Weekend Woman's Hour - Gracie Spinks’s parents, Gatekeeping your perfume, Child-free women at work

Dec 23, 2023

Gracie Spinks's parents campaign for Gracie's Law after police failures in stalking case. Fragrance discussion focuses on individuality and emotional connection. The unfair treatment of child-free women in the workplace is highlighted. Reflections on the Football Association and lack of support for women's football. Limited diversity and investment in women's football academies. Sexism in football and transgender player controversy.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Gracie's Law: Addressing Failures in Stalking Support and Prevention

01:48 • 17min

Fragrance as Personal Expression

18:34 • 14min

The Perceived Lack of Fairness Towards Colleagues Without Children

32:05 • 11min

Reflections on the Football Association and Women's Football

42:40 • 6min

Lack of Diversity and Investment in Women's Football Academies

48:15 • 2min

Sexism in Football and Transgender Players

49:59 • 5min

23-year-old Gracie Spinks was killed by a man who she had reported to the police for stalking her. The inquest into her death reported several failures by Derbyshire Police in how her case was handled. Now, her parents, Richard Spinks and Alison Ward, are campaigning for Gracie’s Law, which would ensure better training for police officers around stalking, and the appointment of independent stalking advocates. They tell us about Gracie and the changes they want to be made in her memory.

Have you got a signature scent – and would you share where you got it from? Whether you are ‘gatekeeping’ your perfume or keen to spread the word about your favourite scent, smell is one of the most evocative and emotive of our senses. We talk all things fragrance with The Guardian's beauty editor, Sali Hughes, and Experimental Perfume Club’s Roshni Dhanjee - why we want to smell unique, gifting perfume, and why smell is so connected to our emotions and identity.

‘There is an expectation that women like me – without children - will pick up the slack so the working mums can have time off with their families’. Those are the words of Sam Walsh who has worked every Boxing Day for the last 20 years. She decided to quit her retail job in October because she resented having to work over the Xmas period. Sam, who runs The Non Mum Network Facebook group and website, says working parents shouldn’t be given priority.

Kelly Simmons has recently left the Football Association after 32 years with the organisation. Best known for her time as Director of the Women’s Professional Game, Kelly joins Jessica Creighton to discuss her long career and the future of the Women’s Super League, which she helped to launch and transform.

Elle and The Pocket Belles describe themselves as an all-girl retro band. They are a vocal harmony group who have been singing together for more than a decade. They’ll be creating more Christmas cheer for us.

Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Rebecca Myatt