It's normally host to the world's greatest musicians, actors and artists, but who's this shuffling across Waterloo Bridge towards London's South Bank? Yes, it's us lot, led by Claudia who's producing today's programme. And we're looking for your suggestions of subjects we should talk about. WHYS is taking part in an event organised by the 大象传媒 World Service Trust and the South Bank Centre which is bringing together several hundred women to discuss why the Millennium Development Goals affecting women are the furthest behind their targets.
We'll be broadcasting from the Purcell Room, and last time I went to a gig there was to see excellent Australian jazz trio The Necks (). They specialise in very long improvisations that twist and turn over 30 minutes or longer. All of which is not dis-similar to how we're going to approach today's show.
We'll have an audience of around 100 woman, and we'll decide the subject in the half hour before we go on air (we'll tweet this process if you want to take part online).
Clearly why these particular MDGs are falling behind is one issue.
Another broader question which has come up many times is whether women themselves must accept that they have some responsibility for obstacles placed in way of better opportunity and health for women.
Or we can talk about something entirely different. Your suggestions are welcome. We'll choose around 15 minutes before we go on air.
That''s all from the South Bank Centre tonight. We''re back tomorrow at 1700GMT. What will we talk about? That''s your call. See you then!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:57
113631290
Robert Macala - women are victims - you can't blame women. It starts with organized religions; add history, culture, consumerism, biology and shake well... strap on your Jimmy Choos, your push up bras and your visits to Victoria Secrets and viola...you have the mondern woman's condition.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:55
113631290
Jamey from Ohio - Sadly women don't fight against the pay gap and other unequal treatment because we often are not in a position where we feel that those in charge will understand and act upon our behalf. There is a fear to do anything that might give supervisors cause to fire you or target you as a problem employee
Comment sent via BLOG
18:53
113631290
Irene in Texas on the blog - All the women who supported Sarah Palin are proof positive that women are their own worst enemies. All the women who watch the insipid morning TV news. And Oprah. All the women who buy stupid heels, which is all you can find in stores for dress shoes. Yes this sounds trivial compared to MDG, but it trickles down.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:52
113631290
Gregory Watson - I'd like to say, as a male, that I don't personally benefit from any of the perceived inequalities for men over women. I truly believe in equal rights for both genders, but certain opinions create resentment and separation between us as men and women.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:52
113631290
Franklyn Chitambala - Women'll always be women - either educated or not, their metallity and altitude towards each other is the same - NEGATIVE! As a result they fight against their success in any sector of their lives.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:50
113631290
Stanley Starsh Atonya - What women need are not "favors" from men or our governments, but rather, capacity building and equal access to resources to like land to enable them self-sustain themselves.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:50
113631290
Jane Hore - I do wonder where you get these 'topics' from!!!! And then why you think they are suitable for global airing! Pathetic misogyny.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:48
113631290
Shaun emailed - My comment is in regards to the comments on inequalities and unfairness in the workplace expressed by the guests and callers. Might it be that women are reluctant to speak up and 'stick their neck out' in the workplace for the same reasons men are?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:47
113631290
Andrew in Kuwait emailed - As regards the point about the audience not confronting their bosses about pay, I bet you'd have about the same response from an audience of men. Hitting your boss up about pay is the hardest thing you can do at work, so I'm not at all surprised that only one member of your audience put her hand up.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:46
113631290
Adam emailed - while i do full heartedly believe in equal rights, I still use a form of sexual harassment at my work all the time. i do it out of jest though and i do it equally (to men and women). In my opinion it's more about how far we want to stray away from stoicism.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:45
113631290
Danielle emailed - as a 24 year old young woman in the US, I am having a hard time identifying with the comments I am hearing about women's inequality. I have never once felt that I could not do something because I am a woman or that something I do would be more difficult because of my sex.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:44
113631290
Husheed called us from Kuwait - What about the emerging economies like India - roles are changing in rural areas and this should be part of the debate.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:42
113631290
Kathleen Poley - I find this show's topic very offensive. In conversation many men I know have argued that there is no longer a need for feminism in the developed world as women have equality protection under the law. However, these same laws tend to fail women when it comes to the prosecution of rape and crimes of misogyny
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:40
113631290
Kate emailed - When I look at those I work with and among my friends in other companies, I see the majority of managers are women and large numbers of these women have stay at home husbands because they either cannot find work or the status and wages are not in line with their expectations. Maybe employers prefer to hire women because they are less expensive and more willing to stay in jobs for family stability.
Comment sent via Twitter
18:38
114768406
great debate on women and equality going on now live around the world @bbc_whys
Comment sent via Twitter
18:37
114768400
Great conversation on global women's issue happening now live on @大象传媒_WHYS
Comment sent via Facebook
18:36
113631290
Javid Khan - In politically disputed regions, women show a sisterhood that cuts across everything. Nothing keeps them united than sharing common griefs.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:33
113631290
K Adrian Denton - Trust me i have always wondered the same thing ... this is a nice one WHYS
Comment sent via Facebook
18:33
113631290
Kelly Smith - Women are constantly bombarded with submissive messages. If you stand in line at the checkout, ...you see a wall of magazines telling how a woman can get a man, how to look sexier by doing things that are painful and uncomfortable. What is sexy about being in pain? or is the goal just to be attractive to men?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:28
113631290
Joe Willie - Not sure if the "worst enemies" description is accurate.
However,it is clear that a number of women make personal decisions as individuals that have detrimental effects on women as a whole.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:28
113631290
Eric Rcw - In the US, Men are depicted as stupid in the media. More women graduate from college. Most of my female friends of mine make no less and often more money (especially in the sales field.) I really don't get the topic. I will say that in the work environment, women seem a little more likely to snipe at each other and in the end, that more then anything else seems to hold them back.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:23
113631290
Linda in Wilmington, Delaware emailed - I do think we (women) are often at fault. However the problem is the way most women are raised/socialized. If your mother was abused and undervalued, that is what you will learn, accept, and expect. My mother AND grandmother were strong independent women, so it is only natural that I am as well.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:19
113631290
Malti Devi - I think there should be as we can see that these two groups ( women and children) are the most vulnerable one. The MDGs should be those directly relative to them and that all stake holders should do thier best to reach the goal.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:16
113631290
Alex Rop on the blog - Women should be more responsible for that which concerns them.They should stop rushing to media cameras to talk about a rape incident or affirmative action, divorce, rights which they already have etc.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:16
113631290
Abdelilah Boukili in Morocco - maybe women are less ambitious than men. For them having a successful family life is better than spending their time in jobs requiring more commitment and hard work.
WHYS live from London's South Bank Centre
| Thursday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
It's normally host to the world's greatest musicians, actors and artists, but who's this shuffling across Waterloo Bridge towards London's South Bank? Yes, it's us lot, led by Claudia who's producing today's programme. And we're looking for your suggestions of subjects we should talk about.
WHYS is taking part in an event organised by the 大象传媒 World Service Trust and the South Bank Centre which is bringing together several hundred women to discuss why the Millennium Development Goals affecting women are the furthest behind their targets.
We'll be broadcasting from the Purcell Room, and last time I went to a gig there was to see excellent Australian jazz trio The Necks (). They specialise in very long improvisations that twist and turn over 30 minutes or longer. All of which is not dis-similar to how we're going to approach today's show.
We'll have an audience of around 100 woman, and we'll decide the subject in the half hour before we go on air (we'll tweet this process if you want to take part online).
Clearly why these particular MDGs are falling behind is one issue.
Another broader question which has come up many times is whether women themselves must accept that they have some responsibility for obstacles placed in way of better opportunity and health for women.
Or we can talk about something entirely different. Your suggestions are welcome. We'll choose around 15 minutes before we go on air.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
That''s all from the South Bank Centre tonight. We''re back tomorrow at 1700GMT. What will we talk about? That''s your call. See you then!
Comment sent via Facebook
Robert Macala - women are victims - you can't blame women. It starts with organized religions; add history, culture, consumerism, biology and shake well... strap on your Jimmy Choos, your push up bras and your visits to Victoria Secrets and viola...you have the mondern woman's condition.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jamey from Ohio - Sadly women don't fight against the pay gap and other unequal treatment because we often are not in a position where we feel that those in charge will understand and act upon our behalf. There is a fear to do anything that might give supervisors cause to fire you or target you as a problem employee
Comment sent via BLOG
Irene in Texas on the blog - All the women who supported Sarah Palin are proof positive that women are their own worst enemies. All the women who watch the insipid morning TV news. And Oprah. All the women who buy stupid heels, which is all you can find in stores for dress shoes. Yes this sounds trivial compared to MDG, but it trickles down.
Comment sent via Facebook
Gregory Watson - I'd like to say, as a male, that I don't personally benefit from any of the perceived inequalities for men over women. I truly believe in equal rights for both genders, but certain opinions create resentment and separation between us as men and women.
Comment sent via Facebook
Franklyn Chitambala - Women'll always be women - either educated or not, their metallity and altitude towards each other is the same - NEGATIVE! As a result they fight against their success in any sector of their lives.
Comment sent via Facebook
Stanley Starsh Atonya - What women need are not "favors" from men or our governments, but rather, capacity building and equal access to resources to like land to enable them self-sustain themselves.
Comment sent via Facebook
Jane Hore - I do wonder where you get these 'topics' from!!!! And then why you think they are suitable for global airing! Pathetic misogyny.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Shaun emailed - My comment is in regards to the comments on inequalities and unfairness in the workplace expressed by the guests and callers. Might it be that women are reluctant to speak up and 'stick their neck out' in the workplace for the same reasons men are?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Andrew in Kuwait emailed - As regards the point about the audience not confronting their bosses about pay, I bet you'd have about the same response from an audience of men. Hitting your boss up about pay is the hardest thing you can do at work, so I'm not at all surprised that only one member of your audience put her hand up.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Adam emailed - while i do full heartedly believe in equal rights, I still use a form of sexual harassment at my work all the time. i do it out of jest though and i do it equally (to men and women). In my opinion it's more about how far we want to stray away from stoicism.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Danielle emailed - as a 24 year old young woman in the US, I am having a hard time identifying with the comments I am hearing about women's inequality. I have never once felt that I could not do something because I am a woman or that something I do would be more difficult because of my sex.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Husheed called us from Kuwait - What about the emerging economies like India - roles are changing in rural areas and this should be part of the debate.
Comment sent via Facebook
Kathleen Poley - I find this show's topic very offensive. In conversation many men I know have argued that there is no longer a need for feminism in the developed world as women have equality protection under the law. However, these same laws tend to fail women when it comes to the prosecution of rape and crimes of misogyny
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Kate emailed - When I look at those I work with and among my friends in other companies, I see the majority of managers are women and large numbers of these women have stay at home husbands because they either cannot find work or the status and wages are not in line with their expectations. Maybe employers prefer to hire women because they are less expensive and more willing to stay in jobs for family stability.
Comment sent via Twitter
great debate on women and equality going on now live around the world @bbc_whys
Comment sent via Twitter
Great conversation on global women's issue happening now live on @大象传媒_WHYS
Comment sent via Facebook
Javid Khan - In politically disputed regions, women show a sisterhood that cuts across everything. Nothing keeps them united than sharing common griefs.
Comment sent via Facebook
K Adrian Denton - Trust me i have always wondered the same thing ... this is a nice one WHYS
Comment sent via Facebook
Kelly Smith - Women are constantly bombarded with submissive messages. If you stand in line at the checkout, ...you see a wall of magazines telling how a woman can get a man, how to look sexier by doing things that are painful and uncomfortable. What is sexy about being in pain? or is the goal just to be attractive to men?
Comment sent via Facebook
Joe Willie - Not sure if the "worst enemies" description is accurate. However,it is clear that a number of women make personal decisions as individuals that have detrimental effects on women as a whole.
Comment sent via Facebook
Eric Rcw - In the US, Men are depicted as stupid in the media. More women graduate from college. Most of my female friends of mine make no less and often more money (especially in the sales field.) I really don't get the topic. I will say that in the work environment, women seem a little more likely to snipe at each other and in the end, that more then anything else seems to hold them back.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Linda in Wilmington, Delaware emailed - I do think we (women) are often at fault. However the problem is the way most women are raised/socialized. If your mother was abused and undervalued, that is what you will learn, accept, and expect. My mother AND grandmother were strong independent women, so it is only natural that I am as well.
Comment sent via Facebook
Malti Devi - I think there should be as we can see that these two groups ( women and children) are the most vulnerable one. The MDGs should be those directly relative to them and that all stake holders should do thier best to reach the goal.
Comment sent via BLOG
Alex Rop on the blog - Women should be more responsible for that which concerns them.They should stop rushing to media cameras to talk about a rape incident or affirmative action, divorce, rights which they already have etc.
Comment sent via BLOG
Abdelilah Boukili in Morocco - maybe women are less ambitious than men. For them having a successful family life is better than spending their time in jobs requiring more commitment and hard work.