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Judith Tebbutt, Digital Spare Rib, Taekwondo

Judith Tebbutt on A Long Walk Home, her story of kidnap, hostage and survival. A project to make the feminist magazine Spare Rib digital, and the growing popularity of Taekwondo.

In September 2011, Judith Tebbutt was snatched by Somali pirates while on holiday at a beach resort in Kenya. Her husband David was murdered during the abduction, but she was taken to Somalia where she was held hostage for six months. Jane Garvey talks to her about how inner resilience and family love helped her survive, and about the challenge of trying to build a new life back home.

Taekwondo, the fast and furious martial art in which competitors use kicks to make contact with their opponent's head and body is enjoying something of a surge in popularity with women and girls - possibly due to the success of Jade Jones, who won gold at the London Olympics. Jade chats about the sport and winning Gold in London and we visit a club in Liverpool talking to some young taekwondo enthusiasts .

The iconic feminist magazine Spare Rib was first published in 1972 and ran until 1993. It quickly established a reputation as the leading publication for feminist thought, debate and comment. Now the British Library is hoping to make it available online and it is on a quest to track down all the magazine's old contributors to seek their permission to republish their work.

Plus the new set of emerging economies grabbing attention - the MINT economies of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey. All week we'll be looking at the status of women and girls in each of the countries starting today with Mexico.

Presented by Jane Garvey.
Producer Kirsty Starkey
Edition Editor Beverley Purcell.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Judith Tebbutt

    Judith's compelling story of kidnap, hostage, loss and survival.

    Duration: 12:26

  • Taekwando with Jade Jones

    We enjoy a training session with Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones

    Duration: 08:21

  • MINT Economies: Mexico

    The situation for women in the countries predicted to be the next ecomomic giants

    Duration: 12:38

  • Spare Rib online

    A new project to publish the iconic feminist magazine online

    Duration: 09:33

Judith Tebbutt

In September 2011, Judith Tebbutt was snatched by Somali pirates from a beach resort in Kenya where she was holidaying with her husband, and taken to Somalia where she was held hostage in harsh and humiliating conditions. She believed her husband David had been injured in the attack, but that he would quickly find her and pay her ransom. Only after weeks in a cramped, dirty room did she receive a phone call from her son Ollie, telling her that David had been killed. After six months of incarceration, deprivation and near starvation, Jude was returned to her family. She shares her story of remarkable courage and strength, and tells us how she is trying to rebuild her life back home.

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Judith Tebbutt A Long Walk Home, published by Faber and Faber, was released in paperback last week.

Taekwando with Jade Jones

Taekwando is aÌýfast and furious martial art in which competitors use kicks to make contact with their opponent’s head and body. It's enjoying something of a surge in popularity with women and girls – possibly due to the success of Jade Jones, who won gold at the London Olympics. Louise Adamson talkedÌýto Jade about the sport and winning the gold medal and visitedÌýa training session in Liverpool where she met some young taekwondo enthusiasts inspired by Jade’s success.

Women in the MINT Economies: Mexico

As part of a week of programming on Radio 4 and the World Service, looking at the emerging MINT economies of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey, Woman’s Hour is examining the situation now for women and gender equality in these countries. What is the economic reality, the challenges, and the future prospects for women in each of the MINT economies? What is the reality of women’s lives, their status and rights, their economic and political participation?

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Today we’re looking at Mexico: 20 years after North American Free Trade Agreement, we hear about the challenges faced by women in the ‘maquiladora’ factories along the US border, about juggling low paid work, extra jobs and childcare, the culture of machismo and sexual inequality, improved education and the growing middle class, and about attempts to get more women into positions of political influence and to close the gender gap.

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Listen to our items on the situation for women in the other MINT economies:

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Spare Rib online

The iconic feminist magazine Spare Rib was first published in 1972 andÌýran until 1993. It quicklyÌýestablished a reputation as the leading publication for feminist thought, debate and comment. Now the to seek their permission toÌýrepublish their work. SoÌýhow relevant is Spare Rib toÌýwomen today? Jane speaks to Sue O’Sullivan, who used to work on the magazine,Ìýand Dr Polly Russell, who is in charge of the project at the British Library.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jane Garvey
Interviewed Guest Sue O'Sullivan
Interviewed Guest Polly Russell
Interviewed Guest Judith Tebbutt
Interviewed Guest Melissa Bosque
Interviewed Guest Hepzibah Munoz-Martinez
Interviewed Guest Erika Guevara Rosas
Producer Kirsty Starkey

Broadcast

  • Mon 6 Jan 2014 10:00

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