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Pussy Riot protest; Fertility and media headlines; Colourism

Conditions in a Russian women's prison, hype and hope in reporting of fertility treatment, live opera singing, and discrimination against women of darker skin. With Jenni Murray.

The convicted Pussy Riot protestor, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, is on hunger strike over conditions in her prison - we hear from Judith Pallot who has visited the Penal Colony 14. The film 'Dark Girl' looks at the way women with darker skin suffer discrimination from women with lighter skin. How can patients who hope to get pregnant navigate their way through the reporting of 'breakthroughs' in fertility treatment? Helen Sherman and Paula Sides are performing in The Coronation of Poppea and sing live in the studio. And have you managed to stay friends with your ex after divorce? Jenni Murray presents.

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58 minutes

Chapters

  • Pussy Riot

    Jenni talks to Professor Judith Pallot about Pussy rioter Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.

    Duration: 08:08

  • Hype, hope and headlines

    How fertility stories are reported by the media

    Duration: 11:21

  • Opera singers Helen Sherman and Paula Sides

    The singers perform an extract from ѴDzԳٱ𱹱徱’s The Coronation of Poppea

    Duration: 10:19

  • Colourism

    How to tackle discrimination based on skin shade

    Duration: 11:14

Pussy Riot Hunger Strike

Pussy Riot protestor Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has announced that she is going on hunger strike to protest about conditions in Prison Colony Number 14, where she is serving her two year sentence. Tolokonnikova claims that she is being forced to work for up to 17 hours a day and that inmates are being treated like cattle – allegations the Russian authorities deny. She has now been placed in isolation in the prison colony in the remote region of Mordovia.Professor Judith Pallot of Oxford University is a specialist in the Russian penal system and has visited Penal Colony 14.She joins Jenni to talk about conditions in women’s prisons in Russia.

Opera singers Helen Sherman and Paula Sides on The Coronation of Poppea

ѴDzԳٱ𱹱徱’s is being performed as part of the English Touring Opera’s Baroque Opera of Venice season this autumn. Premiered during a Venice Carnival in the seventeenth century, it was criticised for its immorality in punishing virtue and rewarding greed. plays the ‘trouser role’ of Nero andtakes the title part of Poppea.

Hype, hope and headlines - how should fertility breakthroughs be reported by the media?

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Southampton Dr Simon Fischelfrom CARE Fertility and Connie St Louis the Director MA Science Journalism course at City University discuss how fertility stories are reported and whether they offer people false hope or vital information that could help them have a baby.

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Dealing with Colourism

The American documentary film “Dark Girls” looks at the way women with darker skin suffer discrimination from women with lighter skin. Ithas sparked a debate about ‘colourism’ – discrimination based on skin shade and how this should be tackled. Dr Jude Smith Racheleorganised the premiere of "Dark Girls" andjournalist Reni Eddo-Lodge isa journalist whospecialises in covering gender and race relations and has experienced 'colourism'.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Judith Pallot
Interviewed Guest Paula Sides
Interviewed Guest Helen Sherman
Editor Alice Feinstein
Producer Karen Dalziel
Producer Beverley Purcell

Broadcast

  • Wed 25 Sep 2013 10:00

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