Woman's Hour

Tantrums are an inevitable part of living with a toddler. But with the prospect of weeks or even months of families cooped up together ahead of us, how can parents keep meltdowns (by toddlers and themselves!) to a minimum? Emily Jones is a professor of infant neurodevelopment and autism at the Birkbeck Babylab and she tells Jane what’s happening when a child has a tantrum, when and how to intervene, and gives top tips for parents trying to cope.Earlier this week, the former cabinet minister Amber Rudd tweeted “During Gov briefings am I the only one thinking ‘where are all the women?’ Why are there no senior women in the “war cabinet” or used to convey those critical messages? Equality means better decisions. Don’t pack the women away during a crisis.” Many were quick to reply that this was no time for quotas and that ability matters more than equality. But what are the problems with not including the different perspectives and lived experiences of women in decision making? We hear from former Conservative cabinet minister, Amber Rudd, Caroline Criado-Perez, the author of ‘Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men’ and Simone Schnall, Reader in Experimental Social Psychology and Director of Studies in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Jesus College, Cambridge.To mark the Spring Equinox, Radio 4 is broadcasting readings of seasonal poetry. Today we have poetry from the award-winning Welsh poet and playwright, Menna Elfyn.Mothers' Day can be a difficult time for some people, Robyn Donaldson and Emma Hopkinson tell us why they started Others' Day. Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Amber Rudd Interviewed Guest: Caroline Criado-Perez Interviewed Guest: Simone Schnall Interviewed Guest: Professor Emily Jones Interviewed Guest: Menna Elfyn Interviewed Guest: Emma Hopkinson Interviewed Guest: Robyn Donaldson

The Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson has confirmed that all schools will close in England and Wales and there’ll be no GCSE or A Level exams this summer. How are schools and pupils proposing to cope? Ruby is a 17-year old pupil in Somerset, due to take her A levels shortly. Charlie is 25 and is doing an access course to be a paramedic. It involves cramming 2 years of A-levels into 1 year. Carolyn Roberts is the Head Teacher at Thomas Tallis School in South London. A legal challenge over alleged changes to Crown Prosecution Service policy on bringing charges in rape cases was dismissed by the high court this week. The Centre for Women’s Justice brought the case on behalf of the End Violence Against Women Coalition following concerns over steep falls in rape charges and convictions in recent years - at a time when an increasing number of women have been making rape complaints to police. Human rights lawyer, Harriet Wistrich, clarifies why the case was brought and someone we are calling Olivia explains why she wanted her case to be one of the 21 cases included as evidence.The writer Sali Hughes has been talking to women about objects in their lives that are important to them. The things we cherish aren’t always vintage, or even antique - or even expensive. The TV presenter and chef Andi Oliver talks about a one-of-a-kind blanket knitted by her mother.And in today’s family secret is that of a woman we are calling ‘H’ whose whole life has been shaped by the sense that there was something she wasn’t being told. Finding out the truth at the age of 17 at a family party and the realisation that everyone else in the family knew all along made her ill. H tells Jo Morris her story.

In the latest in our series of Family Secrets a listener called Helen got in touch to tell us about the discovery she made after the death of her mother and the suicide pact she kept quiet about for nearly forty years. Last week’s budget saw a series of big public spending and investment projects announced. These focused on physical infrastructure. But what of social infrastructure – the investment in people who staff social care and the support for women in and out of work as the country faces the enormous challenge of Covid 19. Jenni speaks to Professor Diane Elson of the Women’s Budget Group and Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director of Age UK.Curator, writer and lecturer Bolanle Tajudeen is the founder of Black Blossoms, a platform dedicated to spotlighting black women and black non-binary visual artists. Jenni met Bolanle recently at the Women of the World 10th anniversary festival. How has black feminism influenced the work of black female fine art artists and why do they struggle to get a platform for their work.Diana Nammi grew up in the Kurdish region of Iran in the 1960s and 1970s, playing her own part in the revolution of 1979. At the age of 17, under the new Islamic regime, she became a Pershmerga, Kurdish fighter. Twelve years on the frontline, she discusses her book ‘Girl with a Gun’.Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Carolyn Abrahams Interviewed Guest: Diane Elson Interviewed Guest: Bolanle Tajudeen Reporter: Jo Morris Interviewed Guest: Diana Nammi

We consider the latest advice for pregnant women when it comes to coronavirus. Jane speaks to Jess Brammer, editor in chief HuffPost UK, who is currently on maternity leave and Dr Mary Ross-Davie - Director for Scotland, Royal College of Midwives. And in other coronavirus news: many offices, shops, bars, restaurants, schools, are likely to close. Many workers and businesses will see their income collapse, almost overnight. So what if you are laid off? What if you are self-employed? What financial decisions should you be making? What support could you be entitled to?Glenda Jackson plays the poet, writer and critic Edith Sitwell in Radio 4 drama Edith Sitwell in Scarborough. She joins Jane to discuss Edith, as well as being on grandma duty and what books she would recommend during a period of isolation. The Scottish Government is currently consulting on a Bill to reform the Gender Recognition Act. Jane talks to Rhona Hotchkiss, former governor of Cornton Vale prison in Stirling and signatory of SNP women’s pledge and James Morton, Manager of the Scottish Trans Alliance about concerns for protecting trans rights and women’s rights and how any Scottish legislation will sit with the UK Equality Act 2010. Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Dr Mary Ross-Davie Interviewed guest: Jess Brammer Interviewed guest: Jasmine Birtles Interviewed guest: Glenda Jackson Interviewed guest: Rhona Hotchkiss Interviewed guest: James Morton Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Jane Garvey takes your calls on Covid-19. Joined by Psychologist Laverne Antrobus and Sarah Stewart Brown Professor of Public Health at Warwick University .What measures are you putting in place? How will you manage with young as well as older children, do you face particular problems with those that have special needs. What about work ? If you are someone who can work at home do you have the tech to support that.Have you thought about setting up a local neighbourhood support network? What provisions are you putting in place for older relatives? How do you think you will cope with being socially isolated ? If you’re in cramped accommodation or shared housing, how do you see that working out.What about the financial implications - if you’re on low income or a zero hours contract and perhaps rely on things like free school meals We'd love to hear your thoughts. Lines open at 8am on Monday morning 03700 100 444. You can email via the website or tweet your comments @bbcwomanshour now.Presenter Jane Garvey Producer Beverley PurcellGuest; Prof Sarah Stewart Brown Guest; Lavern Antrobus

We hear from the singer turned interviewer Jessie Ware and her mum Lennie about their hit podcast Table Manners, where they cook dinner for a different celebrity every week. They’ve turned their favourite recipes into a cook book. Black Women and sexual violence. What are the cultural barriers making it difficult for black women to discuss and disclose sexual violence? And what is cultural betrayal theory?Chief Foreign correspondent Christina Lamb tells us about her new book ‘Our Bodies Their Battlefield'. And we talk about the signficance of Women’s History Month with Professor Selina Todd and Professor Krista Cowman.Presenter Jane Garvey. Producer Siobhann TigheInterviewed guests: Jessie Ware Lennie Ware Christina Lamb Leanne Levers Jennifer Gómez Selina Todd Krista Cowman

Over the past few years we have seen a number of high profile men being publically accused of sexual abuse and assault. It’s become a pinnacle aspect of the #MeToo movement. So why is the act of speaking out still met with so much resentment? Why is it so difficult to criticise male celebrities who have large followings? And how much more complex does this issue become when it intersects with race? Jacqueline Springer is a contemporary black music and culture journalist and lecturer. Leanne Levers has a PhD in politics and international studies, focusing on sexual violence and justice reform in minority communities. Jennifer M. Gómez is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Psychology at Wayne State University in Michigan.How do you prepare your family in the event of a coronavirus lockdown? What plans should you make to keep your children entertained if the schools shut and they are stuck at home, how can you make home working work for you and how can you stop petty arguments with your partner or loved ones if you’re stuck in each other’s company for an indefinite period of time? Beverly Ramsey is living in Parma in Italy and tells us about the realities of coping with three children in a city in lockdown and Laverne Antrobus a Consultant Child and Educational Psychologist offers advice on we can best deal with this unusual situation.On Sunday it was International Women’s Day and one of the events to mark the occasion took place at the Roundhouse in North London. It was part of the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival and featured an all female line up including Jehenny Beth on going solo and her relationship with PJ Harvey.Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Jacqueline Springer Interviewed guest: Leanne Levers Interviewed guest: Jennifer M. Gomez Interviewed guest: Beverly Ramsey Interviewed guest: Laverne Antrobus Interviewed guest: Jehenny Beth Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Jessie and Lennie Ware on their relationship since making their Table Manners podcast

BBC Young Reporter Competition is in its second year. More than 2000 young people suggested an original story idea that they wanted the BBC to report on and it was Kay from Bristol who won gold this year. She's 19 now but when she was 12 she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. She's now volunteering at a hospital and it's been life-changing. Our reporter Ena Miller met Kay and her mum, Eileen, at home in Bristol.March is a big month for women. We have International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, but that gets less attention. Why? Jenni talks to two historians, Professor Selina Todd and Professor Krista Cowman, about it's importance and significance.Leftover Women is an unflattering term used in China to describe women who aren't married. China has 30 million more men than women, leaving single women under pressure to marry quickly or risk being rejected by society. Jenni hears from Shosh Shlam, writer and co-director of the film Leftover Women, and Qui Hua Mei who's a lawyer.Lost is a tale of two siblings living in extreme poverty. It's told through the eyes of Lola. She's a resourceful, brave and loyal teenager who’s desperately trying to find her way home. Jenni talks to the author, Ele Fountain, about what inspired her to write the book and why she hopes it’ll start a conversation about friendship, family and finding a sense of belonging.

We’re celebrating women in music with this special collaboration between Woman’s Hour and BBC 6 Music, recorded at the 6 Music Festival in Camden, North London. Presenter Georgie Rogers goes backstage at the historic Roundhouse venue to speak to some of the brilliant female artists on the line-up about the women that inspire them and their experiences of the music industry. Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes tells Georgie how it feels to call the shots as a solo artist and shares the women that have inspired her in music and in life. Singer Nadine Shah discusses the gender pay gap in music, why there aren’t more women on festival line-ups and why the ticking of her generation’s biological clocks inspired new album Kitchen Sink. We speak to Jehnny Beth of Savages about starting out in the industry and how both David Bowie and her friend PJ Harvey inspired her first solo album. We also hear from composer Anna Meredith and 6 Music presenter and DJ legend Mary Anne Hobbs - who tells us why an event like the 6 Music Festival’s all-female line-up for International Women’s Day is so vital. Sunday’s bill at the Roundhouse saw Nadine, Jehnny and Anna perform alongside Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and poet, playwright and rapper Kate Tempest. The BBC 6 Music Festival took over Camden for three days of live music, DJ sets and talks with artists from Bombay Bicycle Club to Paul Weller, Hot 8 Brass Band to Roisin Murphy. You can hear highlights on BBC Sounds and watch some of the best performances on the BBC iPlayer and the 6 Music website. All music featured in this podcast was recorded live at the 6 Music Festival and broadcast on BBC 6 Music. Presenter: Georgie Rogers Guest: Brittany Howard Guest: Jehnny Beth Guest: Nadine Shah Guest: Anna Meredith Guest: Mary Anne Hobbs Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths Editor: Karen Dalziel