating after a teenager developed permanent sight loss after living on a diet of chips and crisps. When does fussy eating become a danger to health? And how can parents distinguish between regular fussy eating in children, and the psychological condition of

The comedian Jen Brister talks about what it was like becoming a non-biological mum. She had twin boys with her partner Chloe four years ago after two rounds of IVF, and it was Chloe who gave birth. Jen talks about the reaction of friends, professionals and what she felt like herself having babies in this way and being the other parent - experiences she has written about in her book 'The Other Mother'.

The comedian Jen Brister talks about what it was like becoming a non-biological mum. She had twin boys with her partner Chloe four years ago after several rounds of IVF, and it was Chloe who gave birth. She talks about the reaction of friends and professionals, and what she felt like herself having babies in this way - experiences she has written about in her book The Other Mother.With the rebel alliance of MPs attempting to prevent a no deal Brexit before parliament is prorogued next week, who are the women to watch, what are they thinking and how will they act this week? We're joined by Helen Lewis, staff writer for The Atlantic and Katy Balls, deputy political editor of The Spectator to discuss.Why a targeted screening programme for a common virus could help new born babies with hearing loss. It's called CMV. Most of us have had it, harmlessly...it feels like a cold but if you're pregnant it can have serious consequences - most commonly deafness. It's more common than Down's affecting 1000 babies a yea

Why is having sex while you've got your period such a taboo subject? Does the idea disgust you or your partner or has the experience brought you closer together? The BBC journalist Emma Barnett, author of ‘Period’, and campaigner Nimko Ali, author of ‘What We’re Not Told About (But We’re Going to Anyway) discuss sex when you're menstruating, otherwise known as period sex. Why are women thought to suffer more from insomnia that men? We discuss severe sleep deprivation – and how to try and get back to a healthy sleep pattern with Dr Shelby Harris who’s written The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia. We were contacted during listener week by the Instagram account ‘OurStreetsNow’ in response to our item about unwanted sexual attention. In August last year, France implemented a law to make verbal sexual harassment illegal, and to date they have convicted over 700 people of the crime. ‘OurStreetsNow’ is run by two sisters, Maya and Gemma Tutton, who are fed up with the catcalls and verbal abuse they received,

Cara Delevingne is one of the most recognisable faces in the world with over 43 million followers on Instagram alone. She’s spoken openly about her sexuality and issues with severe depression. She began modelling when she left school but is now is concentrating on her acting career and plays the lead role in a new Victorian fantasy drama series Carnival Row. She talks about her role as Irish ‘faery’ Vignette Stonemoss opposite human detective Rycroft Philostrate played by Orlando Bloom.This week Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty to two additional charges of predatory sexual assault and has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. A new documentary looks at the rise and fall of the film mogul. We speak to the director of the documentary, Ursula Macfarlane, and to Hope D’Amore who says she was a victim of his alleged abuse.What is it like to be a woman in the construction industry? Currently women make up 16% of the total UK workforce of two million people. How can the industry attract more girls to the

The artist Sam Taylor-Johnson began her career as a photographer, part of the Young British Artists set. She moved into film and became a household name when she took the helm of Fifty Shades of Grey. She talks about her new film A Million Little Pieces, based on a story by James Frey , the challenges for women in the industry and what it's like directing your husband's love scenes. Cara Delevingne is one of the most recognisable faces in the world with over 43 million followers on Instagram alone. She’s spoken openly about her sexuality and issues with severe depression. She began modelling when she left school but is now is concentrating more on her acting career. She plays the lead role in a new Victorian fantasy drama series Carnival Row. She joins Jenni to discuss her role as Irish ‘faery’ Vignette Stonemoss opposite human detective Rycroft Philostrate played by Orlando Bloom. Plus new research into the profile of men who kill their partners that could save lives. And we take a trip to Looe Island -

Listener Ellie Kemp wants to raise the subject of school Parent Teacher Associations and the difficulties they face in finding parents who have the time or the confidence to volunteer, particularly in rural areas, as well as the increasing reliance schools have on the money they raise. Ellie is Chair of her son’s school PTA. What is the role of PTAs, what part do they play in children’s learning and what are the benefits for the volunteers and pupils? Jenni Murray speaks to Ellie, Gill Sims, illustrator, blogger and author of the Why Mummy series and Tracey Handley, from the charity Parentkind.

Is the jobs market working for women? We ask if policies on part time or flexible working actually work in practice? And, as more and more women leave careers to go freelance – why are they doing it? We hear from Lucy Adams, CEO of Disruptive HR, Kirsty Holden, blogger and founder of TheMoneySavingMum.com and Anna Codrea-Rado, journalist and presenter of the podcast “is this working?” about the modern workplace. Hollywood has been rocked by allegations against Harvey Weinstein. This week, he pleaded not guilty to two additional charges of predatory sexual assault and he faces a criminal trial in the New Year. He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. A new documentary looks at the rise and fall of the film mogul. Jenni talks to the director of the documentary Ursula Macfarlane and to Hope D’Amore who was a victim of his alleged abuse.Fedina Zhou is the President of The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Asia’s oldest symphony orchestra, which is celebrating its 140th year with a world tour and a first a

Data from a large study of women's menstrual cycles shows that just thirteen per cent of women experience a 'text-book' 28 day menstrual cycle and that the date of ovulation can vary significantly. Professor Joyce Harper who led the study, explains the significance of the research for couples trying to calculate the best time to conceive.Lisa Jewell is celebrating twenty years as a bestselling author. Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was published in 1999 and was the best-selling debut novel of the year. Since then she has published another sixteen novels, including a number of dark psychological thrillers. Lisa joins Jenni to talk about her latest, The Family Upstairs and to talk about her career as a writer. Another in the series of features about life Off The Rail. Candy Huxham has been a youth worker since 1991, when she left banking and she hasn’t looked back. She set up the Handy Trust – a charity in Hythe and Dibden, Hampshire – offering advice on anything from drugs, to teenage sexual and mental

A £10 million campaign to diversify the building industry was launched this month by the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board), backed by the Department for Education. Currently women make up 16% of the total UK construction workforce of two million people. How can the industry attract more girls to the trades and the wider world of construction, and what can be done to keep them there long-term? What’s the reality of working in such a male-dominated environment? And how might things change in the future? Tina Daheley speaks to Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer who worked on the Shard, Katie Kelleher, a former crane operator who now works as an Appointed Person at Select Plant Hire, Hattie Hasan, founder of Stopcocks Women Plumbers, Cristina Lanz Azcarate, Chair, London South East NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction), Sarah Fenton, Partnerships Director Midlands and North, CITB, (Construction Industry Training Board) and Lynsey Davies, a plasterer who is now training to be a quanti

Six female candidates continue to vie for the democratic nomination for president in 2020 elections. We take a look at the front-runners including Elizabeth Warren and Kamala HarrisJada Pinkett Smith is an American actress, producer, philanthropist, singer, businesswoman and talk show host. She, along with her 18-year-old daughter Willow and mother Adrienne, take part in Red Table Talk, an intimate chat show with three generations from the same family.Throughout the summer we've been talking about clothes and accessories that most of us have and which tend to be trotted out for every holiday. Today the dress historian Amber Butchart examines the straw hat.In April 2011, Karen Edwards received a visit from a police officer telling her that her daughter, Becky, was dead. Becky had been murdered & had been lying in a makeshift grave since 2003. Despite the killer confessing, he couldn't be convicted at the time as the evidence was not admissible in court. Karen had to fight to see the killer brought to

Why does society judge women who are single? We’ll hear from listener Joy, Emily Hill author of Bad Romance and from the journalist Bibi Lynch.Doreen and Virginia have belonged to the same book club, set up in 1965, for decades - is it one of the oldest in the UK? They're joined by Melissa Cummings-Quarry and Natalie Carter who are the co-founders of the Black Girls Book Club to discuss why book clubs are so appealing to women.We explore Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (inattentive type) in girls, with Heidi whose daughter was diagnosed at 14 and Dr Celine Ryckaert a clinical lecturer at King’s College London.And we talk about the pain of a close friendship ending with Annabel Fenwick-Elliot senior content editor at The Telegraph and psychotherapist Hilda Burke.Presented by Jane Garvey Produced by Rabeka Nurmahomed Edited by Jane Thurlow

Listener Trisha wonders why people seem find it odd that she and her adult son get on so well - she and her daughter don’t get the same surprised reaction when they spend time together. So why the difference? Following the death of her husband, listener Suzie Ladbrooke lost her appetite and has no pleasure in eating alone. She wants to know how other people adapt after a family loss. She is joined by nutritionist Jane Clarke. Another listener contacted us to talk about living in private rented housing as you get older. She says it’s not just millennials who are unable to buy their own home and so living in rented accommodation and house shares – but as you get older the challenges change.

Day Four of Listener Week.One Listener wanted us to talk about how you get over falling out with your best friend. Doreen and Virginia wondered if they're members of the longest running Book Club - which began in 1965. Twenty year old Sophie Taylor got in touch seeking advice for female entrepreneurs like herself. And Wandja Kimani asked us to discuss carving out a life in a community when you find yourself in a minority.Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Beverley PurcellGuest; Annabel Fenwick-Elliott Guest; Hilda Burke Guest; Natalie Carter Guest; Melissa Cummings-Quarry Guest; Sophie Taylor Guest; Jo Fairley, Guest; Julie Baker Guest; Wanja Kimani Guest; Rachel Edwards

How do you teach gender equality to boys?

Listener Ellie Kemp wants to raise the subject of school Parent Teacher Associations and the difficulties they face in finding parents who have the time or the confidence to volunteer, particularly in rural areas, as well as the increasing reliance schools have on the money they raise. She is Chair of her son’s school PTA. What is the role of PTAs, what part do they play in children’s learning and what are the benefits for the volunteers and pupils? With Gill Sims, illustrator, blogger and author of the Why Mummy series and Tracey Handley, from the charity ParentkindOne listener asked us to discuss manners – she says her grandchildren seem to be growing up without learning any table manners and fewer and fewer grown-ups now hold a knife, fork and spoon properly. How much do manners matter? We hear from Gill Sims, author of the Why Mummy series. Listener Paris Moore is training to compete in her first IronMan competition in Barcelona in October. She wants to raise questions about attitudes to women compet