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26/09/2014

As many families see their youngsters depart for university, Jenni Murray asks if 'empty nest syndrome' is worse for single parents? Plus political success for feminist parties.

For the first time Sweden's feminist party has a seat in the European Parliament. Soraya Post will take her seat as representative of The Feminist Initiative. The party has been growing - it's membership up to two hundred thousand, and it narrowly missed out on winning seat in Sweden's General Election. Part of its success has been put down to its wealthy backers - including Abba's Benny Anderson who has donated to the Feminist Initiative. Feminist parties are not new to Scandinavia - so how credible a force are they and could the model ever work in the UK?

For many Brigitte Bardot remains the ultimate sex siren, so much so, that despite celebrating her 80th birthday this weekend, an image of the her as a young woman was still being used on the front cover of Paris Match magazine as recently as last month. Bardot set the template for a wave of female stars , Raquel Welch and Ursula Andress to name a few, but what about today - does the sex siren live on in 2014, is Beyonce maybe the new Bardot ? Jenni asks Ginette Vincendeau , author of 'Brigitte Bardot: The Life, The Legend, The Movies' and Stephen Gundle, author of 'Glamour: A History'.

As many young adults around the country start packing to leave home for university or work, some parents will be experiencing what has become known as the empty nest syndrome. But what is it like for single parents when the empty nest is literally empty - is the silence golden or more of a leaden weight.

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45 minutes

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Fri 26 Sep 2014 10:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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Swedish Feminists

Women’s political groups are not new, but feminist parties are few and far between. In Sweden, the Feminist Party, known as Feminist Initiative, gained popular support during the recent elections.  One of their members, Soraya  Post, was elected an MEP in this year’s European elections and while they failed to take a seat in the country’s general elections earlier this month, their popularity seems to gaining strength with membership up from 1,500 to 200,000.  Its leader is Gudrun Schyman, formerly leader of Sweden’s  centre left party.  So is it a credible political force in Sweden? Jenni is joined by Lotten Sunna, one of the original founders if the Feminist Initiative and Dr Elizabeth Evans, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Bristol to ask if the model could work for us here in the UK? 

Sex Sirens

For many she remains  the ultimate sex siren, so much so, that despite celebrating her 80th birthday this weekend, an image of the young Brigitte Bardot was still being used  on the front cover of Paris Match magazine as recently as  last month. Bardot  set the template for a wave of female stars , Raquel Welch and Ursula Andress to name a few,  but what about today – does the sex siren live on in 2014,  is Beyonce maybe  the new Bardot ?  Jenni asks Ginette Vincendeau , author of  ‘Brigitte Bardot: The Life, The Legend, The Movies’ and  Stephen Gundle,  author of ‘Glamour: A History’.

Single Empty Nesters

As many young adults around the country start packing to leave home for university or work, some parents will be experiencing what has become known as the empty nest syndrome. But what is it like for single parents when the empty nest is literally empty – is the silence golden or more of a leaden weight.

Credits

Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Ginette Vincendeau
Interviewed Guest Stephen Gundle

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  • Fri 26 Sep 2014 10:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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  • Woman's Hour

    Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.