Woman's Hour

In January 1919 the Spartacus League attempted to overthrow the German government. It was a short-lived revolutionary bid and its two leaders were brutally murdered and dumped in a Berlin river. One of those leaders was Rosa Luxemburg, a Polish Jew by background, a late comer to feminism, and a committed revolutionary socialist who appeared to foresee the dangers of the Russian Revolution. Yesterday marks the 100th anniversary of her death. Professor Jacqueline Rose joins us to discuss her life, her letters and her legacy. West Midlands Police has failed to record over 16,000 violent and sexual crimes. That’s according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary who describe it as “inadequate”. The wording in its report out this week is strong, stating “Too often the force is still failing victims of crime, including domestic abuse victims”. So how big is the problem of unrecorded crime and what can the 43 forces in England and Wales do to improve it? More than half of women are losing their virginity before they are ready according to a new study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. what impact does that have on our well being and health and our whole attitude to sex.. Following Andy Murray’s emotional press conference last week when he suggested he might retire soon, Jess Phillips MP tweeted; “Great player, normal bloke, and best of all casual feminist.” The tweet went viral, with followers expressing approval for the term and nominating other casual feminists. So what is a casual feminist? Presenter Jenni Murray Producer Beverley Purcell Guest; ZOE BILLINGHAM. Guest; KATIE RUSSELL Guest; Prof. KAYE WELLINGS Guest; REBECCA MYERS, Guest; JESS PHILLIPS MP. Guest; Prof JACQUELINE ROSE

If you’ve already got two children out of bed this morning, washed, teeth brushed, dressed, breakfasted and off to school and then set about doing whatever’s necessary for you, the concept of a stress-free family life may seem somewhat alien. And it’s not only hard to imagine if your children are young. The same stresses can be present if the grown ups can’t afford their own place and come back home. Two books have been published which propose assistance. Dr Rangan Chattergee has written The Stress Solution. Dr Genevieve von Lob is the author of Happy Parent Happy Child – a 10 step plan for a stress free family life. They join Jenni to discuss tips for de-stressing.

Kurdish politician Leyla Guven faces many years in a Turkish prison. She has been on hunger strike for nearly 70 days and is now gravely ill. Human rights lawyer Margaret Owen has just returned from Turkey with the latest news of Leyla Guven and other Kurdish women on hunger strike. Marin Alsop is number 8 on the Woman's Hour Power 2018 which celebrates women in music. A leading conductor, she became the first woman to conduct at the Last Night of the Proms and is an active supporter of young women in the field. Female artists are dominating the shortlist of the 2019 Brit Awards. We hear a quick run down from Newsbeat's entertainment reporter Sinead Garvan. How do you get the best out of work and the best out of your home life? We explore whether freelance work & working from home contribute to or take away the difficulties of maintaining a good work-life balance. Hand holding, hugs or even just a rub on the back - it's well know physical affection is good for our emotional well being. But how do you cope when it might not be something that comes naturally? Or what if your partner or friend doesn't like physical affection? Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Margaret Owen Interviewed guest: Marin Alsop Interviewed guest: Sinead Garvan Interviewed guest: Annie Ridout Interviewed guest: Corinne Stuart Interviewed guest: Njilan Morris-Jarra Interviewed guest: Natasha Page Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Malala Yousafzai is a beacon for girls’ education, famously continuing her campaign after she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman aged 15. She’s now written a new book highlighting the stories of girls around the world who become refugees. She joins Jane to discuss seeing beyond the language used around migrants today. From lace making and hammering chains to video conferencing, where women work continues to be a crucial indicator of their role in society. We discuss the history of women working from home with the creators of new exhibition in Leeds: Imagining Women’s Home-Work: History, Photography, Activism. How often do you feel daunted by your to-do list – the bills to pay, the play dates to arrange, the tax return to complete? Elizabeth Emens is Professor of Law at Columbia Law School. A working mother, with two young children, going through a divorce, she became swamped by life admin. To find a solution and help others she has written The Art of Life Admin: How to do less, do it better and live more. The longest running women’s weekly magazine The People’s Friend is 150 years old. We mark the birthday with Editor Angela Gilchrist. Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed Guests: Malala Yousafzai Interviewed Guests: Leonora Saunders Interviewed Guests: Helen McCarthy Interviewed Guests: Elizabeth Emens Interviewed Guests: Angela Gilchrist Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

The Radio 1 DJ and number 12 on the Woman’s Hour Powerlist 2018, Annie Mac, introduces us to the new music and women we’ll be listening to this year. The writer Michele Roberts and the playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz discuss the life and feminism of the pioneering writer Colette. For more than six years the BBC Presenter Alex Lovell was sent threatening cards from an unknown stalker. Gordon Hawthorn was jailed last week for two years and six months. Alex tells us how the experience impacted her life. Cyntoia Brown was granted clemency in the US after serving 15 years of a life conviction for murder. Leah Carroll, a crime and culture reporter for Refinery 29 in New York, tells us about Cyntoia’s story and why her release is so significant. Melanie Brown refuses to hide her mastectomy. She tells us why she didn’t want reconstruction and discusses why society and bra makers still struggle to accept or cater for women like her. Is the dance floor the best place to find romance? Ashley Banjo, who leads the dance group Diversity and is the presenter of a dating show Flirty Dancing, and Ann David, Professor of Dance and Cultural Engagement at the University of Roehampton, discuss. The divorce coach Sara Davison talks about how to maintain a good relationship with your an ex partner. Jess tried to do that and tells us how it worked out for her. Presented by Jane Garvey Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Jane Thurlow