Men and anti-sexism campaigns; reasons to enjoy January; Romany version of Carmen

Helena Morrissey, chair of Opportunity Now and a Woman’s Hour Power Lister joins Jenni to talk about the initial findings of Project 28-40; a survey launched on November 15th last year which has been asking women aged 28–40 about their experiences in the workplace.

2013 was the year that grass roots feminism made a comeback. Woman’s Hour reported on many of the female activists involved in campaigning against sexism from 'Lose the Lads Mags' to the Everyday Sexism Project. This movement of protests, marches and campaigns is being called the fourth wave of feminism. But what about men who want to join in the struggle with women against sexism? How easy is it for them to get involved? Are they reluctant or embarrassed to make their voices heard? And do women need to be more welcoming of them? Jenni is joined by comedian Doc Brown, ambassador for the Great Men Value Women project and by Chris Green, campaign director for the White Ribbon Campaign.

Carmen, the beautiful, passionate Spanish gypsy woman is probably best known from the Opera by Bizet. BBC Radio Drama North have produced a new version by Romany writer Dan Allum, starring Candis Nergaard as Carmen. They join Jenni to talk about the new production which will be the Woman’s Hour drama starting on Monday 6th January.

Most of us probably need little convincing that January deserves its thoroughly maligned reputation, but is it actually as bad as we like to make out? In a spirit of open mindedness to kick off the new year, Jenni reconsiders possible reasons for enjoying January and the season of midwinter with novelists M J Hyland and Victoria Hislop.