Woman's Hour

Fear of becoming homeless is one of the factors that stops women leaving an abusive relationship. That’s according to the charity Women’s Aid which carried out research before covid, and collected evidence of women sofa-surfing, staying with friends or having difficulty getting a place in a refuge if they did leave. But now we're in lockdown have things got better or worse? In our latest Corona Diary we speak to ex-pat, Carol. She lives in Australia but was planning to move her whole family back to the UK. She wants to be closer to her elderly parents, but the complications of coronavirus have put a spanner in the works. Lockdown may be lifting at different rates around the UK, but for some people it still may be a long time before they see others from different households and what's more. touch them. Henrietta Harrison speaks to three women about missing touch, and how they're getting around it. Penny Wincer has written about caring. In her new book called Tender, she combines her own experiences as a carer with the experiences of others. She offers hints, guidance and support.

We look at the first UK study into the physical, emotional and financial abuse of some grandparents who are looking after their grandchildren as part of kinship care arrangements. Jane talks to the author of the report Dr Amanda Holt, a Reader in Criminology at the University of Roehampton and to Lucy Peake, the CEO of the kinship care charity Grandparents Plus. The scientist Marie Curie is recognised throughout the world but how much do you really know about her and her ground breaking Nobel prize winning discoveries? The Oscar nominated star of Gone Girl and A Private War Rosamund Pike on playing the Nobel prize winning scientist Marie Curie in the film Radioactive.The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill currently before Parliament means that “no fault” divorce is set to finally become law. Under the proposed law, a spouse could start divorce proceedings by stating a marriage has broken down irretrievably, rather than allege adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion. Family lawyers have long called for the reform to reduce unnecessary conflict between couples, especially where children are concerned. We discuss what it will mean. Florence Given is a 21-year-old artist, writer and feminist. In 2019 she was named Cosmopolitan’s Influencer of the Year. She has over 400,000 followers on Instagram. She has just written her first book, Women Don’t Owe You Pretty. She joins Jane to talk about body image, relationships, sexuality and why girls and women don’t owe prettiness to anyone.Presented by Jane Garvey Produced by Sarah Crawley Interviewed guest: Dr Amanda Holt Interviewed guest: Lucy Peake Interviewed guest: Rosamund Pike Interviewed guest: Liz Trinder Interviewed guest: Holly Atkins Interviewed guest: Florence Given

Harriet Harman MP, raises concerns about the current treatment of mothers in prison during Covid-19 and the impact on their children and family life.. Fertility clinics were told last month that they could reopen as long as social distancing measures were in place. Being without access to fertility treatment has left thousands of couples – as well as single women – worried that they might run out of chances to conceive, and run out of time. Research has begun into the impact of clinic coronavirus delays on people’s lives, relationships and feelings. Public toilets have been a well-known victim of council cuts, leaving the UK with 50% fewer toilets than a decade ago. Coronavirus has caused even more closures – albeit temporarily. But where does that leave people who need urgent access to the loo? Monica Dolan is best known for her role as senior communications officer Tracey Pritchard in the BBC’s comedy W1A. We speak to her about her latest film ‘Days of the Bagnold Summer’ about a mother and her relationship with her heavy metal loving teenage son. Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Harriet Harman MP Interviewed guest: Seetal Savla Interviewed guest: Zeynep Gurtin Interviewed guest: Rachel Cutting Interviewed guest: Bekki Farrar Interviewed guest: Monica Dolan Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

The US has been convulsed by nationwide protests over the death of an African-American man in police custody. George Floyd, 46, died after being arrested outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But what are black parents here saying to their youngsters about some of the images coming from America and about the protests about racism in the UK? We hear from parents Teiko Dornor, Ama Ocansey and Iesha Small.We hear from Carol Cooper, a diversity lead within the NHS, about race issues in the nursing profession and the way that race is being responded to as a risk factor as the NHS tackles Covid-19. How are our attitudes towards dating changing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic? Has it changed how people feel about meeting prospective partners in real life – now couples can meet for physically distanced dating? We hear from listeners Katie, Rachael and Gina and from Oloni a sex and relationship content creator and Zoe Strimpel the author of Seeking Love in Modern Britain.The physicist and oceanographer Dr Helen Czerski tells us about her documentary Ocean Autopsy on BBC Four.We hear how disabled women, who are shielding at home because they are considered ‘extrememely clinical vulnerable’ to Covid-19, are finding this experience. Katie Pennick talks to Fi Anderson, Sarabajaya Kumar and Amy Kavanagh.And ‘The Other One’ is new comedy about a girl called Catherine Walcott. And another girl called Catherine Walcott. Half-sisters who had no idea the other existed until their father died. We hear from the creator Holly Walsh and one of the stars taking on the role of Catherine - Ellie White.Presented by Jenni Murray Produced by Rabeka Nurmahomed

Carol Cooper was awarded Nursing’s Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year award in 2019, she is a Regional NHS Head of equality, diversity and human rights and is the a Royal College of Nursing expert lead for BME Suicide Awareness, Equality, Diversity and Human Rights. She is also a Registered Nurse. She talks to Jenni Murray about race issues in the nursing profession and the way it's being responded to as a risk factor, as the NHS tackles Covid-19.More in our series celebrating the women who get things done – the Troupers. Today, Louise Kershaw, the treasurer of the Flixton Social Lites WI in Cheshire Plus ahead of World Oceans Day on Monday, the physicist, oceanographer and bubbles enthusiast, Dr Helen Czerski, talks about her time on board the Pelagia, a Dutch Oceanographic research vessel and her mission to perform a comprehensive health check on the North Sea.And as we celebrate Desert Island Discs Day on Radio 4, Danelle Pettman tells us about the track that’s made all the difference to her life in lock down. Presenter Jenni Murray Producer Beverley PurcellGuest; Carol Cooper Guest; Louise Kershaw Guest; Dr Helen Czerski, Guest; Danelle Pettman

As we move to ease lockdown restrictions in this country, and look ahead to the “new normal”, there are a large number of people who are still very much in lockdown. Many people with medical conditions that make them “extremely clinically vulnerable” to COVID-19 are “shielding” for a minimum of 12 weeks. Shielding means staying in your home and not leaving for any reason, not even for exercise or to get food. How are disabled women finding this experience, and are they getting the support they need? Katie Pennick is a disability activist and journalist. She spoke to three other disabled women – Fi Anderson, Sarabajaya Kumar and Amy Kavanagh - to see how they have been affected. The next in our series celebrating the women who get things done – the Troupers. They are very bad at blowing their own trumpets so we are doing it for them. Mairi MacLean was born in the village of Morar in the Scottish Highlands. She has been campaigning for years to provide somewhere to play for the local children. Her friend Alison Stewart is keen she gets recognition for her efforts. And the rape and murder of a 22 year old microbiology student in a church in Benin City Nigeria has caused outrage across the country. Uwaila Omozuwa, who was using the church as a quiet place to study, was rushed to hospital after the attack but died last Saturday. A march protesting her death took place in Benin on Monday and #JusticeforUwa has been trending on Twitter. Amnesty International says that Nigeria government’s response to rape continues to be woefully inadequate. So what needs to be done to prevent sexual violence against women in the country? Jenni is joined by Osai Ojigho, Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria.

While the world has gone into lockdown and economies have crashed, one type of business has been seeing double-digit growth – direct selling. Independent consultants for big names such as Body Shop at Home, Forever Living, Avon, Usborne Books at Home and Arbonne have been reporting huge increases in sales and recruitment in response to regular shops closing their doors. But while proponents of ‘multi-level marketing’ or ‘direct to consumer’ selling say it provides an opportunity for women to earn money on their own terms, critics say that the business model sits precariously close to being a pyramid scheme. So what do women need to know? Jenni talks to Susannah Schofield, the DG of the Direct Selling Association; Hannah Martin of the Talented Ladies Club; and Clare from Hertfordshire, who talks about her experience of working in the industry.Meg Learmonth was just 18 when she was appointed drummer for the Stormzy collaborator Mura Masa. She describes how drumming was “love at first hit”, the tale behind her broken foot, touring before lockdown and her part in a 21 day drumming marathon to raise money for the NHS. Meg's 12 hour drumming shift is being streamed this Thursday, 4th June. What is it like coping with lockdown while living with an eating disorder? For today’s Woman’s Hour Corona Diaries, listener Jennie talks about her experience – including how being forced to stay at home has led to her making positive steps towards recovery.The Other One is new comedy on BBC1. It’s all about a girl called Catherine Walcott. And another girl called Catherine Walcott. Half-sisters who had no idea the other existed until their father died. Jenni talks to its creator Holly Walsh and one of the stars taking on the role of Catherine - Ellie White.Presented by Jenni Murray Produced by Jane ThurlowInterviewed guest: Susannah Schofield Interviewed guest: Hannah Martin Interviewed guest: Meg Learmonth Interviewed guest: Holly Walsh Interviewed guest: Ellie White

The US has been convulsed by nationwide protests over the death of an African-American man in police custody. George Floyd, 46, died after being arrested by police outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But what are black parents here saying to their youngsters about some of the images coming from America, such as the arrest footage itself, then the violent demonstrations and the angry confrontations between protesters and the police? And how does what happens there relate to how things are here?Could Neanderthal genes be influencing the fertility of modern humans? New research shows that one in three women in Europe have inherited sections of Neanderthal DNA that make them have fewer bleedings during pregnancy, fewer miscarriages and give birth to more children. Dr Hugo Zeberg from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany explains what it might mean for future fertility research.How are attitudes towards dating changing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic? Has it changed how people feel about meeting prospective partners in real life? And now couples can meet for physically distanced dating, how confident will people feel about getting physically intimate once restrictions are lifted further? Zoe Strimpel is the author of Seeking Love in Modern Britain: Gender, Dating and the Rise of ‘the Single’. Oloni is a sex and relationships content creator. Coronavirus has made visible an often forgotten group of people – volunteers. Thousands have signed up to help the NHS, local residents’ groups have got together to help those who can’t get to the shops, or to call people who might be experiencing severe isolation. Before lockdown, Woman’s Hour began interviewing women who volunteered in all sorts of areas – from community cafes to food banks and working with the homeless. They're women who see a gap or a problem to be solved, and just get on with it – Troupers. They told their stories to Laura Thomas. Today it’s the turn of Sandy Collver, a volunteer nurse with St Johns Ambulance Sussex Homeless Service.

More from our series that celebrates the women who get things done – the Troupers. They're very bad at blowing their own trumpets so we're doing it for them. Today we hear from Annie Taylor and Wendy Robinson the founders of the Profanity Embroidery Group in Whitstable.After building up credit card debt of £25,000 Clare Seal decided she had to do something drastic to deal with it. She set up an Instagram account to make herself accountable. Posting anonymously she shared her story and offered advice and solidarity to a growing community of people. She’s now written a book with tips and advice for others in a similar situation. It’s called Real Life Money: an honest guide to taking control of your finances Plus two midwives from Kent Kent midwives - Sally Sidhu and Jan Gatehouse - who've just an award for their work on promoting colostrum tell Jane all about the benefits of so called "liquid gold" especially for premature babies. And as some children in England return to school how do you deal with a child who still needs to be shielded. Presenter Jane Garvey Producer Beverley PurcellGuest; Annie Taylor Guest; Wendy Robinson Guest; Clare Seal Guest; Sally Sidhu Guest; Jan Gatehouse

An editorial in the British Medical Journal reported that one in five harmful and dependent drinkers got the help they needed, and now the proportion will be lower. How do you cope with an alcohol problem under lockdown? We hear the experience of a listener, the journalist Catherine Renton who has been sober for over 3 years, and from Julia Sinclair, professor of Addiction Psychiatry, University of Southampton and consultant in alcohol addiction. She’s also chair of the Royal College of Psychiatry’s addiction faculty.It is fifty years since the Equal Pay Act became law. However, it’s proved tricky over the years for women to find out what their male comparators were earning. It’s also proved tricky for women without financial and legal support to use the law. However, cases have been brought over the years and as the law has been strengthened. Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and Jane Hannon, Employment partner at the law firm DLA Piper discuss. The writer Michele Roberts discusses her memoir Negative Capability - written after the rejection of a novel by her publisher caused hurt and depression. Lizzie tells her story of giving birth during lockdown. We also hear from the obstetrician Dr Kenga Sivarajah.Council cuts have meant that there are 50% fewer public toilets than a decade ago. Coronavirus has caused even more closures – albeit temporarily. But where does that leave people who need urgent access to the loo? Jo Umbers from the Bladder and Bowel community explains how this issue is affecting women of all ages. Raymond Martin, from the British Toilet Association, discusses the economic and health importance of public toilets in a post-Covid world.Jackie Kay, the National Poet for Scotland, discusses her new online poetry and music festival Makar to Makar, which is streaming via the National Theatre of Scotland's YouTube channel. We also hear poetry from Gerda Stevenson and music from Claire Brown, who are both performing in the festival.Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Dianne McGregor