Woman's Hour

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Woman's Hour: Exercise aggression; Purity culture; The Plumage Act; Smacking

Exercise aggression; Purity culture; The Plumage Act; Smacking

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Exercise aggression; Purity culture; The Plumage Act; Smacking

Exercise aggression, Purity culture, The Plumage Act, Smacking your child.

Sports psychologist Dr Josephine Perry has some insight into what makes athletes tick, but wasn't prepared for what happened to her yesterday morning when she was doing laps at a swimming pool. A man she had overtaken pulled her under water by her feet and held her down, before shouting at her. When she shared the incident on social media her timeline filled up with women saying similar things had happened to them.

“Purity Culture” is a term used in conservative households that attempts to promote a biblical view of purity by discouraging dating and promoting virginity before marriage. Chloe speaks to two young women – Chrissie and Kirtika – about their own experiences of growing up in households that promoted purity culture.

On Thursday it'll be 100 years since the Plumage Act banned the importation of feathers for use in hat-making. At its peak in the late 1800s, the trade in plumage was placing over 60 bird species at risk of extinction. But then a group of women, led by Emily Williamson, started a 30-year campaign to ban feathers from fashion. Beccy Speight from the RSPB is hoping a series of campaigns will bring Emily Williamson's achievements back to life. 

Attitudes towards corporal punishment have shifted significantly in recent decades, such that smacking is now banned in 59 countries around the world. That includes Scotland, where a smacking ban came in  last year, and a similar ban is due to come into force in Wales in 2022.  New research  out today from University College London suggests England should follow their lead.

Presenter: Chloe Tilley
Producer: Frankie Tobi

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Exercise aggression; Purity culture; The Plumage Act; Smacking

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