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Scottish referendum, gay police officers, women poets

With Jenni Murray. How did women vote in the Scottish referendum and how critical was it in the outcome? Plus, the forgotten women war poets and what they had to say about war.

The Scottish referendum - what happened with the women's vote and how critical was it in deciding Scotland's future?

The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales recently asked gay members about their experiences at work, and found nearly half fear the consequences of revealing their sexuality while rising through the ranks. Jenni Murray is joined by Chief Superintendent Mike Gallagher of the Metropolitan Police, and Steph Morgan, a retired assistant chief constable to discuss what more needs to be done to remove the stigma faced by gay and lesbian police officers.

Twenty one years ago Peggy Reynolds interviewed four relatively unknown poets about the impact of gender and nationality on their poetry and on their sense of identity. Today, Carol Ann Duffy is the first female Poet Laureate, Gillian Clarke is the National Poet of Wales, Liz Lochhead is the Makar or National Poet of Scotland, and Eavan Boland is a highly distinguished scholar-poet. For Archive on 4 on Radio 4, this Saturday, Peggy revisits all four to ask them to reflect on the state of women's poetry today. She joins us to discuss how the poetry landscape for women has changed.

There is a strong, but neglected tradition of women's poetry written in response to the events of the First World War. Just as the soldier poets came to speak for a 'lost generation' these women poets speak for the women whose lives were also blighted. Jane Potter is from Oxford Brookes University and Louise Fazackerley is a poet who has written about the experiences of her soldier husband. They'll be exploring who are these forgotten poets, and what women have to say about war?

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58 minutes

Chapters

  • The Scottish Referendum & Female Voters

    Better Together campaigner Alison Dowling & Rachel Ormston of the Social Attitudes Survey

    Duration: 08:16

  • Women War Poets

    Dr Jane Potter of Oxford Brookes University & poet Louise Fazackerley

    Duration: 14:45

  • Lesbians In The Police

    Mike Gallagher - Met Police, & Steph Morgan - ex Association of Chief Police Officers

    Duration: 09:12

  • Four Women Poets

    Margaret Reynolds on Carol Ann Duffy, Gillian Clarke, Liz Lochhead, & Eavan Boland

    Duration: 08:04

The Scottish Referendum

Scotland has voted No to Independence.Ìý Fifty five per cent voted to remain in the United Kingdom. Some weeks ago, when the polls were showing it was too close to call which way the vote would go, it was suggested that, if the Better Together side were to win, it would probably be women who would swing it.Ìý Alison Dowling whoÌýcampaigned for Better Together and Rachel Ormston,Ìýdirector of the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey join Jenni to discuss what impactÌýfemale voters had?

Women war poets

There is a strong, but neglected tradition of women's poetry written in response to the events of the First World War.Ìý Just as the soldier poets came to speak for a ‘lost generation’ these women poets speak for the women whose lives were also blighted. is from Oxford Brookes University and is a poet who has written about the experiences of her soldier husband. They’ll be exploring who are these forgotten poets, and what women have to say about war?Ìý

Lesbians in the police

Suzette Davenport recently came out as the first openly gay female chief constable of a UK Police Force.Ìý But how easy is it for women working in the police to be open about their sexuality? The Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales recently asked gay members their experiences at work, and found nearly half fear the consequences of revealing their sexuality while rising through the ranks. Chief SuperintendentÌýMike GallagherÌýof theÌýMetropolitan Police who compiled the report, and Steph Morgan, a retired assistant chief constable, and who up until the beginning of this year, lead on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) issues for ACPO (the Association of Chief Police Officers) join me to discuss what more needs to be done to remove the stigma faced by gay or Lesbian police officers.

Four women poets

Twenty one years ago interviewed four relatively unknown poets about the impact of gender and nationationality on their poetry and on their sense of identity.Ìý Today, Carol Ann Duffy is the first female Poet Laureate, Gillian Clarke is the National Poet of Wales, Liz Lochhead is the Makar or National Poet of Scotland, and Eavan Boland is a highly distinguished scholar-poet. For this Saturday Peggy speaks with them again and ask them to reflect on the state of women’s poetry today.ÌýÌý She joins us to discuss how the poetry landscape for women has changed.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Mike Gallagher
Interviewed Guest Steph Morgan
Interviewed Guest Peggy Reynolds
Interviewed Guest Jane Potter
Interviewed Guest Louise Fazackerley
Producer Cecile Wright

Broadcast

  • Fri 19 Sep 2014 10:00

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