Woman's Hour

In a new series, we hear from three women whose partners are veterans with PTSD. They describe what it's like living alongside the condition, often for decades, and how it's affected their own mental health, relationships and self-confidence. Over the past two years the charity Combat Stress has been running workshops across the country to help partners in crisis. This summer they launched an online programme - the first of its kind in the UK - designed to help partners isolated at home due to caring responsibilities, childcare and work pressures. Today we hear Sheila's story and how she found help for herself and her husband. Things are changing for women in Northern Ireland. Abortion has just been decriminalised and we can expect same-sex marriage to become available in the New Year. Northern Ireland was actually the first place in the UK where gay couples could get a civil partnership, but is now the last place in the UK to have same-sex marriage. Jane speaks to Grainne Close and Shannon Sickles - the first couple to get a civil partnership 15 years ago - about how things have changed. As more and more children and young people become engaged in environmental issues, how can parents support them and talk to them about climate change in an age-appropriate way? And are schools doing enough to educate this eco-conscious generation? We discuss with climate change psychotherapist Caroline Hickman, climate change teacher Fiona Cowen and teen eco-activist Ella Mann. The Oscar winning American actress Regina King, star of 'Boyz n the Hood', 'Jerry McGuire', 'Seven Seconds' and ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’, has been named as one of Time’s 100 most influential people of 2019. She talks to Jane about her new series, ‘Watchmen’.

We explore what women think about Brexit and how it might affect the way they vote in another possible referendum and in an expected general election. Near the beginning of the 20th century 'Dr' Linda Hazzard ran a sanatorium in Washington state, USA where she encouraged her patients to fast for months on end. Some of her patients sang her praises but many died of starvation under her care. Now the subject of a play, we explore her curious life and her search for a 'perfect cure'. Many of the organisations in charge of protecting the UK countryside are led by women. A coincidence or are women bringing anything different to the table? There is a new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, Pre-Raphaelite Sisters. The images of the Pre-Raphaelite painting - all sumptuous locks and languid poses - might be what we think of but their stories as artists, managers and artistic partners have been erased. Today we consider Joanna Boyce Well. Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Dr Michelle Harrison Interviewed guest: Dr Rosie Shorrocks Interviewed guest: Kate Valentine Interviewed guest: Kate Barton Interviewed guest: Marian Spain Interviewed guest: Beccy Speight Interviewed guest: Minette Batters Interviewed guest: Dr Jan Marsh Interviewed guest: Dr Alison Smith Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

We hear the stories of the women of Pre-Raphaelite art whose contribution has been overlooked with Dr Jan Marsh curator at the National Portrait Gallery and from Dr Alison Smith who curated Tate’s major Burne-Jones exhibition. One in 10 mothers who’ve had virginal births suffer from faecal incontinence. We hear from mums Kirsty and Sophie and from Dr Sarah Webb a specialist midwife in perineal trauma. Oliver Warren a colorectal surgeon and Sue Almond a specialist pelvic physiotherapist answers some of your questions. The author Jung Chang discusses her latest book Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister which tells the story of three women who helped shape the course of 20th century China. Are race and gender a double disadvantage in the workplace? According to a new report by the Diversity Practice 85% of BAME women leaders say this is the case, an increase of 20% compared to twelve years ago. We discuss the issues with Carol Campayne Director of Diversity Practice and Yvonne Coghill OBE, Director of the NHS Workplace Race Equality Standard Implementation Team and Deputy President of the Royal College of Nursing. The playwright Frances Poet tells us about Fibres her new play which explores the legacy of asbestos in the Glasgow shipyards. Phyllis Craig from the charity Action on Asbestos tells us about the women and families affected by the exposure. And we hear about a 20m pound boost in funding for Women and Girls cricket with Clare Conner Managing Director of Women’s Cricket at the ECB.

How we can age healthily? Today we look at the impact of our diet. How important is it to eat the right thing to live a longer healthier life? If the Northern Ireland Assembly is not restored by Monday October 21st, then abortion will become legal in Ulster in line with the rest of the UK. It’s part of the Northern Ireland Bill which was passed in Parliament over the summer. A power-sharing government hasn’t been restored yet, although of course there's still time. We talk to Dr Alyson Hunter, a consultant obstetrician working at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast about the new guidelines which have already been drawn up for healthcare professionals. Are race and gender a double disadvantage in the workplace? Over 85% of BAME women leaders who took part in a study by the management consultancy the Diversity Practice say yes. How should the issue be tackled? Plus we talk to comedian Twayna Mayne about her new series for BBC Sounds and Radio 4 which addresses among other things her upbringing as a transracial adoptee and how it’s affected her search for her Black British identity. Presenter Jane Garvey Producer Beverley Purcell Guest; Dr Aylson Hunter Guest; Twayna Mayne Guest; Professor Kay-Tee Khaw Guest; Professor Linda Partridge Guest; Carol Campayne. Guest; Yvonne Coghill OBE

Jung Chang is the best-selling author of 'Wild Swans'. She talks about her new book 'Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister' and how the three Soong sisters helped shape 20th century China. Maternity Action, a charity that campaigns for the rights of women and babies, says it’s receiving an increasing number of calls to its helpline about Maternity Allowance. New mothers are telling them that they’ve started their maternity leave and given birth, but still haven't received the £148 a week benefit. We hear from their Chief Executive Rosalind Bragg. Just two per cent of women do the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week. This is a problem because older women that exercise have better immune function and are less likely to suffer falls which are a major cause of poor health and injury for older people. In the second part of our series on health in old age we talk to Professor Janet Lord, an expert in muscle health and immunity from the University of Birmingham and Ann Kirby, an 82 year old writer who is passionate about keeping fit. A new exhibition ‘Empowering Women, Empower Women’ at the Millennium Gallery, Museums Sheffield tells the story of women across the North of England who have fought for change over the last 100 years – from Women Against Pit Closures to the Leeds Clothing strike. Its curator Dr Sarah Marsden is joined by former activists Kate Flannery and Nancy Hall to discuss the tradition of women's protest. Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Ruth Watts