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Weekend Woman's Hour

School's out - high emotion when primary school ends. Plus, women in Britpop and attitudes to women who wear the burka. Presented by Jane Garvey.

The end of the summer term is fast approaching and for children leaving primary school, it can come with a stretch limo, a Prom, a commemorative DVD, and a lot of high emotion. But is that a good thing for the kids? Author Yasmina Reza discusses her new book about relationships, philandering and the differences between the French and the English. Warsan Shire, the first Young Poet Laureate for London, performs her work and talks about what inspired it. Are attacks on Muslim women linked to wearing the burka? We hear from two women on reaction they're experienced when wearing the veil. With the European Union high on the news agenda, we debate what it's achieved for women. After the death of Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Prize winning author and activist, there's a chance to hear a Woman's Hour archive interview, recorded in 2002. Brit Pop was at its height twenty years ago, defined by boys with guitars but what was it like for the few women involved?

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58 minutes

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Yasmina Reza

Yasmina Reza, best known for her plays 'Art' and 'God of Carnage', has a new book out. 'Happy are the Happy' is a novel about eighteen different people, each chapter narrated by a different character.Ìý Cumulatively they reveal secret passions, many disappointments and a strong propensity for infidelity. Yasmina Reza joins Jane to talk about relationships, philandering and the perception of difference - right or wrong -Ìý between the French and the English.

'Happy are the Happy' by Yasmina Reza Ìýis published by Harvill Secker.

Leaving Primary School

The end of the summer term is approaching and activities are hotting up for children in Year 6 - shows, discos, proms and sleepovers, the list is endless. So why all the focus on leaving primary school? Is it new? And is it a good thing? Sally Bates, Head of Wadsworth Fields Primary in Nottingham and parent and journalist Bee Rowlatt join Jane. We also hear from a selection of year 6 leavers.

Warsan Shire

Last OctoberÌýWarsan Shire was announced as the first ever Young Poet Laureate for London by Carol Ann Duffy at the Houses of Parliament. She has spent the last 9 months creating work that reflects the ever-changing city, and giving readings around Britain and internationally. The Kenyan-born Somali poet first came to notice when her poem "For Women Who Are Difficult to Love" went viral in 2009.ÌýThe Young Poet Laureate competition is launching again this week as part of, a poetry and spoken word programme commissioned by the London Legacy Development Corporation to promote poetry in East London. Warsan joins Jenni to talk about the inspiration for her poems and to do a live performance.

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Islamophobia and the Veil

The ban on the burka in France has been upheld by the European Court of Human Rights.Ìý And, attacks on Muslim women wearing the veil in the UK are reported to be on the increase. Does traditional dress put women at risk? Would a UK ban protect women and reduce Islamophobic attacks? The criminologist Dr Irene Zempi has spoken to women who wear the veil in Leicester.ÌýShalina LittÌýis Muslim and wears a full veil on the streets of Birmingham. They both join Jane to discuss UK attitudes to the burka.

'Islamophobia, Victimisation and the Veil’ by Irene Zempi and Neil Chakraborti is published Palgrave Macmillan.Ìý

Europe - what has the EU done for women?

In this year's European elections, UKIP took the biggest share of votes and more seats in the new parliament, than each of the other parties. And across Europe, Eurosceptic and anti-European parties also gained electoral ground. Defenders of the European project argue that it is misunderstood, that this was a protest vote and that the EU has done more for gender equality than any single nation state. Its critics say that it's one size fits all approach is failing everyone, that regulation and quotas are a burden for women and that it's time for a change. Jenni hears about what Europe has done, what women voters want and the role women are playing in shaping the future of Europe.

South African Novel Prize Winning Nadine Gordimer

The writer, who was one of the literary world's most powerful voices against apartheid - died at her home after a short illness, her family said.

She wrote more than 30 books, including the novels My Son's Story, Burger's Daughter and July's People.

She jointly won 1974's Booker Prize for The Conservationist and was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1991.

In 2002 Nadine came onto to Woman’s Hour to talk to Jenni Murray.Ìý

Women and Britpop

20 years ago marked the height of Britpop – of bands like Blur, Oasis, Suede, Pulp, Elastica, Sleeper, and Echobelly. Blur releasedÌýthe album Parklife,Ìýand Oasis put outÌýDefinitely Maybe, and the two later battled head-to-head in a media-stoked chart battle, dubbed "The Battle of Britpop." It was scene concerned with British working class values, and a cocky maleness that went hand-in-hand with the rising lad culture of the era. But in a musical movement defined by boys with guitars, where were all the female musicians? And what did this ‘laddishness’ mean for women? Jenni is joined by Sonya Madan of Echobelly, and by Jo Whiley, whose Radio 1 show in the nineties, The Evening Session, celebrated the Britpop scene.

TheÌýnew album Britpop At The Â鶹ԼÅÄ is out this week on Warner, and Echobelly re-release their first two albums next week, on 23 July

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jane Garvey
Interviewed Guest Yasmina Reza
Performer Warsan Shire
Producer Rabeka Nurmahomed
Editor Anne Peacock

Broadcast

  • Sat 19 Jul 2014 16:00

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