Womans Hour

I am 77 years of age, Never in my life have I felt useless, discriminated against or downtrodden, always been happy in my skin, I'm no beauty and never have been but blessed with good health, kind husband (deceased) three lovely lads and a varied social life, what more could I want? Don't like Jenny Murray, but do listen to Woman's Hour and You and Yours.

I agree with Grannyris. Woman's hour has got very one dimensional. It used to cover such a broad range and now my heart sinks as yet another depressing topic is headlined. I am afraid that it's "down else off".

Totally agree. But i don't think the women who appear on TV or in the press moaning about their lot in life represent most women. Whilst obviously sexual harassment is a total no no, I think there is a real issue of where to draw a line. I never minded wolf whistles when I was young. If a man made an unwanted pass I dealt with him and it didn't traumatise me for life. If a male friend/colleague touched me on the arm or shoulder I never felt my space was being invaded. There are a couple of tv ads with young women ogling at topless fit young men, and my husband has commented that if the roles were swapped, women would be up in arms and would be calling it sexist. There are some serious, unfair and distressing issues that affect women, but I think as women we really need to pick our fights.

I never listen to Woman's Hour I've always hated it. Especially Jenni Murray- patronising woman

I can’t say I have ever felt downtrodden, or bothered about being female. I do remember being very annoyed working for a big firm (in the 70’s) that men who did clerical work were graded quite a bit higher than the women who did. Times change, and I suppose discussion (or whining?) does help drive this, which can be a positive thing.

I also stopped listening but only because the BBC changed
the timing from the afternoon to the morning, I'm always too busy in the a.m to give it my attention.

Azie09, I chuckled when I started reading the post and thought the same as your stones and glasshouses comment.

And what's wrong with crochet?

Girls girls. Lay down the swords, please!
I ued to enjoy WH when younger, but like the OP if have found that it has become very narrow and "screamy" on women's issues. I have no problem with that, but I'm sad I no longer enjoy it these days.

Like The Archers, I haven’t listened to W H for many years. I would prefer to keep my memories of listening to it with my Mother when I was a child, often watching her doing the ironing, and when I was a young mother.

Oh I like Jane Garvey as much as Jeni Murray, she has a dry sense of humour whereas Jeni’s voice can be a bit “too sweet” in my opinion.

My successful career consisted of being a stay at home Mum and foster carer for many years, plus the odd job here and there doing fairly menial jobs. I have always got along with men in general and like their company - as I do women! My closest friend is lesbian and I agree with my teenage grand-daughters that if we stopped batting on about our differences it might be easier to accept that whatever our sexuality, underneath we are all the same. And I miss Jenny Murray too Margaret X.

I was impressed with the drama this morning but often wonder why they bother to interview some of the women on air.

I loved Women's hour and listened to it everyday when I was at home with the children, But those days are gone. Jenny Murray became ill and since then has cut down her hours but it never was the same after she left WH full time.

There are far too many actresses and singers and I find them and their life stories boring.

....'there are whiney and entitled women'.... stones and glass houses come to mind.....

I do listen to WH but not regularly. I happened to hear some of today's programme talking to parent of a TG child and also to a young TG person, Both were articulate and spoke clearly and sensitively about their experiences. I found it an interesting & informative piece which was followed by a drama which was also thought provoking. I did get annoyed with the earlier piece where the anchor person was rubbish at preventing the guests talking over each other so I had no idea really what was being talked about! There are things that I am less interested to listen to on the radio but anything that makes me think or that I can learn from or makes me laugh is OK.

Well, that was not from my post. Every woman is not a saint and there are whiney and entitled women, do bear in mind what the word entitled means, who think they should get everything without putting the work in and complain when they do not. It has absolutely got nothing to do with the many women who have worked hard done their best and have not succeeded. None of us has said a word against them and never would. I might add there are men who act in a similar way, but they do not get interviewed on Woman's Hour

You are taking the phrases we have used in circumstances we clearly limited to a narrow group and made them into general comments, which they are not.

Monica this is what was posted:

a load of whining entitled females that is interested only in our bits, racism, sexism and how hard done by we are? I'm very happy being a female, I don't feel discriminated against or downtrodden, and I never have.

And that is what I objected to. I see you are another one who had a successful career in a male environment. My point is that it's all very well for you and people like you but calling others 'whiney entitled females' is a very clear put down, is unkind and uncalled for. Just because you succeeded doesn't mean others who haven't are whiney or entitled and saying so suggests is what I call unkind.

The Woman's Hour Craft Competition winners are now on display at The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/bbc-womans-hour-craft-prize/

Thinking about another thread, what about investigating why M&S has gone from having an instinctive feel for what clothes women want to buy and providing them to constantly introducing lines that go down like lead balloons.

Well it is listeners week coming up soon so you can send in your suggestions on any topic you like. Mine would be Older single women living in rural communities, what would yours be. ?.

I stopped listening for the same reason grnnyirisand i used to listen on the catch up option so was able to skip sections. However I guess suzied could be right, sometimes.

WH had a craft competition last year and a big exhibition at the V and A. They often have music and cookery too. They have history, child development etc, its not all radical feminism. You probably only notice the bits you don't like.

Real women are interested in a wide range of topics, from making jam to keyhole brain surgey and all points in between. To restrict the range - to either end of it - covered in a programme called "Woman's Hour" is to limit the assumed breadth of their abilities and interests.

To cavil at a post that expresses annoyance at that narrowing of the scope of the programme is to show a similalyr narrow view.

Don't assume that a nuclear scientist or a transexual or transgender person would never cook, knit, sew or garden and considers themselves above such occupations.

Azie09 What a sweeping statement made on a sample of one. No-one has said anything careless or unkind about anyone. Merely castigated a very small range of women who are over represented on Woman's Hour.

I still enjoy Woman's Hour though I tend to listen to the podcast and I don't listen to all the items. I imagine a particular issue has prompted the post? Perhaps transgender which is a major issue of the moment and about which there have been a series of threads on GN.
I am always struck by the carelessness and unkindness of those who happen to have succeeded at something towards those who haven't found life so easy. How about developing some empathy and understanding of the lives of others. In my husband's family, there is an incredibly competent and successful academic (now dead) who certainly thought of herself as able to function in a male environment with no problems but in the process, she became vilified in the college and screwed up all her children in the process. Her apparent easy conquest of her profession came at a price for others. I'm glad we live in more tolerant and caring times.