Woman's Hour

Two women have been picked for top European Union positions for the first time. In a surprise choice, Germany’s defence minister Ursula von der Leyen has been nominated to head the European Commission. And France’s Christine Lagarde will be the head of the European Central Bank. Sophie Pedder, The Economist’s Paris Bureau Chief, and Deborah Cole, AFP’s Berlin Correspondent, tell us more about these women and the controversy surrounding their nominations.Writer Joanna Kavenna talks about her new novel, Zed. Set in a dystopian future the novel covers phenomena such as AI, virtual reality, fake news, creepy surveillance by huge corporations, powerless politicians, public anger, toxic masculinity, revolutionary women and much more besides.The England Women’s football team has grabbed the attention of a nation, reaching the Women's World Cup semi-finals, before a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat by holders the United States. An estimated 11.7million viewers, a new record for women's football in the UK, watched that game.

A new report by the Children’s Commissioner for England estimates that there are 2.3 million children in England growing up with a vulnerable family background and half of these children receive patchy or no support at all. What needs to change to improve the lives of vulnerable children and have children fallen down the political agenda? Jenni speaks to Rachel Dickinson, President of the Association for Directors of Children’s Services, Alka Dass, a mother fighting cuts to children’s services in her area and to Neera Sharma, Head of Policy from the children’s charity Barnardos.O'Hooley & Tidow are an English folk music duo from Yorkshire, consisting of Heidi Tidow and Belinda O'Hooley. They have been performing together for ten years, and have released seven albums. Their track ‘Gentleman Jack’ features as the closing music on the BBC’s drama series of the same name. They'll be talking about their music and performing live in the studio. According to UN data an estimated 200 million girls and women w

You’re ready for that nerve wracking event in every parent’s life – the school parents’ evening. You’ve done your best to look neat and tidy when your son says, ‘Mum, you’re not going in that jacket are you?’ It seems there is no fashion critic so brutal as a child – especially if Mum is going to be witnessed by their peers and teachers. We sent Tamsin Smith to meet some women and their children to find out why it matters so much.

New research from the University of York shows that the number of women dependent on cannabis has been underestimated and that there is significant gender bias in the way cannabis dependence is assessed and counted meaning that women may not be getting the help they need. Jenni speaks to Ian Hamilton, senior lecturer in addiction and mental health in the Department of Health Sciences, University of York.Julie Heldman is a former American tennis player who won 22 women’s tournaments. She reached number 5 in career ranking playing against stars such as Billie Jean King, Margaret Court and Yvonne Goolagong. She has written her memoir ‘Driven: A Daughter’s Odyssey’ about her time on the tennis circuit, the fight for equality in the game and the role her mother Gladys, the founder of World Tennis magazine, played in starting the women’s pro tour in 1970. You’re ready for that nerve wracking event in every parent’s life – the school parents’ evening. You’ve done your best to look neat and tidy when your son say

It's 50 years since the Stonewall riots, a defining moment in the history of the gay rights movement. We ask how visible lesbians were in those early days and how or whether this has changed as rights have progressed and the movement is now ever more inclusive.Scottish-American composer Thea Musgrave is one of the most respected composers of opera and classical music. At 91 she's still working and is soon to have the world premiere of her trumpet concerto at the Cheltenham Music Festival. Lisa Taddeo spent eight years talking to three women about their sex lives. Why? And what does the book have to tell us about shame, intimacy, pleasure and love?Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Angela Mason Interviewed guest: Angela Wild Interviewed guest: Kate Davies Interviewed guest: Thea Musgrave Interviewed guest: Lisa Taddeo Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

England women’s football team are through to the semi-finals of the World Cup. Ahead of the game on Tuesday evening we discuss their chances of winning the competition and the blossoming global love for the women’s game with Sunday Times sports journalist, Rebecca Myers and Patricia Gregory, who worked for BBC Sport and was one of the founders of the Women's Football Association.TUC research found that more than 52% of women – and nearly seven out of ten LGBT people – have experienced sexual harassment at work. Currently there is no duty on UK employers to prevent sexual harassment. A new campaign seeks to close the gap in the law that allows too many workplaces to treat such abuse as a sad inevitability. ‘This is not working’ is supported by unions, women’s rights organisations and charities. We hear from an anonymous case study and Nicola Smith, Head of Equality for the TUC joins Jane Garvey. Anuradha TK is a space engineer and specialises in sending satellites into space. She is the Geosat Programme Dire

We hear from Vicky Knight, the star of a new film ‘Dirty God’ about a young mother who is the victim of an acid attack.As we conclude our series on teenage mental health we hear from three parents about how they have helped their child deal with mental health issues and the impact of these problems on the whole family.With one in eight children being diagnosed with a mental health condition in England today, we look at support for parents while they are waiting for help for their child. We hear from Claire Murdoch the National Director of Mental Health at NHS England, Lisa McNally a director of public health Sandwell, and EmmaThomas the CEO of the charity Young Minds UK. We discuss the popularity of lip fillers with the journalist Claire Coleman, Megan Orr who has lip fillers and to Nici Cunningham whose daughter recently had her lips enhanced.Meaghan Beatley on the Spanish Wolfpack trial and the impact of Spain’s feminists on changing the original Supreme Court ruling from sexual abuse to gang rape.We discu

Over the last two weeks we’ve been looking at teenage mental health - we’ve talked to doctors, teachers, parents and to teenagers themselves. Last year referrals to Child And Adolescent Mental Health services were at their highest level ever. How have we got to this point? How can the situation be improved? We ask a panel of experts – Claire Murdoch, National Director for Mental Health, NHS England, Lisa McNally, director of Public Health in Sandwell, Sarah Hughes, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health and Emma Thomas, Chief Executive of Young Minds. Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Claire Murdoch Interviewed guest: Lisa McNally Interviewed guest: Sarah Hughes Interviewed guest: Emma Thomas Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Kate Tempest talks about her new album project produced by Rick Rubin. 'The Book of Traps And Lessons' has a run time of 43 mins and has a continuous narrative. She talks about her work and performs part of her ode to England and love. We look at what has become of the women who became the face of the peaceful protest that led to the removal of Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir, after his 30 year rule. We hear about a recent military crackdown and the sexual violence women that protesters have faced from journalists Yousra Elbagir, Channel 4 News’ foreign news reporter and Nima Elbagir, CNN Senior International Correspondent about the the women demanding democracy. Crime writer Clare Mackintosh's new novel ‘After The End’ looks at a couple who cannot agree over how to deal with their very ill son. She discusses how it draws, in part, on her own experience. And, the netballer Geva Mentor was part of England’s 2018 team, the Vitality Roses, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games. She talks about her career her

Catherine Carr speaks to four young people, ranging in age from 13 to 19, to hear from them directly about their mental health experiences. We don't use their names.

Vicky Knight, star of new film Dirty God, discusses how her experience of a fire influenced her role in the film.In the next in our series about teenage mental health, Catherine Carr speaks to four young people aged between 13 and 19 about their experiences.Love Island season is here and speculation is rife about which contestants have had cosmetic procedures. The most common appears to be lip fillers; Hyaluronic Acid which is injected into the lips for a temporarily inflated pout. But why is this procedure so popular, how is it administered and what are the risks? Jenni speaks to Megan Orr who has had lip fillers, Nici Cunningham whose daughter has enhanced lips and Clare Coleman. a journalist who’s written extensively about the subject.

When journalist Rebecca Reid discovered she was pregnant she didn’t want to wait until her 12 week scan to share her news. But, having told friends, family and even colleagues, at 10 weeks Rebecca discovered she had miscarried. She joins Jane to explain why she doesn’t regret her decision to announce her pregnancy before 12 weeks, along with Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story.What impact is a recent rape case having on calls for a change in laws around sexual abuse having in Spain? We're joined by Barcelona journalist Meaghan Beatley to discuss the so-called 'Wolfpack' trial and its repercussions. Three years ago Britain voted in a referendum to leave the European Union by 52 to 48 per cent. The country remains divided and in the EU elections last month many voters rejected the Conservative and Labour Party. Yesterday we spoke to two female MEPs elected last month for the new Brexit Party which benefited from the votes of frustrated Leave supporters. The Liberal Democrats, who back a

Third in our series about teenage mental health. So far we’ve talked to doctors and teachers, today we hear from the parents. 75% of mental health problems start before a child reaches their 18th birthday. How do parents or carers cope when their child develops an issue and they find themselves trying to help find solutions to really complex or upsetting problems? Catherine Carr reports. Britain’s Domestic abuse charities have got together this morning to issue a joint statement about the importance of taking action if you’re worried about someone’s safety. Jane speaks to Sarah Green, co-director of End Violence Against Women to explain why.The Brexit Party won 29 seats in last month’s European elections taking nearly a third of all votes cast. Eight of those MEPs are women and we’re joined by two of them. Belinda De Lucy was elected for the East of England region and June Mummery for the South East. With the opening session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg next week we talk to them about why they

The sex therapist Dr Ruth will be discussing porn, vibrators, Vigara and the importance of communication when it comes to great sex.We celebrate the summer solstice with the poet Elizabeth-Jane Burnett and her poem Preface.Why are women asked to undergo painful medical procedures without adequate pain relief? We hear one woman’s experience and from Paula Briggs a consultant in reproductive health and from Katherine Tylko an anti-hysteroscopy campaigner.UNICEF statistics reveal one woman and six new borns in Yeman die every two hours from pregnancy and childbirth complications which the organisation say is as a direct result of the conflict. We hear from Malak Hasan an advocacy and policy worker for UNICEF and from Yemeni born Mai Noman, a Digital Content Editor for the BBC’s Arabic Service.How tricky is it to introduce a new partner to family and friends after the death of a loved one? We hear from Barbara Want whose husband died in 2012, from Colette Jelfs whose husband died in 2006 and from the relationship

Sunday 23rd June is International Women in Engineering Day. We hear from three female engineers about their routes into the industry. Why despite various campaigns to attract women is it still such a male-dominated trade? The Resolution Foundation Think Tank studied changes in pay, housing, taxes and benefits to see if it was still true that newer generations are better off than their predecessors were. It found under-30s are spending less than that age group did 18 years ago. Over-65s' spending has risen by 37%. But they also found a huge gender wealth gap for baby boomers. While men and women have similar amounts of individual net wealth until their 50s, a huge divide opens up after that. The report finds that women in their late 60s have just over half the wealth of their male counterparts. Jenni speaks to Laura Gardiner, Research Director for The Resolution Foundation, to find out why.Friendship in modern times: longing for closer ties in the digital age, forging close friends as family, and idealised fe

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be focusing on teenage mental, talking to health professionals, teachers, parents and teenagers. Today the Prime Minister is at a school in London to launch a new initiative, that all teachers will be trained to spot early signs of mental health issues in pupils. Last year referrals to child and adolescent mental health services were at their highest level ever. We’ve become much better at acknowledging mental health issues, but if you need help, is it available? We speak to a consultant in emergency medicine with responsibility for mental health issues and to a GP.

As the candidate field narrows further in the Conservatives quest for the next leader, we discuss how those left are trying to win over different female electorates - MPs, the party membership and the women who will have to vote for the new PM in any general election. And, how do they compare to the Lib Dems where the favourite to become their next leader is a woman? Jenni spoke to Anne McElvoy, a senior editor at the Economist and Miranda Green, a journalist and former adviser to the Lib Dems.In 1961 an American pilot, Wally Funk wanted to be an astronaut and passed the Woman in Space programme as part of a group known as the Mercury 13. The programme was abruptly cancelled and instead Wally became America’s first woman aviation safety inspector and taught 3,000 pilots to fly. Now nearly 80, Wally still wants to go into space and is on the waiting list to go as a tourist.More than 2,000 people have died after being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through blood treatments. The victims were infected over

One woman and six new-born babies die during pregnancy or childbirth every two hours in Yemen according to UNICEF statistics released recently. The organisation says this is a direct result of the conflict there. We hear from Malak Hasan, an advocacy and policy worker for UNICEF and Yemeni-born Mai Noman, Digital Content Editor for the BBC’s Arabic service.Sex therapist Dr Ruth K Westheimer joins us to talk about a working life giving sex advice, and her recent 91st birthday celebrations. Dr Ruth became famous in the 1980s and 1990s with her frank advice about sex on radio and television. Born and brought up in Germany - she lost both her parents in the holocaust. She settled in America, writing and broadcasting about sex. She’s the subject of a new documentary ‘Ask Dr Ruth’ and was in the UK to take part in a debate at the Oxford union on pornography. We profile Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the city’s first female leader, elected in 2017. Roughly two million people marched in Hong Kong on Sund

What's the fascination with films books and television programmes like Killing Eve where the story centres on women obsessed with other women? Author Joanna Briscoe and journalist Sirin Kale discuss.We hear why a UK wide coalition of women’s organisations, represented by the Centre for Women’s Justice, has begun legal action against the Crown Prosecution Service claiming that rape cases are being dropped because of a change in policy and practice. Beth and Gina tell us what happened to them and Rachel Krys the co-founder of End Violence Against Women tells us what the coalition is hoping to achieve.Food writer Jack Monroe Cooks the Perfect....Cannellini Beurre Blanc.Emma Land and Tontschy Gerig tell us how the struggled to find work after a long period off.The Booker Prize winner for fiction Arundhati Roy tells us about her new book of political essays focusing on environmental degradation, government elites and the impact on the poorest and most marginalised people in India.Ell Potter and Mary Higgins tell u

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be devoting a lot of time to teenage mental health. If you’re reaching for the off switch you do need to hear this - people on the front line with real experience and insights. We’ll be talking to health professionals, teachers, parents and, finally, young people themselves. We aren’t naming any of them so they can talk freely. Today, two health professionals: a Consultant in Emergency Medicine who leads on Mental Health and, to begin with, a GP, the first point of call for many teenagers and their parents. You’ll hear them talking about CAM-H. – that’s an acronym for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.We discuss the latest front cover of French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo. It is an explicit and sexualised image of a football on a woman’s vulva. How have French feminists reacted to it and what is the impact on the Women’s Football World Cup which France is hosting? For more than thirty years, Maud West ran a detective agency in London. What was it like