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Episode details

Radio 4,27 Nov 2013,45 mins

Birdy; Charlotte Walker; Bipolar Blogger

Woman's Hour

Available for over a year

Singer-songwriter and pianist Birdy first emerged at 15 with an album of covers. Two years on she's back this time with her own material. She'll be talking about her music, classical background, and finding success at such a young age, and performing "No Angel" live in the studio. Cuts to the legal aid system have meant that since April, most couples no longer qualify for legal aid for divorce or separation. This has led to a rise in the number of parents taking divorce and child custody cases to court, with many choosing to represent themselves and not accessing mediation. What impact is that having on their children? One in ten women report having experienced sex against their will according to Wendy Macdowall, a lecturer in health promotion at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It's all part of work that she's done for the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. But what are the the ramifications of her findings ? Amal Elsana Alh'jooj is one of the key shapers of public opinion on the status of the Arab minority and the status of women in Israel. In London to pick up an award, she talks about her own life and the challenges facing Bedouin women. And Charlotte Walker writes about her life with mental health issues as @BipolarBlogger and on the Purple Persuasion blog. She's just won her the Mark Hanson Digital Media Award at the 2013 MIND Mental Health Awards. What's the aim of the blog and why did she decide to blog about some very personal issues? Presenter: Jenni Murray. Producer: Emma Wallace.

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