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Mother & Baby Bonds; Menstrual Leave

This edition looks at mother-and-baby bonding, the need for period leave, Scotland's Woman of the Year Adele Patrick, stealing friends, and Kathryn Hunter as Cyrano de Bergerac.

At this year's Cambridge Science Festival, Dr Vicky Leong will be leading an event on the bond between a mother and her baby, trying to prove that when mothers and their infants share a close relationship, a similar pattern develops in their brain waves. Dr Leong and Charlotte Philby, the founder and editor of Motherland, join Jenni to discuss this theory.

Twenty-five years ago volunteer Adele Patrick helped found the Glasgow Women's Library. Last month she was named Scotswoman of the Year, recognising her work with this thriving venture that's never lost sight of its grassroots origin.

A Bristol company are about to launch a workplace policy that includes a greater understanding of women's menstrual cycles. It's been widely covered in the press as the UK's first workplace "period policy" and includes allowing women to work flexibly and take time off around their menstrual cycle. We'll look at why its proved so controversial with the broadcaster and columnist Julia Hartley Brewer and the writer Tanya Gold.

Sue Elliott Nichols goes on the trail of the friend stealers.

Kathryn Hunter on gender-blind casting and what it feels like to play the iconic role of Cyrano de Bergerac.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Mother and baby bonding

    Vicky Leong and Charlotte Philby discuss a bonding theory about syncronised brain waves

    Duration: 08:39

  • Kathryn Hunter

    Gender-blind casting and what it feels like to play the iconic role of Cyrano de Bergerac

    Duration: 09:05

  • Glasgow Women's Library

    Scotswoman of the Year, Adele Patrick helped found the Glasgow Women's Library 25 yrs ago

    Duration: 08:46

  • Menstrual leave

    Julia Hartley Brewer and Tanya Gold go head-to-head about workplace 'period leave'

    Duration: 06:46

  • Friend stealing

    Sue Elliott Nichols goes on the trail of the friend stealers

    Duration: 08:38

Glasgow Women's Library

You can find out more about the library

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Producer Kirsty Starkey
Interviewed Guest Victoria Leong
Interviewed Guest Charlotte Philby
Interviewed Guest Adele Patrick
Interviewed Guest Tanya Gold
Interviewed Guest Julia Hartley-Brewer
Interviewed Guest Kathryn Hunter

Broadcast

  • Thu 3 Mar 2016 10:00

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