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| Woman's Hour at 70: 'Hooray for being a housewife' | Woman's Hour at 70: 'Hooray for being a housewife' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| On 7 October 1946 a male presenter introduced the very first episode of Woman's Hour. | On 7 October 1946 a male presenter introduced the very first episode of Woman's Hour. |
| Created as a time-filler for housewives, its early broadcasts were criticised for being "patronising" and obsessed with the routine of domestic chores. | |
| Three months after the programme's launch, the first female presenter was at the helm and the show went on to become a Radio 4 staple - the longest-running radio magazine programme in British broadcasting. | Three months after the programme's launch, the first female presenter was at the helm and the show went on to become a Radio 4 staple - the longest-running radio magazine programme in British broadcasting. |
| From how to cook with whale meat to contraception and "the perfect affair", the shifting nature of its subjects shines a light on the changing nature of the issues affecting women. | From how to cook with whale meat to contraception and "the perfect affair", the shifting nature of its subjects shines a light on the changing nature of the issues affecting women. |
| The 1940s: 'Putting your best face forward' | The 1940s: 'Putting your best face forward' |
| "Good afternoon and welcome to our first Woman's Hour... it's your programme, designed for you," were the first words of the first Woman's Hour. | "Good afternoon and welcome to our first Woman's Hour... it's your programme, designed for you," were the first words of the first Woman's Hour. |
| Life at the end of World War Two was bleak and women were responsible for helping restore the nation's morale. | Life at the end of World War Two was bleak and women were responsible for helping restore the nation's morale. |
| Focusing on the housewife, early episodes were about rebuilding the home. | Focusing on the housewife, early episodes were about rebuilding the home. |
| Topics such as "mother's midday meal" - herrings, kippers or a baked potato - and "putting your best face forward", wearing lipstick, powder and a headscarf, were the norm. | Topics such as "mother's midday meal" - herrings, kippers or a baked potato - and "putting your best face forward", wearing lipstick, powder and a headscarf, were the norm. |
| Norman Collins, who commissioned the programme, said: "I always visualised the poor, wretched housewife, her morale probably at the lowest, at around two o'clock in the afternoon, when she had the washing up and lunch to do." | Norman Collins, who commissioned the programme, said: "I always visualised the poor, wretched housewife, her morale probably at the lowest, at around two o'clock in the afternoon, when she had the washing up and lunch to do." |
| One of the advantages of radio was that during the programme, women could complete their chores at the same time as listening. | One of the advantages of radio was that during the programme, women could complete their chores at the same time as listening. |
| Other programmes for this decade also emphasised women's place in the home, with titles including Giving the Wife a Hand and What Not to Wear. | Other programmes for this decade also emphasised women's place in the home, with titles including Giving the Wife a Hand and What Not to Wear. |
| Guests included Elisabeth Lutyens, pioneering woman composer, and performer Dame Edith Evans. | Guests included Elisabeth Lutyens, pioneering woman composer, and performer Dame Edith Evans. |
| Groundbreaking moment: When the word "vagina" was used in 1946, in an item about women's health, there was uproar and for decades the term "birth canal" was used instead. | Groundbreaking moment: When the word "vagina" was used in 1946, in an item about women's health, there was uproar and for decades the term "birth canal" was used instead. |
| The 1950s: Taking up a part-time job | The 1950s: Taking up a part-time job |
| During a decade of firsts many women began thinking about taking up a part-time job, but would their husbands help out? | During a decade of firsts many women began thinking about taking up a part-time job, but would their husbands help out? |
| A builder's handyman, on Woman's Hour on 22 June 1958, described his family's daily routine and juggling housework with his wife's part-time job office cleaning. | A builder's handyman, on Woman's Hour on 22 June 1958, described his family's daily routine and juggling housework with his wife's part-time job office cleaning. |
| He said: "I don't think I'd stop my wife going out to work at all; she likes going to work and she's happy doing the work. While that runs that way I don't think I'd ever try and stop her." | |
| Without his wife's income, he said, the family would have to go without a few luxuries such as the TV and his cigarettes. | |
| Helping out around the house was "quite a simple job for any man to do" - he cleaned the windows, did repairs and even turned his hand to sewing when he had to, because his wife didn't like it. | |
| His wife woke up at half past five in the morning, leaving him to get their daughter ready for school. | |
| The handyman described his daughter as "very handy" in helping to cope when his wife wasn't there. | |
| Other episodes in the 1950s touched on equal pay but titles like Hooray for Being a Housewife still existed. | Other episodes in the 1950s touched on equal pay but titles like Hooray for Being a Housewife still existed. |
| Guests included singer Vera Lynn and Nancy Astor, the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. | Guests included singer Vera Lynn and Nancy Astor, the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. |
| Groundbreaking moment: Breast cancer was discussed for the first time, with a personal story about an operation in 1954. | |
| The 1960s: The Abortion Act | The 1960s: The Abortion Act |
| In 1967 the Abortion Act was passed, changing the lives of many women - and the doctors who carried out the terminations. | In 1967 the Abortion Act was passed, changing the lives of many women - and the doctors who carried out the terminations. |
| One doctor, who appeared on Woman's Hour on 19 June 1969, said: "You have to be honest with yourself that you're doing right. I must admit that once or twice these decisions have brought me near tears." | One doctor, who appeared on Woman's Hour on 19 June 1969, said: "You have to be honest with yourself that you're doing right. I must admit that once or twice these decisions have brought me near tears." |
| In 1966 three girls had an abortion at her surgery, but the first four days of 1967 had seen four girls turn up to have a termination, and since then three more had arrived. | In 1966 three girls had an abortion at her surgery, but the first four days of 1967 had seen four girls turn up to have a termination, and since then three more had arrived. |
| It's the "in between cases that are so worrying" for those in the medical profession, as there are so many factors to consider when signing off on a termination, she said. | It's the "in between cases that are so worrying" for those in the medical profession, as there are so many factors to consider when signing off on a termination, she said. |
| "It's a decision which means ending the life of an unborn baby and I sometimes wonder if we're preventing a genius - a Michelangelo or a Leonardo da Vinci - being born." | "It's a decision which means ending the life of an unborn baby and I sometimes wonder if we're preventing a genius - a Michelangelo or a Leonardo da Vinci - being born." |
| Doctors were faced with a "girl wracked with tears and a quaking boyfriend" on a daily basis, and if couples decide to have sex they should take steps to "prevent a pregnancy or face the music". | Doctors were faced with a "girl wracked with tears and a quaking boyfriend" on a daily basis, and if couples decide to have sex they should take steps to "prevent a pregnancy or face the music". |
| Other programmes from this decade delved into issues of contraception and the sexual revolution. | Other programmes from this decade delved into issues of contraception and the sexual revolution. |
| The 1970s: A 'courageous' interviewee | The 1970s: A 'courageous' interviewee |
| "I wonder if you can imagine what it's like to be born into the wrong body," a guest asked Woman's Hour on 18 September 1974. | "I wonder if you can imagine what it's like to be born into the wrong body," a guest asked Woman's Hour on 18 September 1974. |
| Starting life as a female, but never being happy in that gender, the "courageous" interviewee sought help and advice from doctors, psychiatrists and priests. | Starting life as a female, but never being happy in that gender, the "courageous" interviewee sought help and advice from doctors, psychiatrists and priests. |
| Reprimanded for "walking like a man", despite not knowing any different, he said: "I felt completely wrong." | Reprimanded for "walking like a man", despite not knowing any different, he said: "I felt completely wrong." |
| After a five-month stay in a psychiatric hospital, the psychiatrist's parting words were: "Goodbye my dear - enjoy being a woman." | After a five-month stay in a psychiatric hospital, the psychiatrist's parting words were: "Goodbye my dear - enjoy being a woman." |
| He later joined one of the services, but said "it was a struggle... obviously my medical records were against me" and after two years he was medically discharged. | He later joined one of the services, but said "it was a struggle... obviously my medical records were against me" and after two years he was medically discharged. |
| Various psychological tests later, it was decided he was a homosexual. | Various psychological tests later, it was decided he was a homosexual. |
| "I was very unhappy with that label," he said, suggesting that nobody really understood his situation. | "I was very unhappy with that label," he said, suggesting that nobody really understood his situation. |
| Other episodes during the decade looked at women's hopes, fears and aspirations, and the decline of the institution of marriage. | Other episodes during the decade looked at women's hopes, fears and aspirations, and the decline of the institution of marriage. |
| Guests included then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to the US Congress. | Guests included then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to the US Congress. |
| Groundbreaking moment: Stephen Bonarjee, in charge of radio current affairs, suggested Woman's Hour needed more women with direct experience of motherhood on its staff. | Groundbreaking moment: Stephen Bonarjee, in charge of radio current affairs, suggested Woman's Hour needed more women with direct experience of motherhood on its staff. |
| The 1980s: The Miners' Wives | The 1980s: The Miners' Wives |
| "The women have come to the front and they are determined they're not going to be pushed back into the kitchen sink any more," a 1988 programme was told. | "The women have come to the front and they are determined they're not going to be pushed back into the kitchen sink any more," a 1988 programme was told. |
| Miners' wives had been made politically active by the 1984-85 miners' strike and ensured their families were fed and supported, despite the uncertainty of their husbands' jobs. | Miners' wives had been made politically active by the 1984-85 miners' strike and ensured their families were fed and supported, despite the uncertainty of their husbands' jobs. |
| Women were "realising the potential they've got", said Eileen Wilkinson, who formed the Thornhill Women's Support Group. | Women were "realising the potential they've got", said Eileen Wilkinson, who formed the Thornhill Women's Support Group. |
| Mrs Wilkinson said she didn't think things "would ever return back to normal" and it had shocked men that the women "were brainier than they thought they were". | Mrs Wilkinson said she didn't think things "would ever return back to normal" and it had shocked men that the women "were brainier than they thought they were". |
| Women would not be content to leave this independence behind, with talks of charity work and support for the Labour movement. | Women would not be content to leave this independence behind, with talks of charity work and support for the Labour movement. |
| Husbands had come to accept what their wives were doing, she said, as "there's no way" they could be stopped and many women felt it was now "their turn". | Husbands had come to accept what their wives were doing, she said, as "there's no way" they could be stopped and many women felt it was now "their turn". |
| Other programmes also reflected a new-found confidence in getting involved in matters outside the home, with one episode called My Mind Said I Could Do It. | Other programmes also reflected a new-found confidence in getting involved in matters outside the home, with one episode called My Mind Said I Could Do It. |
| Guests included US talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Winnie Mandela, then wife of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. | Guests included US talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Winnie Mandela, then wife of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. |
| Groundbreaking moment: The first Man's Hour was broadcast on 1 April 1986, with segments on redefining masculinity and knowledge of women's functions. | Groundbreaking moment: The first Man's Hour was broadcast on 1 April 1986, with segments on redefining masculinity and knowledge of women's functions. |
| The 1990s: Monica Lewinsky | The 1990s: Monica Lewinsky |
| "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," US President Bill Clinton infamously told reporters in 1998. | "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," US President Bill Clinton infamously told reporters in 1998. |
| Monica Lewinsky, a young intern and the woman in question, told Woman's Hour her version of events the following year. | Monica Lewinsky, a young intern and the woman in question, told Woman's Hour her version of events the following year. |
| "He loses the smile, the eyes become intense, there's an animalistic stare, you feel like he's undressing you with his eyes and it's powerful," she said of their early meetings. | "He loses the smile, the eyes become intense, there's an animalistic stare, you feel like he's undressing you with his eyes and it's powerful," she said of their early meetings. |
| Claims that she was "shameless", or somehow to blame for an affair that led to the president being impeached, were not something she accepted. | Claims that she was "shameless", or somehow to blame for an affair that led to the president being impeached, were not something she accepted. |
| "I come from a generation of women that need to be more comfortable with our sexuality... I don't think I'm a 'hussy'," she said. | "I come from a generation of women that need to be more comfortable with our sexuality... I don't think I'm a 'hussy'," she said. |
| Neither did she accept she should not have been in another relationship at the time. | Neither did she accept she should not have been in another relationship at the time. |
| "It's interesting from a woman's perspective how I'm questioned about this, yet the president was already involved in at least one other relationship - with his wife." | "It's interesting from a woman's perspective how I'm questioned about this, yet the president was already involved in at least one other relationship - with his wife." |
| One regret, she said, was for the Clintons' daughter Chelsea and "how painful this has been for her". | One regret, she said, was for the Clintons' daughter Chelsea and "how painful this has been for her". |
| Other programmes in the 1990s reflected a change in women's attitudes and a shift towards taking control. | Other programmes in the 1990s reflected a change in women's attitudes and a shift towards taking control. |
| Guests included Stella Rimington, the first woman to head MI5, and the UK's first astronaut Helen Sharman. | Guests included Stella Rimington, the first woman to head MI5, and the UK's first astronaut Helen Sharman. |
| The 2000s: Having it all | The 2000s: Having it all |
| "It's seen that you must be perfect at everything, you must be wonderful," Nigella Lawson told Woman's Hour in 12 October 2000. | "It's seen that you must be perfect at everything, you must be wonderful," Nigella Lawson told Woman's Hour in 12 October 2000. |
| Her book How to Be a Domestic Goddess, published that year, was accused of romanticising a previous era when women were stuck in the kitchen. | Her book How to Be a Domestic Goddess, published that year, was accused of romanticising a previous era when women were stuck in the kitchen. |
| That, she said, was a "misunderstanding", as people presumed she was writing about the "joys of housework and how domestic life is the only true and proper way for a woman to achieve anything worthwhile". | That, she said, was a "misunderstanding", as people presumed she was writing about the "joys of housework and how domestic life is the only true and proper way for a woman to achieve anything worthwhile". |
| Instead, she was arguing for choice, and the idea that women were "allowed to do a bit of everything". | Instead, she was arguing for choice, and the idea that women were "allowed to do a bit of everything". |
| "If I bake a cupcake, how many points does it knock off my IQ?" she asked. | "If I bake a cupcake, how many points does it knock off my IQ?" she asked. |
| Ms Lawson said baking was "comfort cooking" and that it made you feel good about yourself. | Ms Lawson said baking was "comfort cooking" and that it made you feel good about yourself. |
| Empowerment and life choices were themes throughout the programme in the noughties. | Empowerment and life choices were themes throughout the programme in the noughties. |
| Guests included Jane Juska, author of A Round Heeled Woman, and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling. | Guests included Jane Juska, author of A Round Heeled Woman, and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling. |
| Groundbreaking moment: Edwina Currie gave her reaction to John Major's "shame" over their four-year affair and explained why she decided to reveal the infidelity. | Groundbreaking moment: Edwina Currie gave her reaction to John Major's "shame" over their four-year affair and explained why she decided to reveal the infidelity. |
| The 2010s: a perfect affair? | The 2010s: a perfect affair? |
| "The marriage is destroyed, or at the very least rocked, but can an affair save a failing marriage," Woman's Hour listeners were asked at the start of an episode on 26 March 2010. | "The marriage is destroyed, or at the very least rocked, but can an affair save a failing marriage," Woman's Hour listeners were asked at the start of an episode on 26 March 2010. |
| After a slew of celebrity infidelities, affairs were a recurring theme and their impact on ordinary relationships something to consider. | After a slew of celebrity infidelities, affairs were a recurring theme and their impact on ordinary relationships something to consider. |
| Sarah and Peter, a couple who have been married for 13 years, talked to the programme about moving on from infidelity after Sarah met a man on a dating website. | Sarah and Peter, a couple who have been married for 13 years, talked to the programme about moving on from infidelity after Sarah met a man on a dating website. |
| "I was just looking for something to hit the refresh button," she said. | "I was just looking for something to hit the refresh button," she said. |
| Sarah lied about attending pilates classes to carry out the affair every Wednesday night. | Sarah lied about attending pilates classes to carry out the affair every Wednesday night. |
| After being discovered, she felt guilty, but when the couple spoke about it they realised it brought them back together. | After being discovered, she felt guilty, but when the couple spoke about it they realised it brought them back together. |
| The pair agreed that marriage was a "deeper love than just who you've slept with". | The pair agreed that marriage was a "deeper love than just who you've slept with". |
| "It was improving my situation at home, I was happier, I was more relaxed, less stressed. | "It was improving my situation at home, I was happier, I was more relaxed, less stressed. |
| "The children were happier, Pete was happier. So I didn't feel guilty about it because it was actually giving something to the relationship." | "The children were happier, Pete was happier. So I didn't feel guilty about it because it was actually giving something to the relationship." |
| Other episodes in the 2010s nodded towards high-power roles for women and a nonchalance towards discussing taboo subjects. | Other episodes in the 2010s nodded towards high-power roles for women and a nonchalance towards discussing taboo subjects. |
| Guests included Anne Darwin, wife of canoe conman John Darwin, who faked his own death at sea in 2002 in a bid to claim a life insurance payout. | Guests included Anne Darwin, wife of canoe conman John Darwin, who faked his own death at sea in 2002 in a bid to claim a life insurance payout. |
| Groundbreaking moment: The 2015 Woman's Hour Power List included transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner. | Groundbreaking moment: The 2015 Woman's Hour Power List included transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner. |
| Woman's Hour celebrates its 70th birthday on Monday 10 October with a special programme in front of a live audience, from 10:00 BST on BBC Radio 4, or listen again via the website. | Woman's Hour celebrates its 70th birthday on Monday 10 October with a special programme in front of a live audience, from 10:00 BST on BBC Radio 4, or listen again via the website. |