Women's Hour today - Raquel Rosario Sanchez will be on

[Pterfodactyl]

It's an Emma Barnet episode. RRS will be on later.

I thought Emma Barnett's tone was totally appropriate. She respected her interviewee enough to allow her to develop what she wanted to say. I've met Raquel and she's an intelligent woman who just needs a space to tell her story, which EB gave her.
I'm another Bristolian and the utter silence from our 4 Labour MP's (3 of them women) is particularly significant, given that they have recently been actively tweeting about making misogyny a hate crime and deploring violence against women. The cognitive dissonance is staggering.

@howard97A

Tried to listen, but

“This episode is not currently available.”

Really? I was planning to listen to it. That is disappointing. Perhaps there is a set interval before it is available?

It's here
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010p11

I really didn't think EB sounded stern or harsh. I'm not a huge fan (although I must admit my respect for her has grown recently) but I thought it was pretty fair.

She asked questions that allowed RR to fully explain the situation and there was no pushing back or 'Yes, but what about.....' - at least nothing that I noticed - and, crucially, she didn't interrupt.

I think the lack of Twitter content, summary, etc is the case every time this topic is discussed. I've often gone to the WH twitter site to see if they've got a trailer, and often other people retweet that there has been a segment on it - but never about trans sort of issues.

Still, I'd rather the twitter silence, and it being covered approriately on the show, then it not being covered at all - so maybe it is part of the negotiation. At least if people have to listen to the show to find out, they will hear what is being said, whereas twitter summaries can just be used as a pile on, or to see who has liked/commented/retweeted it, and then pile on them, without ever listening to the actual piece.

@LittlePearl

I really didn't think EB sounded stern or harsh. I'm not a huge fan (although I must admit my respect for her has grown recently) but I thought it was pretty fair.

She asked questions that allowed RR to fully explain the situation and there was no pushing back or 'Yes, but what about.....' - at least nothing that I noticed - and, crucially, she didn't interrupt.

Maybe my perception of EB was off. Maybe I hear her voice and allow myself to assume a harsher tone than she is actually using.

But I stand by my point... that a forceful, and somewhat aggressive even, tone might be appropriate with certian privileged interviewees, whereas other deserve speaking to as kindly as possible. I believe this to be true even if you make the questions equally tough for both (partly because you demand answers, and partly you ask tough questions to allow the interviewee to give tough answers if they can)

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010p11
Up now at 35.4

Well done Raquel and thank you Emma for allowing Raquel to make her point so forcibly.

I miss Jenni.

I think EB is fine. She is trying to get the story out. And got it out. And sounds a bit annoyed herself with the situation. If I was interviewing I would also sound a bit curt.

I must admit I didn't find anything wrong with her interviewing technique and was particularly pleased that she allowed Raquel to explain in detail the problems she herself has had at Bristol.

EB: And your PHD is in?

RRS: Feminine violence

Well EB got that out. I thought she was great!

@Blessex

I think EB is fine. She is trying to get the story out. And got it out. And sounds a bit annoyed herself with the situation. If I was interviewing I would also sound a bit curt.

To be clear - and I know you;re not necessarily speaking to me - but I never said I thought that her tone was disgraceful or rude or beyond the pale.

And I get why a coral expert might get an easier time than someone n a political issue.

But I wish she'd been a touch more empathetic

I don't know editorially who put the boot up the arse of Women's Hour but I'd like to thank them.
This is all we wanted, to hear women's voices. I don't mind Emma being firm in her questioning it's what I expect.
Don't underestimate all those complaints to the BBC - the logs are read, and read by management.
With all the Stonewall controversy it really feels like the gags are off.

@LaetitiaASD she’s probably still scared :-(

Anyway just did a bit of digging for the wonderful Raquel.

EB was fine, nothing wrong with her tone or her questions. I used not to be a fan, but I’m impressed now.
In fact I far prefer her approach to that of previous presenters, and I’ve been an on and off listener for the last 50 years or so.

I thought EB was using her "this is a serious topic" voice rather than being disapproving.

Raquel was amazing & managed (with the help of an admittedly skilful interviewer) to cover a lot of aspects.

I've just listened and agree that RRS was excellent. I liked the fact that she explained that any women-only space or service is now under threat despite being legal under the Equality Act. The majority of WH listeners are not, I'm sure, university students so are more likely to engage with the issue if they understand the wider implications. I thought EB's questioning was very helpful in allowing Raquel to tell her story. It's such a relief to hear these issues being covered properly on WH, I might start to listen regularly again!

@2319inprogress hey yes me too. Was a serious interview. Agree.

Raquel was impressive in her composure and the clarity and precision with which she stated her case. There are some seriously impressive women making the GC/feminist case. Brava Raquel! 👏

A plug for this on R4 just now. Explicit about subject of interview and direction to BBC Sounds.

This is an astonishing volte face from the Beeb.

Yes, it was a slam dunk excerpt from RRS. She was great yesterday.

I heard the R4 plug this morning too - maybe the WH editorial team have no control over what's posted on Twitter and this was a response to the criticism that that segment was the only one not to be promoted on Twitter yesterday?

@TwoSpirit (btw explain what that means exactly ) I can feel the BBC opening up too! I mean these are intelligent journalists and I cannot help thinking that it is the more intelligent that get it. In fact I was musing the other day how there may be a ‘how quickly you get it vs intelligence’ correlation about to happen. And this is from someone who is late to the party.