Woman's Hour Folgen

The stereotypical view of a gamer is a socially-isolated teenager who could be doing something better with their time. Liz Vickers is a 74 year old gamer from Manby, Lincolnshire, and so is her good friend, Bridget Odlin, aged 75, from Louth, Lincolnshire. They’ve been playing together, and separately, for almost more than 20 years. Lotta Haegg, an avid gamer herself, speaks to them. A new government report in Ireland shows that 6666 women accessed abortions there in 2019. This is the first annual report to be published since medical abortion became legal in Ireland up to twelve weeks of pregnancy. This followed the result of the May 2018 referendum on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. What do the figures tell us about abortion care in Ireland now? Jenni speaks to Ellen Coyne, a journalist at the Irish Independent newspaper and Dr Trish Horgan, a GP in Cork City and member of START - Southern Taskgroup on Abortion and Reproductive Topics.The novelist Amanda Craig joins Jenni to discuss her ninth novel - 'The Golden Rule'; inspired by both Patricia Highsmith’s classic, 'Strangers on a Train', and the fairy-tale, 'Beauty and the Beast'.Leading women in theatre have sent an open letter to Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport. They are asking the task force, responsible for cultural renewal following the coronavirus pandemic, to develop their plans using a “gender lens” to ensure gender equality is considered and ensured. Maureen Beattie OBE, president of equity and Jennifer Tuckett, director of university women in the arts and literary director of Sphinx Theatre, discuss their concerns that gender inequality will increase in straitened, risk-averse conditions.Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Ellen Coyne Interviewed Guest: Dr Trish Horgan Interviewed Guest: Liz Vickers Interviewed Guest: Bridget Odlin Reporter: Lotta Haeg Interviewed Guest: Amanda Craig Interviewed Guest: Maureen Beattie Interviewed Guest: Jennifer Tuckett

Dawn Bilbrough is a critical care nurse from York who in the early stages of COVID-19 posted an emotional video on social media that went viral. She was appealing to the public to stop panic buying as she was unable to get the basics in her supermarket after her shift ended. She joins Jane to discuss the impact of the video and what it has been like working on the frontline. This week Woman's Hour is focusing on women and gaming – and today we hear from cyberpsychologist Dr Daria Kuss who's been investigating the links between game-play and well-being. Our reporter Lotta Haegg also speaks to Emma Brown from Oxford, who's discovered a new-found motivation for exercise thanks to a virtual reality headset, and Lucy Hull from Birmingham who plays video games to forget her complex health problems.Last month information on the NHS website about the use of puberty blockers was changed. It had previously said that the drugs used to supress hormones at the onset of puberty in children experiencing gender dysphoria were fully reversible. The NHS now offers the cautious advice that: “Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria”. NICE, the body which provides evidence-based guidance for the NHS is currently examining the latest clinical guidance on puberty blockers and cross sex hormones as part of a review of current policies. Deborah Cohen, Health Correspondent for BBC Newsnight explains what medical questions there are about the use of puberty blockers and what the current review means. Poulomi Basu is an Indian artist, photographer and activist, whose work advocates for the rights of women. Her new book Centralia takes the reader deep into the forests of central India, where a little known and under reported conflict between an indigenous tribal people and the Indian state has been simmering for more than four decades. Poulomi went to the region and was embedded with female guerrillas who shared their documents and stories with her.In the final part of our series 'Troupers' - which celebrates the many and varied ways in which volunteers support our communities - we meet Sarah Burrows. She talks about her efforts to help families protect and support children affected by a parent being sent to prison. The reporter is Laura Thomas.

Last week Johnson & Johnson announced it will cease production on two lines of skin-lightening products sold in countries across Asia and the Middle East. At the same time, Unilever, who own the skin-lightening cream Fair & Lovely, have announced that they will change the product’s name. How significant are these moves? And why does the skin-lightening industry continue to be so popular, despite the dangers and controversy? Nimmi Dosanjh is Indian-Kenyan and light-skinned. Her 11 year old daughter is dark-skinned. Geeta Pandey is the Editor of BBC News Online, India Women and Social Affairs. Linasha Kotalawala is a lifestyle and beauty blogger.Over the next few days we’re going to be looking at women and gaming - the stereotype that only adolescent boys play video games doesn’t tally with the figures, which show women make up almost 50 per cent of those that play. And, women over 40 are among the fastest growing group of people who regularly engage in smartphone, video, or computer games. Our reporter, Lotta Haegg, a gamer herself, has been speaking to women who are changing the culture of the industry and refusing to accept the stereotypes. Rhianna Pratchett is a video game writer and journalist.Panama implemented a state-enforced lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19 which was sex-segregated. In this, women are allowed out of the house on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and men on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On these days, individuals were only able to go to the supermarket or pharmacy. Clare Wenham, Assistant Professor in Global Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science tells us how it worked out.Four single mothers have launched legal proceedings against the government over the child maintenance support system which they say is failing them and their children. The women are being supported by the campaign group Gingerbread – Victoria Benson is their Chief Executive. Natalie has struggled to get maintenance payments for her sons for the last five years. But first we speak to Selaine Saxby, Conservative MP for North Devon and a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee.Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Nimmi Dosangh Interviewed Guest: Geeta Pandey Interviewed Guest: Linasha Kotalawala Interviewed Guest: Rhianna Pratchett Reporter: Lotta Haegg Interviewed Guest: Clare Wenham Interviewed Guest: Selaine Saxby Interviewed Guest: Victoria Benson