01/04/2010

Synopsis

Presented by Jenni Murray. Just a few months after coming on Woman's Hour last March to talk about her retirement plans, Baroness Glenys Kinnock decided against a slower pace of life and was appointed Minister of State at the Foreign Office. Today she joins Jenni to talk about her additional new responsibility in leading the Government's work, tackling violence against women overseas.

The British Film Institute launches its Paul Newman season with 20 of his films screened throughout April. But it is his partnership with Robert Redford that cemented box office status for both? Dr Sarah Churchwell, film critic and Senior Lecturer in America Studies at UEA and Antonia Quirke, author and film critic assess their careers. When it comes to choosing between them, is there any contest?

The wicked stepmother is one of the most compelling characters in myth and fairytale. And now that at least one in ten of us live in step-families, what do we really know about life with a modern stepmother, and life as a stepchild? We'll be hearing about new research into the 21st century stepmother from Dr Lisa Doodson, author of 'How to be a Happy Stepmum" and will also joined by the writer Sophie Parkin.

This month saw the UK release of the film version of Stieg Larsson's best seller, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". His work has divided opinion, with the title character Lisbeth Salander seen by some as a popular feminist heroine, while others damn the extreme violence perpetrated against some of the female characters as gratuitous and misogynist. Woman's Hour investigates.