Listen :
Availability:
Available to listen.
Last broadcast on Fri, 27 Jan 2012, 10:00 on BBC Radio 4 (FM only).
Synopsis
New poll data suggests that men and women are more or less, equally unconvinced by the idea of Ed Miliband as Prime Minister. But when asked to say why they find it hard to imagine him in the top job women are much more likely to say they don't know enough about him to make a clear judgement. Men are firmer in their reasons; more of them think he is not up to the job of being Prime Minister. So is this a glimmer of hope for Labour? What can the party's strategists do to sell their leader to women.
When should you tell people you're pregnant? It used to be that most women would wait until at least 12 weeks, then, once people knew, you'd simply wait until the baby was born. Today's parents can have 3 dimensional photographs of the foetus. Some people post their scans on Facebook or announce their pregnancy on Twitter. You can find out the baby's sex, you can give it a name. So how has technology changed the 'pregnancy announcement' - and has it done so for the better?
We visit the Armitt Museum in the Lake District - founded by three sisters from Salford and home to some of the area's most important papers.
It's 40 years since MASH first appeared on television - and with it one of the most famous female soldiers - Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan. Since then we've had Private Benjamin and GI Jane, plus a host of futuristic soldiers in films like Avatar, Starship Troopers and Aliens. So how has the cinematic image of women in uniform changed since World War Two?
Plus - your response to whether Miss, Mrs and Ms should be ditched.
Presented by Jenni Murray.
When to tell people you're pregnant
When would you tell people you’re pregnant and who would you tell? It used to be that most women would wait until at least three months, when the main danger of miscarriage was over. Then, once people knew, you’d simply wait until the baby was born. Today’s parents can have 3 dimensional photographs of the foetus - some people post their scans on Facebook or announce their pregnancy on Twitter. You can find out the baby’s sex, you can give it a name – you can call it by its name before it’s born. The Royal College of Midwives has expressed concerns about the commercialisation of commodification of pregnancy – so how has technology changed the ‘pregnancy announcement’ – and has it done so for the better?
Jenni is joined by Justine Roberts; co founder and chief executive of Mumsnet and Judy Reith; from Parenting People, which offers courses and coaching to mothers and fathers.
Military women in film & television
It’s 40 years since MASH first appeared on television – and with it one of the most famous female soldiers – Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan. Since then we’ve had Private Benjamin and GI Jane, plus a host of futuristic soldiers in films like Avatar, Starship Troopers and Aliens. Professor Yvonne Tasker is the author of ‘Soldiers’ Stories: Military Women in Cinema and Television since World War II’. She’s traced the portrayal of military women in musicals, comedies, drama, and thrillers. Kirsty Bushell, was in the RAF for 24 years - so how much of what we see on film rings true?
The Armitt Sisters
The Armitt Sisters, three of them, were born in Salford, but it’s in the Lake District, rather than in their home city, where they’re best known. Sophia was born in 1847, Annie in 1850 and Mary Louisa – known as Louie – in 1851. Unusually for women of the period they were highly educated. Louie received a scholarship to Cambridge. They eventually settled near Ambleside, and between them collected together some of the most important manuscripts, books and maps about the Lakes, including reams of scientific papers written by Beatrix Potter. Their collection was eventually gathered together in a museum bearing their name, which this year celebrates its centenary. Caz Graham went to visit it, and spoke to the library’s guides Clare Brockbank and Barbara Crossley.
Ed Milliband
New poll data suggests that men and women are more or less, equally unconvinced by the idea of Ed Miliband as Prime Minister. But when asked to say why they find it hard to imagine him in the top job women are much more likely to say they don't know enough about him to make a clear judgement. Men are firmer in their reasons; more of them think he is not up to the job of being Prime Minister. So is this a glimmer of hope for Labour? What can the party's strategists do to sell their leader to women. To discuss the issues Jenni is joined by former Downing Street Adviser, Matthew Taylor and journalist Anne McElvoy.
Your responses
The small French town of Cesson-Sevigne has banned the word “mademoiselle”, arguing that women, like men, should not be defined by their marital status. In Germany, Fraulein stopped being used to address adult women in 1972. On Wednesday's programme we discussed whether it is time we Brits got rid of Miss and Mrs? We hear your responses to this item.
Chapters
-
Chapter 1
What can the party's strategists do to sell their leader to women. Jenni is joined by former Downing Street Adviser, Matthew Taylor and journalist Anne McElvoy.
-
Chapter 2
Jenni is joined by Justine Roberts, co founder and chief executive of Mumsnet and Judy Reith from Parenting People, which offers courses and coaching to mothers and fathers
-
Chapter 3
Caz Graham visits the Armit sisters' nineteenth century collection of manuscripts, books and maps now housed in a museum.
-
Chapter 4
We discussed whether it is time we Brits got rid of Miss and Mrs? We hear your responses to this item.
-
Chapter 5
Jenni talks to Professor Yvonne Tasker who’s traced the portrayal of military women in musicals, comedies, drama, and thrillers and Kirsty Bushell, who was in the RAF for 24 years.
Broadcast
-
Fri 27 Jan 201210:00
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~56~RS~){kind=small}