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Woman's Hour: Fashion game changer Mary Quant

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Fashion game changer Mary Quant

19/03/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Fashion game changer Mary Quant

Fashion game changer Mary Quant, plus the impact of government help with childcare.

Fashion game changer Mary Quant, government help with childcare, helping kids get interested in Shakespeare, and why are women more likely to take time off sick from work?

Mary Quant is the ultimate fashion game changer. Not only did she pioneer off the peg fashion in the 1960s, but her use of mini-skirts, hot pants and her casual, unrestrictive clothing defined fashion for a generation she continues to influence us today. So what was it like when she burst on to the scene and who, if anyone, can claim to have that kind of influence today?

The government's announced yesterday that 1.9 million working families could benefit from a tax free childcare allowance worth up to £2,000 per child . The online scheme affected children up to the age of 12 will come in from September next year and it'll l be open to working parents who have a joint income of up to £300,000. We look at the background to the decision and find out what stay at home parents think of the move.

It's Shakespeare Week, a new, national, annual celebration to inspire children to love the bard. The RSC has their First Encounters programme - stripped down, fast-moving productions aimed at 8-13 year-olds - with a chance to discuss the show with the actors afterwards. They are currently touring schools with the Taming of the Shrew - a new version of the play where the main gender roles are swapped.

Women take more time off sick than men according to the latest research from the Office for National Statistics. They say women are 42% more likely to take a sick day in comparison to men. What's behind the high level of time off and what can employers do to tackle the problem.

Presented by Jenni Murray
Edited and Produced by Beverley Purcell.

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