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Jul 2021
56m 38s

Jeanette Winterson, Colourism, Paralympi...

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Jeanette Winterson talks about her new essay collection which covers 200 years of women and science, from Mary Shelley to AI. She asks what love, caring, sex and attachment will look like when humans form connections with non-human helpers teachers, sex-workers, and companions? And what will happen to our deep-rooted assumptions about gender? Will our own bodies be enhances by biological and neural implants making us trans human and keeping us fitter, younger and connected?

When Ena Miller gave birth to her baby called Bonnie just over a year ago - she expected to receive the standard comments..."Oh she's so beautiful, aww look at her little nose, she's so cute, aww what a big baby..." She did get those, but she also got negative remarks from friends and strangers about the colour of her baby's skin. Ena realised she was not alone and went to meet two other mothers Fariba and Wendy to talk about their experiences and ask for their advice.

Colourism, which is also called shadism or skin tone bias, is prejudice in which people of colour with light skin are privileged over those with darker skin. Colourism can occur both within and between racialised groups. Natalie Morris, journalist and the author of Mixed/Other: Explorations of Multiraciality in Modern Britain and Dr Aisha Phoenix, Social Justice lecturer at King's College London discuss the history of colourism and how it impacts people of colour.

Paralympian Stef Reid is heading to Tokyo next month to represent team GB at the 2020 games in the long jump. She's a five-time world record holder and a triple Paralympic medallist. A boating accident at the age of 15 resulted in Stef having the lower part of her right leg amputated. Her parents and teachers encouraged her to keep playing sport. After new research showing one in three teenage girls drop out of sport, Stef is now on a mission to keep girls involved.

Presented by Jessica Creighton Producer: Louise Corley

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