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Fashion game changer Mary Quant

Fashion game changer Mary Quant, government help with childcare, helping kids get interested in Shakespeare, and why are women more likely to take time off sick from work?

Mary Quant is the ultimate fashion game changer. Not only did she pioneer off the peg fashion in the 1960s, but her use of mini-skirts, hot pants and her casual, unrestrictive clothing defined fashion for a generation she continues to influence us today. So what was it like when she burst on to the scene and who, if anyone, can claim to have that kind of influence today?

The government's announced yesterday that 1.9 million working families could benefit from a tax free childcare allowance worth up to £2,000 per child . The online scheme affected children up to the age of 12 will come in from September next year and it'll l be open to working parents who have a joint income of up to £300,000. We look at the background to the decision and find out what stay at home parents think of the move.

It's Shakespeare Week, a new, national, annual celebration to inspire children to love the bard. The RSC has their First Encounters programme - stripped down, fast-moving productions aimed at 8-13 year-olds - with a chance to discuss the show with the actors afterwards. They are currently touring schools with the Taming of the Shrew - a new version of the play where the main gender roles are swapped.

Women take more time off sick than men according to the latest research from the Office for National Statistics. They say women are 42% more likely to take a sick day in comparison to men. What's behind the high level of time off and what can employers do to tackle the problem.

Presented by Jenni Murray
Edited and Produced by Beverley Purcell.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Childcare

    Julia Unwin, Joseph Rowntree Foundation CEO, & Imogen Thompson of Mothers at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Matter

    Duration: 07:06

  • Taming Of The Shrew

    Reporter Judi Herman at Nicholas Chamberlaine School. Plus Lisa Jardine in the studio

    Duration: 13:42

  • Sick Leave

    Durham University's Prof Clare Bambra &Helen O’Brien of the Employment Division of Croner

    Duration: 06:57

  • Mary Quant, Fashion Game-Changer

    Mary Quant in an archive interview. Plus journalists Katharine Whitehorn & Melanie Rickey

    Duration: 13:40

Childcare

The government announced yesterday that 1.9 million working families could benefit from a tax-free childcare allowance worth up to £2000 per child. The online scheme, which affects children up to the age of 12, will come in from September next year and will be open to families with two working parents and with a joint income of up to £300,000. To look at the background to the decision and find out what stay at home parents think of move, Jenni speaks to Julia Unwin, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and to Imogen Thompson, Member of Mothers at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Matter.

Mary Quant, Fashion Game-Changer

Mary Quant is the ultimate fashion game-changer. Not only did she pioneer off the peg fashion in the 1960s, but her use of mini-skirts, hot pants, and her casual, unrestrictive clothing defined fashion for a generation and continues to influence us today. She captured the zeitgeist of the Swinging Sixties and dressed everyone from high street shoppers to Audrey Hepburn. So what was it like when she burst on to the scene and who, if anyone, can claim to have that kind of influence today? We hear from interview, and live in the studio from journalists Katharine Whitehorn and Melanie Rickey.

Sick Leave

According to a new Office of National Statistics report published in February, women are continuing to use more sickness days than men, and in fact they are 42 per cent more likely to take a sick day. We talked to two professionals to find out why this is, and they have come to the conclusion that it’s down to the dual roles that women juggle at home and at work. So to discuss these figures and the reasons behind them, we’re joined by Clare Bambra, Professor of Geography at Durham University, and by Helen O’Brien, a Regional Manager of the Employment Division of Croner - who believes that the problems could be alleviated through greater transparency between employers and employees and more flexible working hours.

Taming Of The Shrew

±õ³Ù’s - a new annual celebration to inspire children to love the Bard. The Royal Shakespeare Company is running their programme – stripped-down, fast-moving productions aimed at 8-13 year olds, which gives them a chance to discuss the show with the actors afterwards. And they are currently touring schools with the Taming Of The Shrew - a new version of the play where the main gender roles are swapped. Judi Herman went to Nicholas Chamberlaine School near Birmingham to speak to the cast and some of the young audience. And Professor Lisa Jardine joins Jenni in the studio to discuss Shakespeare, shrews, and interpretations of this often problematic play.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Julia Unwin
Interviewed Guest Imogen Thompson
Interviewed Guest Katharine Whitehorn
Interviewed Guest Melanie Rickey
Interviewed Guest Lisa Jardine
Interviewed Guest Helen O'Brien
Interviewed Guest Clare Bambra
Producer Beverley Purcell
Editor Beverley Purcell

Broadcast

  • Wed 19 Mar 2014 10:00

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