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Original poster

From today, I'm turning the radio OFF when Woman's Hour comes on

43 replies

OrchidInTheSun · 27/12/2018 10:46

I had such high hopes after their excellent series of interviews and discussions during their gender week although it's a shame they didn't invite a member of Woman's Place or Julia Long or Posie on to talk about why they fought so hard against the proposed changes to the GRA. But it seemed a step in the right direction. They were covering the conversations that women are having all over the country. And I wrote and thanked them.

But now it seems they are doing penance.

Just before Christmas, they featured Munroe Bergdorf - that well-known misogynist - sharing their views on what makes a perfect Christmas. Why? Why would women, who Bergdorf hates, care what makes their perfect Christmas?

And now they've invited that lovely homophobe ('gay men all want to be women') Juno Dawson onto the last Late Night Woman's Hour of 2018.

No doubt we can look forward to the Mermaids puff-piece that is Like a Girl, the story about the trans child where all the girls who notice that there is a child with a penis in their changing rooms are called out for being the horrid little bigots they are.

Jenni, Jane, I think you're both ace. But I wish you had the courage of your convictions. You no longer have my ear.

Who's joining me?

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jennywhitehorses · 28/12/2018 16:01

Some of them have got slots and some haven't. Seriously though, Woman's Hour is biased. They had Rachel Moran on saying that 127 prostitutes have been murdered in the Netherlands since legalisation. You'd think RM and WH would check their statistics at some point. It's not true. They had Julie Bindel on stating that when she visited Nevada to see the legal brothels there she encountered learning disabled women who had been double pimped. Which is interesting considering that's not what she said in her original report. In the report she said that she had encountered one learning disabled woman called Sindy - who had not been double pimped. Then just recently JB again promoting her new book where she doesn't mention learning disabled women in the plural.

Angryresister · 27/12/2018 23:38

There was an excellent feature on WH the other day about women prisoners being recalled for very poor reasons. The women's centres set up to support women leaving prison were praised, but nobody raised the question of when self identifying men use them. Seemed such an obvious question I was surprised it was not mentioned m, so the audience was none the wiser. I missed the trans contributors but don't see why they have to have slots .

2rebecca · 27/12/2018 21:42

That is one of several possible origins googling it, including hissing like a cat, hissing and spluttering or a shortening of histrionics.

BigotedWoman · 27/12/2018 21:31

Fair point Floral. And blather (90% of TRA output) doesn't go down well on Radio 4.

FloralBunting · 27/12/2018 20:36

Radio is such a good medium for TW, though. No facial feminization surgery and boob jobs are going to fool anyone on radio.

feministfairy · 27/12/2018 20:25

There's a certain Rachel McKinnon who needs as much publicity as possible - ideally in an interview with some elite sports women. Maybe Martina N would be available? Grin

Neurotrash · 27/12/2018 20:05

I also think TW who think TWAW on radio is awfully peaking. I'd like to hear it Grin

Neurotrash · 27/12/2018 20:03

I'm with bitter.

I'm going to keep listening so that I can kick up a fuss.

As much as I'd boycott a product, thus they don't get my cash (eg nestle), the studio has no idea if I'm listening or not. They have my tv licence. I'd have to boycott the bbc entirely.

I'd rather listen and complain loudly. I want the people who used to be like me (oblivious) to hear my roar via email and twitter and think - oh hang on...

TheBitterBoy · 27/12/2018 19:56

Jane Garvey has made a couple of references to the Woman's Hour gender series in recent episodes of her Fortunately podcast. I could detect a definite undercurrent of frustration from her comments.
I'm sticking with Woman's hour because I'm not letting male interlopers stop me listening to a programme that I enjoy in the main, and that still covers a lot of issues that are important to me.

Socrates11 · 27/12/2018 19:43

'apple flapping' heh, good call.

museumum · 27/12/2018 18:39

I love women’s hour and won’t let the occasional guest I disagree with force me away.

WrathofRancidKlopp · 27/12/2018 18:34

I rather like to hear what the trans have to say on the radio. I also like it when they are given a free rein on their chosen subject.

We learn so much more about them.

Funkyfunkybeat12 · 27/12/2018 18:28

I can't see what the problem is. As you said, they did a very balanced set of debates recently, which allowed a lot of holes in the TRA narrative to be exposed. The fact that they have had a few trans guests doesn't undo all their good work in highlighting women's issues. Also, I am sure they will cover some of the issues raised (eg the rough sex defence) in due course. I will not be boycotting just because they had a trans woman on one of the broadcasts.

Original poster
OrchidInTheSun · 27/12/2018 18:22

The word hissy stems from hysteria afaik. Boycotts have an honourable history as I'm sure you're aware. I will let them know obviously but unless they lose listeners, they won't care.

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2rebecca · 27/12/2018 18:06

Males and females can have hissy fits. Am amazed you think the insult only applies to women especially when I think it's a TRA speciality and most of them are men. I just don't think "I don't like this so will never ever listen again" is a way to win this battle.

WrathofRancidKlopp · 27/12/2018 17:54

Sirvix
There is a pose that seems popular, with hands under chin
Ah yes, that pose they all love.
Essentially a ploy to cover the male adam's apple.

I call it apple flapping.
Alternatively you have cosmetic surgery to slice a bit off. Ffs.

It wouldn't surprise me if, in recent years they had a say in women's fashion to encourage us to wear high necklines, chokers and scarves all year round.

Original poster
OrchidInTheSun · 27/12/2018 17:08

2rebecca - I am not having a 'hissy fit', thanks very much. I'm boycotting.

Gendered insults on FWR makes you look a bit of a dick tbh

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SirVixofVixHall · 27/12/2018 16:48

Yes, i did notice that . I saw one of Dawson’s books but can’t remember the title, and i was looking at books for my dds - 13 and 11.

silentcrow · 27/12/2018 16:33

Sort of depends on the set up of the branch, but ours has picture books, middle grade and YA all in the same "room". Dawson's book sits alongside things like The Belles, The Extinction Trials, Hunger Games, Everless, etc - the sort of thing your bright Y6-7 will be starting to nosy at and 14yos aim for, it's all lumped together. I have noticed they keep the sexuality/identity/issues-type books tucked away on a bottom shelf.

2rebecca · 27/12/2018 16:29

I think the BBC is so wedded to the TWAW agenda they probably didn't have any choice. Their "diversity" policy means the definition of women has to be diverse too and include males identifying as women. As 2% of the BBC workforce are trans the BBC probably thinks being trans is far more common than it is and has a lot of people pushing a pro-trans agenda.
I won't be boycotting Woman's Hour, not that I listen to it live much as I'm at work, it's time slot is sexist although with iplayer they could argue timing is now irrelevant. I think they need our support. Having a hissy fit when they include males makes us as bad as the TRAs. I think sending supportive messages when they do articles supporting and centring women is more important than being negative when they centre males.

SirVixofVixHall · 27/12/2018 16:19

Twelve plus section? Good grief.
I went into Waterstones in Bath and they had the Alex Bertie book very prominently displayed at the start of the teen/older children. Grim.

silentcrow · 27/12/2018 15:58

Vix you'll find that particular book on the 12+ bogof table in Waterstones (in my local branch, anyway). I personally would rate it 17+ and I'm not prudish about YA.

ChewyLouie · 27/12/2018 15:06

They got to where they are partly by whingeing and complaining about every tiny non existent complaint.

We have genuine complaints re the silencing of women, we should be going nowhere but standing firm and sending in complaints at every instance.

Original poster
OrchidInTheSun · 27/12/2018 15:06

I'd like them to cover that too.

I'd also like them to cover: why the Big Lottery is diverting funds away from women and the elderly; how austerity is disproportionately affecting women; interview Karen Ingala-Smith about the Counting Dead Women project; talk to the women behind We Can't Consent To This about the Rough Sex Gone Wrong defence and do a big feature on the number of grass roots women's groups that have sprung up over the last few years. There's an enormous amount of gathering energy and it's awesome to be a part of it. A group discussion on that would be great

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merrymouse · 27/12/2018 15:00

I would expect Women's Hour to cover the growing disenchantment with the main political parties in the run up to the local elections this May.

Again, very much agree with Pam