Lady in Blue, Daddy issues, the Sexism of capitalism

Lady in Blue, Daddy issues, the Sexism of capitalism

Author: BBC Radio 4 September 11, 2026 Duration: 56:57

More than 50 children's charities and parent organisations have written to the Prime Minister, warning that disabled children are being overlooked in the Government's planned reforms to social care. Kylie Pentelow is joined by Anna Bird, Chair of the Disabled Children's Partnership and Chief Executive of the charity Contact to tell us more.

The latest artwork for London's iconic Fourth Plinth has been revealed. Lady in Blue, by New York artist Tschabalala Self, is a striking ten-foot-tall tribute to a young metropolitan woman inspired by today's London. The figure is the latest in a series of high-profile commissions that have transformed one of the world's most famous public art spaces. Tschabalala joins Kylie to discuss what it means to see her work take centre stage in the heart of the capital.

River Ahmad made history in May when she became the first Afghan woman to climb Mount Everest. She had always dreamed of climbing the mountain with her 20-year-old brother who later took his own life. As a teenager in Afghanistan, she survived a Taliban attack on her bus. River now lives in Australia and she spoke to the BBC's Sodaba Haidare about her inspiration to climb the mountain:

The third part in our series "Daddy Issues" where we explore the impact of fathers on daughters. Woman’s Hour listener Carmen grew up on the North Yorkshire coast. Her father was a retired fisherman. When Carmen was eight, her mum was taken into psychiatric care. Her dad looked after Carmen and her sister, and provided a safe haven for them. But things later became more complex. Reporter Jo Morris met Carmen at the beach, where she explained losing him twice, and the impact of this on her relationships.

Dutch writer Doortje Smithuijsen joins Kylie to discuss her book, Capitalism is Sexism, exploring everything from work to childcare and the things mothers buy. Doortje asks how free those choices really are and why they still often produce familiar inequalities.

Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones


For decades, Woman's Hour from BBC Radio 4 has been a fixture in British life, creating a unique space where the experiences of women are centered and explored in full. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's a daily conversation that feels both urgent and timeless, tackling everything from front-page news and political shifts to intimate personal stories and cultural shifts. Each episode brings together a diverse range of voices-activists, artists, scientists, politicians, and everyday people-to dissect the issues that shape society. You'll hear nuanced debates on health, family, work, and identity, alongside insightful discussions on books, music, and ideas that are defining our moment. The podcast captures all of this, offering a thoughtful and often challenging listen that refuses to simplify the complexities of modern life. It’s where a headline is unpacked with depth, a personal struggle is given context, and inspiration is found in unexpected places. Tuning into this podcast means joining a long-running dialogue that consistently informs, provokes thought, and connects the personal to the political, all through the lens of women's lives and perspectives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Woman's Hour
Podcast Episodes
Weekend Woman's Hour: Midwives, prenups, Egyptian warrior princesses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:45
Last month, two reports into maternity services in England were published. Donna Ockenden’s review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Baroness Valerie Amos’s investigation into materni…
Autism & cervical screening,  FIFA, The Kiss, The play Cleansed, Chess [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:11
There's been a lot of opposition to FIFA's plans to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors. UEFA, the governing body of football in Europe, have said they would boycott Fifa events if the plans go ahead. Th…
Jared Leto accused, prenups, author Scarlett Thomas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:14
A BBC investigation has uncovered allegations of sexual assault against the Hollywood star and musician Jared Leto. Four women who've spoken to the BBC were all teenagers at the time of the alleged offences, between 2002…
Actor Helen Hunt, Midwives, Early release of prisoners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:14
Academy Award-winning actor Helen Hunt is currently performing in the RSC’s production of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss what it’s like being back on a UK stage in her latest rol…
Didi Conn: Frenchy from Grease, Church of England abuse review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:27
As an immersive version of Grease opens for the summer in London, Anita Rani welcomes Didi Conn, who played 'Beauty School Dropout' Frenchy in the original 1978 film.Can you imagine running an entire country on just a fe…