Elaine Feinstein; When dating preferences become racist; Emer O'Toole

Poet and novelist Elaine Feinstein has said of her work that writing about people has always been ‘the most intense of my preoccupations’.  In her new collection, ‘Portraits’, she brings together poems that describe a myriad of writers whom she has known, or has loved through their work.  Jenni speaks to her about female poets and maintaining a love for writing alongside family life.

If you have a racial preference when dating, is it a matter of sexual attraction or can it ever be considered racist? Jenni speaks to Bim Adewunmi, Culture Editor at Buzzfeed and Head of Dating at Time Out, Charly Lester about whether our dating preferences say something about us. 

In the 1929 general election, women voted on the same terms as men for the first time and their vote was dubbed as “the flapper vote”.  It had an instant effect on how politicians tried to win votes.  So, how have women’s votes changed British politics since then,  how have political parties categorised groups of women to target their votes and how useful are descriptions like Worcester Woman, or MumsNet Mum?  Jenni speaks to Dr. Rosie Campbell, Reader in Politics at Birkbeck University of London and Gaby Hinsliff Guardian columnist.

The Petticoat Vote, Archive on 4. Jo Fidgen explores how the women's vote has changed British politics and society. BBC Radio 4, 28 February, 8pm
The Petticoat Vote, Archive on 4 - BBC Radio 4

Is body hair a feminist issue? Academic and author Emer O’Toole believes it is – she stopped shaving for 3 years, as part of an attempt to overcome social expectations of what her body should be.  She’s written a book called Girls will be Girls, and joins Jenni to talk hairy armpits and bending gender stereotypes.

Grazia magazine is 10 years old this week and to mark their birthday, they’ve carried out a survey of women aged 25- 44 across the UK to find out how their lives have changed in the last 10 years.  The results found that the last decade has seen big changes in the way we live, work and consume, and the conversation has moved on from trying to ‘ have it all’ to wanting to ‘ change it all’. Jenni is joined by Grazia’s Associate Editor Victoria Harper to discuss  ‘Generation Game-Changer’s’ views on ambition, feminism, fashion, and relationships.