Woman's Hour Folgen

As International Women’s Day approaches and peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban continue, what are the most pressing issues facing women in Afghanistan? We hear from BBC Afghan reporter Mahjooba Nowrouzi and scholar and women’s rights advocate Dr Orzala Ashraf Nemat.We're missing hugs, but maybe we'll get them back soon. A retired nurse in Scotland has been able to give her elderly mother a big hug for the first time in five months. Fiona Scott went to see her mum, Mary Cook, who's 90 and in a care home in Scotland yesterday. It's because restrictions have been eased a bit in Scotland - now people can go and see the one they love, INSIDE a care home, and touch them. Fiona and sex and relationships columnist for the Times, Suzi Godson, join Emma.Actor Sue Johnston has spoken about the sexism older women face in theatre and screen. Johnston 77, has been cast as 61-year-old Sean Bean’s mother in Jimmy McGovern’s new BBC prison drama. Thirty years ago she played Sean Bean’s wife in a 1992 episode of Inspector Morse. Actor Dame Harriet Walter and film journalist and broadcaster Karen Krizanovich discuss why female actors age into older roles, while male actors remain in similar parts throughout their careers.Pregnant women who lose their babies should be given two weeks' paid bereavement leave, according to campaigners. At the moment, only women who lose their baby after 24 weeks are entitled to statutory leave. Taylor Moss, who had a stillbirth at 23 weeks, has started a petition to change the law after she was not entitled to any time off. Her campaign is being backed by Cherilyn Mackrory, the Conservative MP who co-chairs the baby loss All Party Parliamentary Group. Taylor discusses her experience of loss, her impetus for starting the petition and what she hopes to achieve.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Mahjooba Nowrouzi Interviewed Guest: Dr Orzaa Ashraf Nemat Interviewed Guest: Fiona Scott Interviewed Guest: Suzi Godson Interviewed Guest: Dame Harriet Walter Interviewed Guest: Karen Krizanovich Interviewed Guest: Taylor Moss

As the government announces plans for summer school and tutoring to help children catch up on their learning we hear from parents who think it’s more important to just let them go out to play with their friends. Recent polling suggests that mums in the “Red Wall” seats of the Midlands and North of England – areas which traditionally voted Labour but have switched allegiance to back the Conservatives – are against cutting short summer holidays after such a difficult year. We hear from the mums and from Deborah Mattinson from the political consultancy Britain Thinks and from Justine Roberts at Mumsnet.Throughout the course of the history of Greek mythology there have been many Greek goddesses. These goddesses tend to have exaggerated personalities and are often plagued with personal flaws and negative emotions , but do we know everything we need to know about these mythological women and what if anything can we learn from them today? Writer and classicist Natalie Haynes along with historian Bettany Hughes are talking about Greek Goddesses as part of this year’s WOW - Women of the World Festival running online from today until the 21st of March.Just last week Cara Delevigne posted a photo of her new darker brown hair on Instagram saying 'Blondes have more fun but brunettes ....' So are you like Cara embracing your darker locks? Is the nondescript colour often described as 'mouse' making a comeback bought on by lockdown three? To discuss the latest hair trends is the writer and broadcaster Sali Hughes.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

In her first in-depth broadcast interview since winning the High Court disqualification case regarding the disbanded children's charity Kids Company, its founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh, explains why she fought so long and hard to be cleared.David Watkins is one of the first single men in the UK to have a surrogate baby after a law change in January 2019. David talks about becoming a father to baby Miles in July 2020. Faye Spreadbury, a married mother of two, explains what it was like to take on the role of surrogate.How important is empathy in leadership? Chef Angela Hartnett, and Belinda Parmar, CEO of the Empathy Business, discuss empathy and how business leaders can use it as a tool to manage staff emotions in the workplace.Charlotte Sibtain talks about her collection of more than 400 vintage wedding photos from charity shops, markets and the internet and her quest to track their owners.Novelist Julie Ma talks about her first book Happy Families which is centred around a Chinese takeaway, the Yau Sum in West Wales, and closely resembles the one she grew up in and now runs with her brother.BBC correspondent Mariko Oi explains Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) announcement that women will be invited to its all-male meetings: as long as they don't speak. Are women in the UK jazz scene facing discrimination and sexual harassment? Sarah Raine, an academic and anthropologist and Jas Kayser, who's a jazz drummer and musician, discuss gender equality in the music industry.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Paula McFarlane Editor: Siobhann Tighe