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Natasha Walter on her mother's life of activism and resistance.
My guest today is the journalist and human rights activist, Natasha Walter. She is the author of two generation-defining books about feminism - The New Feminism, published in the late 90s and Living Dolls, published just over ten years later, a shocking polemic in which she questioned her own previous beliefs that equality was on the way to being a given and old fashioned sexism was just that, old-fashioned. Oh, how we laughed. Her new book, Before The Light Fades is very different and yet has a lot in common with those books. A memoir of grief and resistance it follows Natasha, now in her 50s, on a journey into her mother's past after losing her to suicide in her mid-70s. What she finds not only makes her question what she thought she knew about her mother but also what she wants for her future self.Natasha joined me to talk about getting to know your parents as people, rejecting her mother's feminism and why we MUST keep talking across the generations. We also discussed What feminine rebellion looks like, Doing civil disobedience in her 50s and Why she's so over organising other people. Oh and thanks to Natasha's mum I have a new mantra: You HAVE shoes!If you enjoyed this episode you might also like our conversations with bestselling novelist Kate Mosse and broadcaster, therapist and agony aunt, Philippa Perry. * You can buy all the books mentioned in this podcast at The Shift bookshop on Bookshop.org, including Before The Light Fades and Living Dolls by Natasha Walter, and the book that inspired this podcast, The Shift: how I lost and found myself after 40 - and you can too, by me.* And if you'd like to support the work that goes into making this podcast and get a weekly newsletter plus loads more content including exclusive transcripts of the podcast, why not join The Shift community, come and have a look around at www.theshiftwithsambaker.substack.com• The Shift (on life after 40) with Sam Baker is created and hosted by Sam Baker and edited by Juliette Nicholls @ Pineapple Audio Production. If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate/review/follow as it really does help other people find us. And let me know what you think on twitter @sambaker or instagram @theothersambaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A group of women who were raped by the same man are now coming together to campaign for better treatment for survivors of rape in the Scottish justice system. After his sentencing, the women were photographed arm-in-arm outside the high court in Glasgow, having forged a close bond. Catriona Renton, reporter and presenter for BBC Scotland, joins Nuala. Writer and activist Natasha Walter joins Nuala to discuss her new, very personal book, Before the Light Fades: a memoir of grief and resistance. One day in December 2017 Natasha's mother Ruth took her own life. Natasha overwhelmed, by grief and guilt starts to look back through Ruth's history, trying to understand how her life led to this death. Last week scientists in America announced that they have taken an important step in understanding the human genome- our genetic blueprint- by decoding the Y chromosome which is passed from male parent to male offspring and determines biological sex and fertility. Professor Chris Barratt, head of Reproductive Medicine at Ninewells Hospital and the University of Dundee Medical School explains the implications of this research in relation to male infertility. Next to Normal is a Pulitzer prize-winning production currently on stage at the Donmar Theatre in London. At its heart Diana Goodman is a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar and haunted by her past. We speak to actor Caissie Levy playing Diana and birder and environmentalist, Mya-Rose Craig whose recent book Birdgirl talked about the impact on her and her family of having a mother with the same diagnosis. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Opener 00:00 Rape 01:20 Natasha Walter 10:32 Y Chromosome Breakthrough 22:23 Bipolar Mothers 30:19
Natasha Walter is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction, a journalist and human rights activist. Her books include The New Feminism and Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism, which was reissued as one of Virago's 50thAnniversary Five Gold reads this year. On this episode of Ourshelves, Natasha and Lucy Scholes discuss the continued relevance of Living Dolls in terms of the unfinished revolution of feminism and the ongoing effort to liberate ourselves, as women, from stereotypes.They also dive into Natasha's upcoming book, Before the Light Fades, a moving memoir about losing her mother to suicide as well as honouring the legacy of a family whose members struggled bravely against some of the worst crises of the twentieth century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Unprecedented problems like climate change require innovative responses. Activist Natasha Walter, author of upcoming book Before the Light Fades: A Memoir of Grief and Resistance, joins Ros Taylor to explore what the histories of protest can tell us about current struggles. “People forget just how radical the 1960s movements were.” “To look back and remember how people stayed politically active is incredibly encouraging.” “Civil disobedience is a vital part of society.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Artwork by James Parrett. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Here we are in 2022 navigating cancel culture, Brexit, identity politics, war in Europe. How did we get here? Did we miss something? Robert Carlyle, who played the wildcard Begbie in the 90s hit Trainspotting, is here to show us that we did. That the world we live in was shaped by the forgotten decade: the 1990s. From Hong Kong to Moscow, Cool Britannia to No Frills flights, we travel back in time to key moments in the 90s that reverberate today in unexpected ways. Episode 3: Gender When Harry Styles donned a dress for the cover of Vogue Magazine it caused a storm in an online teacup. Some commentators said it was the end of masculinity as we know it. Pretty much the same thing was said when David Beckham wore a sarong in public in 1998. Robert Carlyle asks if gender politics has changed much in three decades, as he takes us back to the era of the New Lad and Ladette. Along the way he hears from journalist Sean O'Hagan, who coined the term New Lad, Natasha Walter, author of The New Feminism and Professor Helen McCarthy. Producer: Stephen Hughes Actors: Matthew Durkan and Alexandra Hannant Sound Designer/Composer: Phil Channell Consultant: Professor Helen McCarthy
Kattie and Mila invite their dear friend Lina AbiRafeh (global women's rights expert and "Hell Yeah" Feminist) to join them in a discussion around feminism and feminists. They'll explore the concept and misconceptions around the term feminist, discuss their own personal journeys around being feminists, and tackle some tough questions that often get presented to feminists to defend or justify. They'll also spend some time discussing the situation in Afghanistan and the impact on women and girls in the country and what we can do to help.Shared on this episode: TEDBlog: What's the definition of feminism? 12 Talks that explain it to you. The Washington Post: What type of feminist (or anti-feminist) are you? The Guardian: Am I a feminist? You asked Google - here's the answer. by Natasha Walter, Lola Okolosie, and Kate Maltby "Feminists: What Were They Thinking?" - Trailer Roxanne Gay: Confessions of a Bad Feminst - TEDtalk Did You Know: The Fate of Women and Girls in Afghanistan CNN Article: For Afghan Women the US Rhetoric of Liberation has Fallen Short by Lina AbiRafeh CNN Interview: Fears over rights of women under Taliban control Shamsia Hassani : First female street artist in Afghanistan It Doesn't All Suck: Compensation for Housework in DivorceNYTimes: Husband Must Pay Wife $7,700 for Years of Housework, Chinese Court RulesGuest Bio, Links and Information: Lina AbiRafeh, PhDLina AbiRafeh is a global women's rights expert and humanitarian aid worker with decades of experience worldwide. Since 2015, she has served as the Executive Director of the Arab Institute for Women at the Lebanese American University, an academic/activist institute covering the 22 Arab states. The Institute was established in 1973 as the first women's institute in the Arab region – and one of the first globally. Lina spent over 20 years in development and humanitarian contexts in countries such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, and others. Her specific expertise is in gender-based violence prevention and response, summarized by her TEDx talk, Women Deliver PowerTalk, keynote address for Swedish International Development Agency annual meeting, amongst others. Lina completed her doctoral work from the London School of Economics and published “Gender and International Aid in Afghanistan: The Politics and Effects of Intervention” based on her research. She speaks and publishes frequently on a range of gender issues, for instance on the need for a feminist response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Arab women and girls. She believes women's leadership is the strongest vehicle for peace and sustainable development. Lina's piece I Hate International Women's Day has resonated with women's rights activists worldwide. Her most recent writing, on women in Afghanistan, was featured on CNN, leading to a live CNN interview on this topic. Lina is a board member of various organizations including SheDecides, Forced Migration Review, Society of Gender Professionals, and others. Lina is among the Gender Equality Top 100 worldwide in 2018 and 2019. She was awarded a Vital Voices fellowship for 2021 for outstanding women leaders. She was recognized by the Women's Media Center as one of their Progressive Women's Voices for 2021 and is featured in their database of experts. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-abirafeh-28774867/Twitter: @LinaAbiRafeh Instagram: @LinaAbiRafeh Medium: https://linaabirafeh.medium.com/Blog: https://linasays.wordpress.comHouse of Apis Social Media:House of ApisInstagramTwitterFacebookLinkedInCredits:Hosts: Mila Aleman and Kattie CapozzaGuest: Lina AbiRafeh, PhDMusic: Hussa Al HumaidhiSound Effects: Zapsplat
In the continuing fight for women's rights, who is responsible for change, and who should stand up and make a difference today? Amika George is the Founder of #FreePeriods, a global campaign to end period poverty, which she started at the age of 17. Her campaign successfully persuaded the UK government to pledge funds to provide free menstrual products in all English schools and colleges in 2017. More recently she wrote her first book, Make it Happen: How to Be an Activist. In the final episode of this series, Amika joins British Library Curator Polly Russell to discuss the anatomy of activism – explaining her journey, and giving thoughts on how women can continue to organise and made their voices heard. They hear from key campaigners including Rachel Grocott from Bloody Good Period, LGBTIQA+ activist Prishita Maheshwari-Aplin from Voices 4 London, Natasha Walter from Women for Refugee Women, and Isabel Cortes from United Voices of the World. Unfinished Business podcast series is generously supported by Joanna and Graham Barker and The Eccles Centre for American Studies.
Natasha Walter is Founder Director of Women for Refugee Women, an influential charity providing support for refugee women seeking asylum in the UK. Natasha is a feminist, a human rights activist and an experienced journalist, with a double first from Cambridge University. She is an author of books, including The New Feminism, Living Dolls and the play Motherland. Natasha became a Founder Director 13 years ago, ‘almost by mistake'. She didn't intend to set up a charity, but was driven to create social change by the powerful stories of the women refugees she met while working as a journalist. In this interview with Natasha you will hear about the steps she took to set up the charity, the learnings along the way, the vital support she has had from her Chair and colleagues, and the important mix of services, voice, media and campaigning that underpin Women for Refugee Women and Natasha's leadership. She shares insightful views about her frustrations with charity communications, and the importance of sharing the authentic voices and stories of refugees and asylum-seekers. Since our interview Natasha has stepped down as Director to become Creative Projects Director, handing over the Director role to Alphonsine Kabagabo.Follow 'Women for Refugee Women' and Natasha:Twitter: @4refugeewomen @natasha_walterInstagram: @4refugeewomen Facebook: @WomenforRefugeeWomenAnd if you can please donate to Women for Refugee Women here. Enjoy, and send us your feedback.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/social-founder-stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, we spoke to Natasha Walter: feminist writer, founder and director of Women for Refugee Women and author of Living Dolls and A Quiet Life.We talked to Natasha about what motivated her to write Living Dolls, and how she moved out of journalism to found the charity Women for Refugee Women. After 14 years at WFRW, Natasha had plenty of stories to share with us and wasn't afraid to dig into the frictions and frustrations of her work."It's Bloody Complicated" is recorded every Tuesday at 6pm BST. Become a Compass Member to join our live recordings and bring your questions to our guests: https://action.compassonline.org.uk/podcastSupport the show (https://www.compassonline.org.uk/podcast/)Support the show (https://www.compassonline.org.uk/podcast/)
Michaela Coel’s BBC drama ‘I May Destroy You’ has brought to light a number of interesting dilemmas, particularly within the realm of female friendships. Today we ask – is it okay to leave a friend on a night out? If a friend is too drunk or too disorderly to take care of themselves, but refuses to leave the venue or get in a cab, what can and should you do? Harriet Marsden is a freelance journalist. Toni Tone is a public speaker and podcast presenter. A new report by the SistersNotStrangers coalition, a group of 8 women’s organisations across the country, reveals the hardships experienced by asylum-seeking women in England and Wales during the pandemic. They say women have been homeless and hungry during the pandemic and are calling for ‘far-reaching’ reforms of the asylum process. Jane hears from Loraine Mponela who has sought asylum and Natasha Walter, Director of Women for Refugee Women and one of organisations behind the report. Emma Gannon’s heroine Olive is thirty three and childfree by choice. She has a dream job, close friends and her life might seem Instagram-perfect. But, things are complicated. Her relationships and friendships are changing and other people’s expectations are hemming her in. Adult life is not turning out as she thought it would and Olive needs to take stock. Writer, podcaster and now novelist Emma Gannon joins Jane. The gymnast Simone Biles is on the cover of Vogue’s August 2020 issue, but critics have said the photoshoot highlights why there needs to be more diversity in the photography industry. Jane discusses the issues of photographing black women, both in front of and behind the camera, with the photographer Ola Adegoroye and Lazara Storm, who works as a commercial model and is now moving behind the scenes. Presented by Jane Garvey Produced by Sarah Crawley Interviewed guest: Loraine Mponela Interviewed guest: Natasha Walter Interviewed guest: Emma Gannon Interviewed guest: Ola Adegoroye Interviewed guest: Lazara Storm Interviewed guest: Harriet Marsden Interviewed guest: Toni Tone
With the government announcement that low risk, pregnant women prisoners, and those in mother and baby units are to be released we hear from Dr Kate Paradine, Chief Executive of Women in Prison and Natasha Walter, Director of Women for Refugee Women. They discuss their concerns and reveal the fears of women in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, where a COVID 19 case has already been confirmed. Coronavirus has finally reached the Outer Hebrides. So for our second instalment of the Woman’s Hour Corona Diaries, Jenni speaks to Angela Crawford from the Isle of Lewis. How is this news affecting island life? What does social distancing look like in one of the more remote parts of the UK? And how do people feel about supplies and medical care away from the mainland? Kayleigh Llewyellyn is the writer and creator of a new BBC comedy drama series In My Skin. Based on her own story of her childhood years in Wales, it follows 16 year Bethan as she negotiates her school life, sexuality, and hiding her mother’s mental illness from her friends and teachers. She’s also one of the writers on the fourth series of Killing Eve. She joins Jenni to discuss. Regula Ysewijn’s new book ‘Oats in the North, Wheat from the South’ is a love letter in recipes to the history and heritage of British baking culture. Each of the recipes are accompanied by stories of landscape, legends and traditions of Great Britain. Regula joins Jenni to talk about how the diverse climate of the British Isles influenced the growth of cereal crops and the development of a rich regional baking identity. Presenter - Jenni Murray Producer – Sarah Crawley Guest - Dr Kate Paradine Guest - Natasha Walter Guest - Angela Crawford Guest - Kayleigh Llewyellyn Guest - Regula Ysewijn
Last week we discussed the shortages of menopause treatment drug HRT, which began in late 2018. This week, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have said they are ‘very concerned’ about women buying HRT products from unregulated online sites. Some sites were found to be selling products at four times the NHS price. Dr Sarah Jarvis, clinical director of patientacess.com, offers advice to HRT users in light of the shortages. Anna Whitehouse and Matt Farquharson are the duo behind the comedy podcast, Dirty Mother Pukka They have a new book out, Where’s My Happy Ending? where they discuss the trials, tribulations & rewards of relationships and family life. A new report published by the charity Women for Refugee Women claims that women who have fled rape and other sexual violence in their country of origin are being made vulnerable to further abuse in the UK because of government policy which makes them destitute. The report contains the stories of over 100 asylum seeking women. We hear from one of them and Jane speaks to human rights activist, Natasha Walter, founder of Women for Refugee Women. Friendship can be one of the most powerful and important aspects of any woman’s life. We explore what sisterhood means to different women at different points in their lives. Kenyera Boothe and Rachel Musekiwa are 19 and are best friends. They both grew up in foster care. Presenter: Jane Garvey Interviewed guest: Dr Sarah Jarvis Interviewed guest: Ana Whitehouse Interviewed guest: Matt Farquharson Interviewed guest: Natasha Walter Interviewed guest: Kenyera Boothe Interviewed guest: Rachel Musekiwa Producer: Lucinda Montefiore
This is the Writers’ Rebellion: Are You Here For This? The Extinction Rebellion Podcast is back to normal length; with an episode perfect to kick back to during the post rebellion regenerative period. It features a feast of stories and poems from the Writers' Marathon in Trafalgar Square, London (on the 11th of October, 2019). From Salena Goddens’ call to action, to Philip Hoare’s face-to-face encounter with a whale, Owen Sheers' poem to his daughter in the womb, to Natasha Walter and Tom Bollough’s recollections of being arrested for Extinction Rebellion. Oh, and there is also an interview with Booker Prize co-winner, and author of "The Handmaid's Tale" and "The Testaments", Margaret Atwood. Other writers featured in this episode include: Ali Smith, Naomi Alderman, Anjali Joseph, Irenosen Okojie, Robert Macfarlane, Romesh Gunesekera, Simon Schama, and comperes Simon McBurney and AL Kennedy. Extinction Rebellion has three demands. 1) Tell the Truth - Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change. 2) Act Now - Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. 3) Beyond Politics - Government must create and be led by the decision of a Citizens' Assembly on climate and ecological justice. Producer / Presenter: Jessica Townsend Editor / Sound Engineer : Lucy Evans Social Media: Barney Weston
John Wilson talks to Sir Trevor Nunn, as he returns to his hometown of Ipswich to direct A Midsummer Night's Dream. With this new production Nunn will have directed all of Shakespeare's 37 plays. Singer-songwriter Jake Bugg talks about his third album, On My One, and plays his new song The Love We're Hoping For live in the studio. Natasha Walter, known for her non-fiction books The New Feminism and Living Dolls, discusses her first novel, A Quiet Life, inspired by the wife of Cambridge spy Donald Maclean.
Natasha Walter, Humanitas Visiting Professor in Women's Rights 2014-15, will give two public lectures with CRASSH and participate in the Cambridge Women of the World event on Sunday 8 March 2015. Together with other invited speakers such as Lucy-Anne Holmes and Rehab Jameel she will discuss current trends in social media and activism. Over the last few years there has been a genuine rise in feminist activism and debate, from No More Page 3 to the campaigns against FGM and the detention of refugee women. Join our speakers from some of the key areas of protest to find out how to get the word out and create change in today's world, from online campaigning to street protests. Professor Andrew Webber from the University of Cambridge will chair the discussion.
Natasha Walter, Humanitas Visiting Professor in Women's Rights 2014-15, will give two public lectures and participate in the Cambridge Women of the World event on Sunday 8 March 2015. The overall theme of all these events is From Sexism to Solidarity. Abstract Where is this new wave of feminism headed? The outspokenness and energy of individuals and organisations is wonderful to see. How can this energy be harnessed for real change and how far-reaching will these changes be? If we carry feminism through to its real conclusion, all women deserve to be heard and to live in safety; including the currently unheard, the poor, the vulnerable and the stateless. Followed through with honesty and vision, this understanding that feminism must speak up for all women, must cross borders and classes, may pull us into truly radical change.
Natasha Walter, Humanitas Visiting Professor in Women's Rights 2014-15, will give two public lectures and participate in the Cambridge Women of the World event on Sunday 8 March 2015. The overall theme of all these events is From Sexism to Solidarity. Abstract In her first lecture, Natasha Walter will map current patterns of sexism in our society and the ways that apparently trivial sexism may be linked to inequality and abuse. But she will also look at how, in the five years since the publication of her book Living Dolls: the Return of Sexism, a new wave of feminism has arisen which relies on solidarity and action, and which is challenging the grip of sexism on our society.
On Start the Week Anne McElvoy explores the state of feminism today. It's fifty years since Betty Friedan's landmark book, The Feminine Mystique, questioned the role of women in society. Anne McElvoy discusses that role today with the Living Dolls author, Natasha Walter, the proponent of erotic capital Catherine Hakim, the radical feminist Finn Mackay and the journalist and academic Shereen El Feki who has been looking at the changing sexual attitudes and behaviour in the Arab world. This programme will be followed by a phone-in edition of Woman's Hour on feminism. If you would like to take part in the programme you can email now via the Woman's Hour website or phone from 0800 on Monday 4th March on 03700 100 444. Producer: Katy Hickman.