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Woman's Hour: Breaking damaging relationship patterns, 50 years since the first women's liberation conference

30/01/2020

Breaking damaging relationship patterns, 50 years since the first women's liberation conference

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Breaking damaging relationship patterns, 50 years since the first women's liberation conference

1970 Women's Liberation conference; breastfeeding in Uganda; damaging relationships.

50 years since the first Women's Liberation conference; breastfeeding and coercive control in Uganda; and, breaking the pattern of damaging relationships.

Next month sees the fiftieth anniversary of the first Women’s Liberation conference at Ruskin College, Oxford. The event produced four key demands for equal pay, equal education and job opportunities, free contraception and abortion on demand, and 24-hour nurseries – and it is widely seen as a defining moment in the development of Second Wave Feminism. Jenni discusses its significance and legacy with the organiser of the 1970 meeting, Sally Alexander and with the historian Selina Todd.

In parts of of Uganda, men are pressuring their wives into breastfeeding them before their babies. New research has explored why and how men are doing this, and how the practice may be coercive. We’re joined by a researcher on the project, Dr Rowena Merritt, and BBC reporter in Kampala, Patricia Oyella.

And, how do we break damaging relationship patterns and what does research tell us about what makes relationships strong and healthy? Jenni is joined by Penny Mansfield, co-director of the relationships charity One Plus One and Simone Bose who works for Relate. 

Presenter: Jenni Murray
Producer: Ruth Watts

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