logo
episode-header-image
Jan 1999
28m 24s

Feminism

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the most important events of the 20th century - the rise of Feminism and the subsequent empowerment of women. What have been the most important and lasting changes for women in the last 100 years and what is there still left to achieve? Are the biological differences between men and women insuperable? Is the feminist movement therefore set on a course it is inevitably bound to lose? Is the ideology of feminism in other words, working against our natural inclinations?If a man were to say “men are by nature more competitive, ambitious, status-conscious, dedicated, single-minded and persevering than women” then you could be forgiven for calling him anti-diluvian, blinkered and worse. But this is the express view of Dr Helena Cronin from the London School of Economics - a philosopher who has concentrated on Darwinian theory which she claims has never seriously been applied to humans. Joining her is Dr Germaine Greer whose book The Female Eunuch is credited with changing the lives of a generation of women. With Dr Helena Cronin, Co-director of the Centre for the Philosophy of the Natural and Social Sciences, London School of Economics; Dr Germaine Greer, Professor of English and Comparative Studies, Warwick University.

Up next
Apr 2025
Maurice Merleau-Ponty
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961), who was part of the movement known as phenomenology. While less well-known than his contemporaries Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, his popularity has increased among philosophers in ... Show More
59m 2s
Feb 2025
Socrates in Prison
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Plato's Crito and Phaedo, his accounts of the last days of Socrates in prison in 399 BC as he waited to be executed by drinking hemlock. Both works show Socrates preparing to die in the way he had lived: doing philosophy. In the Crito, Plato shows ... Show More
50m 50s
Jun 2024
Philippa Foot
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the most significant philosophers of the twentieth century, Philippa Foot (1920 - 2010). Her central question was, “Why be moral?” Drawing on Aristotle and Aquinas, Foot spent her life working through her instinct that there was something la ... Show More
58m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2017
Classic Episode: 6 Black Feminist Pioneers You Should Know
<p>Does feminism have a race problem? How have black women shaped abolition, civil rights and women's rights? Join Cristen and Caroline as they recount the work of Maria Stewart, Daisy Bates, Flo Kennedy, bell hooks, Audre Lorde and Alice Walker.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ... Show More
29m 41s
Mar 2025
What's the state of women's history in 2025?
What is new research revealing about women's lives in the past? Does all women's history have to be feminist? And why do we need to be cautious about the 'girlbossification' of historical figures? To mark International Women's Day, Ellie Cawthorne speaks to three expert historian ... Show More
37m 57s
Nov 2021
Mary Wollstonecraft
Greg Jenner and his guests Dr Corin Throsby and comic Cariad Lloyd discuss the life and legacy of Mary Wollstonecraft. As a successful ghostwriter, an advocate of human rights and witty book critic, we look into how Mary Wollstonecraft navigated a tumultuous 'Reign of Terror' in ... Show More
53m 53s
Nov 2018
Bloomerism and Feminism, in Conversation with Stuff Mom Never Told You
Ladies in pants, oh my! We recently had the pleasure of joining Anney Reese on Stuff Mom Never Told You to discuss the history of the short-lived "Bloomerism" movement of the 19th century and its continued importance to feminism today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https ... Show More
50m 47s
Oct 2019
Feminism with Gloria Steinem
Ron Burgundy and Gloria Steinem talk feminism.Credits:Ron Burgundy: Host, Writer, Executive ProducerCarolina Barlow: Co-Host, Writer, and Producer.Producers: Whitney Hodack, Jack O'Brien, Miles Gray, and Nick StumpfExecutive Producer: Mike FarahConsulting Producer: Andrew SteeleC ... Show More
27m 21s
Jan 2019
The political progress women have made -- and what's next | Cecile Richards
Women have made enormous progress over the last century -- challenging the status quo, busting old taboos and changing business from the inside out. But when it comes to political representation, there's still a long way to go, says activist Cecile Richards. In this visionary tal ... Show More
17m 4s
Jan 2023
What Feminism Means to Us
<p>To start off the new year we are talking about our personal journeys with feminism and what feminism means to us.</p> <p>Be sure to enter our giveaway on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/realtalkaboutfeminismpod/" target="_blank">@realtalkaboutfeminismpod</a></p> < ... Show More
29m 22s
Jun 2022
Feminine Power: Divine to Demonic
From goddesses to demons, witches to saints, women have held power of many shapes and sizes throughout history and around the world. Whether they were bringers of chaos, salvation, desire or justice, this year these women are being given the spotlight.On this Platinum Jubilee of ... Show More
33m 19s
Mar 2023
Difficult Feminism: History’s Complicated Changemakers
International Women’s Week on Intelligence Squared. Change is never easy, it requires putting up a fight, going against the status quo, and if you’re a woman - this may require you to be difficult. In 2020 Helen Lewis, staff writer for The Atlantic, joined us on stage to discuss ... Show More
1h 2m