AntiSocial

What does the Supreme Court ruling mean for trans people and single sex services? Michael Foran, lecturer in public law at the University of Glasgow, explains.

What does the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex mean for the health service?The UK's top court says that under equality law a woman is a biological woman and a man is a biological man. It's sparked discussion about how the NHS accommodates trans people when it comes to single sex spaces, like women-only wards. What do the judgment and equality legislation say about providing services to only one sex? What does NHS policy say and how might it change? And why has the language used by health services become so controversial when it comes to women's health?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Maybin, Josephine Casserly, Bethan Ashmead Latham, Tom Gillett Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

How much leeway do judges have when sentencing? Professor Julian Roberts of the Sentencing Academy explains what guidelines judges use and how public perceptions sometimes differ from what's actually happening in the courts.

Lucy Connolly is a 42 year old woman from Northampton who is currently serving a custodial sentence for stirring up racial hatred after she posted on X on the day of the Southport attacks last year, calling for "mass deportations now" and referring to setting fire to asylum hotels. Her case has caused controversy online, with some describing her as a "political prisoner" and claiming that the justice system is treating some people more harshly than others. But to others, Lucy Connolly is being appropriately punished for an incendiary post at a time of high tensions. Are heftier sentences meted out to some people more than others? Are some groups treated differently in the courts because of their ethnicity or political views? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Josephine Casserly, Simon Maybin and Beth Ashmead-Latham Studio manager: Andy Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Bridget Harney

This month Bianca Censori, rapper Kanye West's wife, broke the internet after appearing on a red carpet in a transparent dress. Meanwhile, artists were upset about their life drawing class being moved in North London. This prompted a conversation about public nudity and by extension, nudism. Professor Annebella Pollen is from the University of Brighton and author of Nudism in a Cold Climate, she explains the history and significance of the nudism movement in the UK.

How comfortable are we with nudity and why does the naked body still have the power to shock?This month we've seen Bianca Censori break the internet after her red carpet appearance in a transparent dress and artists in north London upset about their life drawing class being moved. What actually happened and why were people so censorious about Bianca? Also, what is the history of nudism in the UK? To discuss the power of the naked body Adam is joined by Dr Victoria Bateman – an economist and author of Naked Feminism: Breaking the cult of female modesty and Stephanie Murray , a freelance journalist and contributing writer for The Atlantic.Presented by Adam Fleming Produced by Emma Close, Beth Ashmead and Clare Williamson Studio manager: Annie Gardiner Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

How many people living in the UK do not speak English? This week a Member of Parliament for Reform UK posts a picture of Whitechapel train station in East London. On the entrance of the station, it has the name in English and then also Bengali. Rupert Lowe MP said: “The station name should be in English and English only” Dr Ben Brindle is a researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. He's been studying the data on foreign-born residents from the 2021 census. He explains how many people we're talking about when it comes to those who may not speak English well, or at all.

This week a Member of Parliament for Reform UK posted a picture of Whitechapel train station in East London. At the entrance of the station, it has the name in English and then also in Bengali. Rupert Lowe MP said: 'The station name should be in English and English only.'We'll find out how the station got its bilingual sign and examine the data on immigrants' language skills. How are non-English speakers accommodated in other walks of life? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Arlene Gregorius and Beth Ashmead Studio manager: Hal Haines. Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon.

When Lily Collins - the star of the American TV show Emily in Paris - announced she'd had a baby by surrogacy, a debate played out in her comments about the pros and cons of starting a family this way. Some of the criticism alleged that surrogacy is the preserve of the rich. In many countries commercial surrogacy – where the intended parents have a contract and pay a fee to the surrogate – is legal, including the US, Mexico and Colombia. In the UK, however, only altruistic surrogacy is legal. Katarina Trimmings from the University of Aberdeen explains what this means and how the UK law on surrogacy works.

An online debate about whether surrogacy should be allowed was energised this week after actress Lily Collins and her partner announced they had a baby by surrogate on Instagram. In this episode, we explore what surrogacy is like when you're not a celebrity including hearing from woman who was a surrogate for her best friend. In the UK surrogacy is legal but it can't be done for money. We assess calls to change the law and find out where the movement in opposition to surrogacy comes from. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Josephine Casserly, Beth Ashmead Latham and Emma Close Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

As politicians weigh up what trade-offs with the natural world they're willing to make in pursuit of growth, we look at how our understanding of our role within (or alongside) nature has shifted over time. Dr Andy Flack from the University of Bristol talks Adam Fleming through the various influences, changes and discoveries that have altered how we view our natural environment.

Do we have to choose between conserving nature and growing the economy?The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been complaining about the £100m being spent on a tunnel to stop bats being squished by trains on the HS2 railway line. A debate about whether looking after the environment is getting in the way of developing Britain's infrastructure has ensued. Is nature conservation getting in the way of economic growth - and can there only be one winner?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Josephine Casserly, Simon Tulett, Beth Ashmead-Latham Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Andy Mills

It's a term that comes up a lot in debates about race, racism, and diversity, but it's sometimes misunderstood and misused. Adam Fleming speaks to Ali Meghji, associate professor in social inequalities at Cambridge University, to find out what ‘critical race theory' really means, and why some are critical of it.

Reports that psychology students at a UK university were separated by race to learn about ethnicity and "whiteness" have prompted a row over racism and mental health. Some of the sessions, The Telegraph claims, were designed for white students to take responsibility for colonialism. King's College London says the sessions have been mischaracterised and that they were open to all students. We dig into what's really been going on, and ask whether separate spaces for different ethnicities are helpful or divisive. Plus, to what extent do mental health services in the UK have a problem with race - we hear the key statistics. And we explore a phrase that keeps coming up in this debate - "critical race theory".Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Emma Close, Josephine Casserly, Simon Tulett Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

Several big tech bosses, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, have recently taken up mixed martial arts (MMA) and jiu-jitsu. Miles Klee, a writer at Rolling Stone magazine, has spoken to fight trainers in Silicon Valley and tells Adam Fleming what might be behind the trend.

When Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast last week he said that the corporate world has moved away from masculine energy and is “pretty culturally neutered.” A culture that "celebrates aggression" can be positive, he claimed. Does the workplace need more masculine energy? Do businesses need aggression and competitiveness to succeed? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Josephine Casserly, Simon Tulett, Emma Close Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

One of the central themes in the conversation around multiculturalism in Britain is religion. Within that is another debate, one about how to define Islamophobia. Adam Fleming speaks to Lizzie Dearden, journalist and specialist in extremism to learn more about why the term is disputed.

In the row about child sexual exploitation by gangs - particularly those made up of Pakistani heritage men - some people have begun to question the value of multiculturalism. Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick, suggested the law had been applied selectively against grooming gangs "to sustain the myth that diversity is our strength." So what do we mean when we talk about multiculturalism in modern Britain, where did the concept first come from, and what is the evidence that it is a source of strength or weakness? Plus, to explore the complexities in this area, we look at the anguish around one particular idea - Islamophobia. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Emma Close, Jo Casserly Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

In debates about the declining birth rate and immigration numbers, some people bring up ‘The Great Replacement' theory. It's especially popular with white supremacists and the far right. What do they mean, and where did the conspiracy theory come from? Adam Fleming speaks to Professor Matthew Feldman - a specialist in right wing extremism.

Deaths have outnumbered births in the UK for the first time in nearly 50 years, new figures show. Should we encourage people to have more babies?With an ageing population and not enough babies born to fully replace the older generations, some people are warning of population collapse. It was a hot subject at this year's Conservative Party Conference - one fringe meeting discussed how to encourage people to have more children - and the phrase ‘Breed for Britain' was soon trending on X. Some people say that conversations like this are bad for women, and our total population is still growing - thanks to net migration. Others argue that immigration isn't the solution, and we need to increase our fertility rate.What do the figures show about demographic trends? How have other countries tried to boost their birth rates, and have they succeeded? And how has a conspiracy theory about the so-called ‘Great Replacement' shifted into the mainstream? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Ellie House, Simon Maybin, Caroline Bayley Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

The business of music has been radically transformed in recent decades. Anthony Hamer-Hodges, principal of the London College of Contemporary Music, explains how.

Music artists are cancelling gigs to protect their mental health but what do they owe their fans?American singer Chappell Roan pulled out of two appearances at short notice - not for the first time - saying she needed a few days to prioritise her health. Earlier in the summer, she called out fans' “creepy behaviour” and said abuse and harassment of famous people shouldn't be normalised. Her critics say she's ungrateful and her cancellations cost fans money. But supporters argue she represents a new generation of artists who are no longer willing to put up with the industry's damaging demands. How has Chappell Roan's relationship with fans evolved as her career has taken off? How have radical changes to the music industry's business model affected demands on artists? And what has social media done to the connection between pop stars and their followers?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Maybin, Ellie House, Caroline Bayley Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard VadonArchive: British Pathe; Netflix.

Sharon Roberts, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada, who co-founded the International Anthropomorphic Research Project - aka FurScience - explains furry fandom, “fursonas”, and the people who identify with animal characters.

Are the claims true? What are “furries”? And is it all really about gender identity?Reports that a school child in Scotland identifies as a wolf have gone viral on social media. Some say stories like it are whipped up to attack trans gender identity; others that they are a sign of gender ideology running rampant in the education system. What do we know about the latest example? The child is said to identify as a “furry” - what does that mean? And what really happened when a child in south-east England was reported to identify as a cat?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Maybin, Arlene Gregorius, Beth Ashmead Latham, Caroline Bayley Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon

Jonathan Rosa, an associate professor at Stanford University who researches language and race, talks through the evolution of words and phrases used to claim people are being ethnically inauthentic.

Is it racist for a person of colour to call someone a coconut? Should it be a crime?A teacher was put on trial after she was pictured at a pro-Palestinian march holding a placard that showed then prime minister Rishi Sunak and then home secretary Suella Braverman as coconuts. The term “coconut” can be used to suggest that someone who is brown on the outside is white on the inside - that they are somehow acting in a way inconsistent with their ethnicity. The prosecution called “coconut” a “racial slur”; the judge said the placard was “political satire” and found the teacher not guilty. How did the case play out in court? What's the history behind this use of the word coconut and others like it? And what does the law say about when speech becomes criminal?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Maybin, Ellie House, Elliot Ryder Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon

Disney's upcoming Snow White remake has sparked a debate about representations of people with dwarfism. But what does that term actually mean? Dr Melita Irving gives a medical perspective.

Are the seven dwarfs perpetuating dangerous stereotypes or harmless fantasy figures?Disney is remaking its 1937 classic Snow White as a live action film - but this time there's no mention of dwarfs in the title. Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage, who has a form of dwarfism, has questioned whether the story should be retold at all, calling it “backward”. But others argue that it's just a fairytale - and one that can provide valuable work to actors with dwarfism. So how will the remake handle the dwarfs? What is dwarfism and what are the best terms to use? And we take a tour through Hollywood history, from Oompa Loompas to Middle Earth.Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Maybin, Phoebe Keane, Ellie House Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

What happened when the Nazis banned smoking and what were the effects? On this week's AntiSocial, we looked at proposals to ban smoking in some outdoor spaces. It led to some people on social media bringing up the Nazis, who launched the first and most broadly reaching anti-smoking campaign in history. In this mini-guide, Adam Fleming speaks to Professor George Davey Smith, a clinical epidemiologist at Bristol Medical School, about what happened and why.

Is banning smoking outdoors good for our health or state overreach?The Prime Minister has confirmed he's thinking about extending the indoor smoking ban to include outdoor areas restaurant terraces and pub gardens. This, in addition, to plans to progressively increase the age at which you can buy cigarettes so a whole generation never even starts smoking. It's sparked a social media discussion on personal freedom, the nanny state and the removal of civil liberties. But others argued that it would improve health, help the NHS and de-normalise smoking. Adam Fleming asks what does this reaction tell us about attitudes to public health, the collective wellness of a nation and the role of the individual within it?GUESTS Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs Deborah Arnott Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Dr Tessa Langley, health economist specialising in the field of tobacco control, University of Nottingham Virginia Berridge , Professor of History and Health Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Prof George Davey Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Bristol Medical School

There is one accent that is often rated as the most prestigious - Received Pronunciation. But what is RP and how did it come about? Lynda Mugglestone is a Professor of the History of English at the University of Oxford and author of '‘Talking Proper: The Rise of Accent as Social Symbol'. She says the idea of one national accent for all first started to emerge in the late 1700s with the creation of orthoepy and the invention of pronouncing dictionaries.

Is it classist to stop Geordies using the term of endearment 'pet'? After the University of Newcastle sent out guidance to researchers advising they avoid using the word 'pet' as it might feel patronising or sexist to women, people took to social media to claim this was a classist move. It sparked a wider discussion about accents and class. Others claimed accents shouldn't be used as a marker of identity and that speaking with Received Pronunciation could be an equalising tool that could prevent prejudice. So what are the origins of RP and what does the data show about our perceptions of accents?GUESTS: Jasmine Andersson, writer and journalist Jonathan Meades, writer and critic Lynda Mugglestone, Professor of the history of English at the University of Oxford Dr Christian Ilbury, lecturer in Socio-linguistics at the University of Edinburgh

What kind of online content could be considered 'extreme misogyny' and who's promoting it? Dr Joe Whittaker, lecturer in Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy at Swansea University has been researching the ‘manopshere', where content that might be considered ‘extreme misogyny' is published and shared. Much of this activity takes place in forums that promote the ‘incel' ideology, made up of men who say they are involuntarily celibate and are unhappy about it.

Should some forms of misogyny be classed as extremism?After the Government announced it would look at ‘extreme misogyny' in a review of its counter-extremism strategy, a fierce row kicked off on social media.Would creating a category of ‘extreme misogyny' be a long-overdue move, or dangerous overreach that risks labelling young men and boys as radical? We look at the kind of misogynist content the government might be worried about, what the law does and doesn't say about extremism, and how the government's de-radicalisation programme Prevent is already dealing with forms of misogyny.Guests: Ally Fogg, co-founder of the Men & Boys Coalition Dr Charlotte Proudman, barrister and founder of campaign group Right to EqualityDr Joe Whittaker, lecturer in Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy at Swansea University. Jonathan Hall KC, UK's independent reviewer of terrorist legislation Evelina Gibson, former Prevent officer

The so-called ‘Battle of Cable Street' in 1936 is often held up by counter-protesters as a model of how to defeat fascism - but it failed to stop antisemitic violence and actually led to a recruitment boost for the British Union of Fascists. Professor Nigel Copsey separates the history and the myth for us.

Are counter-protests important for sending a message or can they make confrontation or violence more likely? Is marching in the street a vital expression or is it the wrong place to tackle serious issues? After riots took place outside hotels housing refugees and migrants, counter-protests were swiftly assembled in cities around the UK. They were largely peaceful, but some counter-protesters were arrested and have been charged. Can having two competing sides up the ante and make violence and disorder more likely or is it important two groups of people can be seen to be disagreeing in public? Adam Fleming hears of the history of antifascist counter-protests through history and whether they were effective. He also hears about protest crowd psychology. Guests: Maxine Bowler, Stand up to Racism, Sheffield Andrew Trotter, who was Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Met Police from 1998-2004 where he had overall command for demonstrations and riots.Professor Nigel Copsey from the University of Teeside Professor Cliff Stott from Keele University who's studied the psychology of crowds

The greenhouse gas emissions caused by meat, dairy, and plant-based alternatives.Sarah Bridle, professor of food, climate, and society at the University of York, digests the data.

Should meat and dairy be taken off menus to help save the planet from climate change?A university is accused of “going woke” after reports it is transitioning to 100% plant-based catering by 2027. Climate activists are calling on universities and other public bodies like councils to ditch animal food products to help tackle the climate crisis. But what did the university in question actually decide and how widespread is the shift to plant-based menus? What's the evidence about the climate impact of meat and dairy versus vegan alternatives? And what is the best way to change people's behaviour when it comes to what they eat?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Maybin, Jordan Dunbar, Ellie House, Natasha Fernandes Editor: Bridget Harney

The term “Anglo-Saxon” has become controversial, but where does it come from?As people argue online about whether the term is tainted by racism, history professor Joanna Story tells its origin story.

Should the term “Anglo-Saxon” be dropped because it's been adopted by racists?People online are angry because a history journal has dropped “Anglo-Saxon” from its title. Critics say it is pandering to American academics who are unduly worried about the term being used by white supremacists. The journal says that's got nothing to do with it. It's part of an ongoing debate about whether “Anglo Saxon” is useful and appropriate. How did the argument start? Where did the term actually come from? And how has it been used in modern times to talk about race?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Simon Maybin, Natasha Fernandes Editors: Bridget Harney, Sam Bonham

Pro-Palestinian student protesters have called for their universities to divest from firms with links to Israel, and specifically the conflict in Gaza, but how would that actually work? Adam Fleming discusses the practicalities and protest history of divestment with Chris Marsicano, assistant professor of higher education and public policy at Davidson College, in North Carolina.

The debate about protestors calling for their universities to cut ties with Israel.Encampments of students protesting about Israel's military action in Gaza have been popping up on campuses across the UK. They're calling for their institutions to divest from - sell their stakes in - companies linked to the conflict or Israel, but others say they're demonising the country and stoking antisemitism. How did the movement start and how have universities been responding? What's the history of political activism around university investments? And what does the law say about pitching tents on university land?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Maybin, Simon Tulett, Ellie House, Jameel Shariff