The Story of Woman

If women have equal leadership ability, why are they so under-represented at the top in business and society? Why are we still living in a world where virtually all the top jobs are occupied by men? And why do we accept it? Gill Whitty-Collins asks these questions in her book, Why Men Win at Work, and provides some answers for us in today's episode.  Some topics of discussion include: The current state of gender inequality in leadership and politics The (often) invisible forces that perpetuate the problem Likeability and perfectionist syndrome What men, businesses, and communities stand to gain with more equal workplaces Practical tips for women navigating these spaces Actionable steps for men, businesses, media, and more! Transcription is available here Mentioned in the episode: MARC: Men Advocating for Real Change Daisy Jones and The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid Invisible Women - Caroline Criado Perez Sign up to Gill’s newsletter: https://gillwhittycollins.com/join -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

The authors we feature come from a huge range of sectors and industries, but they all have one thing in common: they’re using their voices to create societal change, and that change means elevating the role and the story of woman. In this special episode, we’ve compiled past interview responses to the podcast’s recurring questions: What does feminism mean to you - 5:40 What is the story of woman to you - 10:50 We’d love to hear your take on these questions, and on the topics we discuss with our authors and contributors! Send in YOUR voice note responses and there could be another episode compilation featuring listeners from around the world! Send them to thestoryofwoman@gmail.com, or by getting in touch through the website or social media. Today we're featuring the voices of: Mary Ann Seighart - The Authority Gap Gina Rippon - The Gendered Brain Elinor Cleghorn - Unwell Women Farida D. - Rants of a Rebel Arab Feminist Katrine Marçal - Mother of Invention Koa Beck - White Feminism Krystale Littlejohn - Just Get on the Pill Lucy Leonelli - A Year in the Life Asha Dahya - Today’s Wonder Women Virginia Mendez - Childhood Unlimited Leslie Kern - Feminist City Katrina Majkut - The Adventures and Discoveries of a Feminist Bride Paula Stone Williams - As a Woman Transcription is available here -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

Do you even wonder what else is out there for you? How often do you experience fear of missing out?  In this episode, I talk with Lucy Leonelli about her book, A Year in the Life. Feeling stuck in her career and suffering from a very bad case of FOMO, Lucy quit her 9-5 and spent one year living with 26 different British subcultures: aristocrats, battle re-enactors, circus performers, naturists, zeitgeist political activists and more, experiencing first-hand their social rituals and customs, leading to lessons about herself, the world and what it means to be human. But wait, there’s more! Lucy also flips the scripts and asks ME questions like she did these subcultures… starting with the question: is feminism a subculture? Some topics of discussion include: What led to this year-long adventure and if Lucy cured her FOMO The importance - and flexibility - of one’s identity When values and identity turn into prejudices and tribalism The common thread that runs through us all: human connection, community Plus: Is feminism is a subculture? My experience with imposter syndrome as a new podcaster Subcultures within feminism And more! Become a Patron to hear 21 minutes of bonus content, including how Lucy compares your comfort zone to stretchy pants, and me answering the recurring questions - what does feminism mean to me, what does the the story of woman, and what’s my earliest memory of gender ! Transcription is available here Mentioned in the episode: The Righteous Mind - Jonathan Haidt The Sports Bra - (mentioned in Patreon bonus episode) -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

REPLAY OF EPISODE ONE In this episode, I talk with journalist, broadcaster and non-executive director Mary Ann Sieghart about her book, The Authority Gap: Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously Than Men and What We Can Do About It. Unbelievably, there is still a huge gulf between men and women in the workplace when it comes to pay, promotion and authority. Referred to as “the mother of all gender gaps”, Mary Ann exposes the unseen bias at work in our everyday lives, marshaling a wealth of data with precision and insight to reveal the systemic sexism that still pervades in our society, and how to address it in ways that benefit us all. Some topics of discussion include: Why women are still taken less seriously than men, and why people feel uncomfortable with female leaders The unconscious bias that is perpetuated by both men and women How powerful world leaders such as Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel experience the authority gap Backlash resulting from “the dangers of having an opinion and a vagina” What men, women and society stand to gain by tackling the authority gap What individuals and institutions can do about it And more! The quotes you will hear read during the interview are taken directly from the book, The Authority Gap. Transcription of this episode is available here Buy the book: US | UK Mentioned in this episode: French Braid - Anne Tyler Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo Women: Know Your Limits! Harry Enfield - BBC comedy -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

Back by popular demand! In this episode, I talk (again) with Arab gender researcher and poet Farida D. to answer listener questions, and discuss her book, The List of Shit That Made Me a Feminist. Writing under a pen name to protect her identity, Farida D. writes about everyday oppressions from an Arab feminist's perspective while demonstrating how we are all connected under the one patriarchal system. In the process, she’s broken up with her hijab, set her high heels on fire, and been shared all over social media.  Be sure to have a listen to our first conversation when you’re done with this one. Some topics of discussion include: Farida’s inspiration for writing Beauty standards, and how this industry creates our “insecurities” in order to sell us “solutions” Farida’s thoughts (and mine) about the June 2022 Roe v Wade decision to restrict abortion laws in the USA Problems with the “not all men” argument The power of women’s rage Steps we can all take moving forward And more! Transcription is available here -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I talk with gender equality champion Virginia Mendez about her book, Childhood Unlimited: Parenting Beyond the Gender Bias From films and books to toys and clothes to the language we use, our world is extremely gendered, making raising a child beyond the limitations placed on them by gender incredibly difficult. Virginia breaks down what gender bias is, how the stereotypes we absorb from the earliest days perpetuate it, and what can be done to raise kids beyond these limitations. Some topics of discussion include: Stereotypes, and how films, books, toys and clothes perpetuate the gender bias The importance of simply being aware Examples of how Virginia raises her two children Why it all matters - for girls, boys, trans kids and society as a whole Small steps to start overcoming the bias today And more! Transcription is available here Buy the book: US | UK  Mentioned in the episode: Period Power - Maisie Hill The Gendered Brain - Gina Rippon Farida D. Clementine Ford -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

Dr. Willie Parker, a board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive justice advocate from the Deep South, shares his profound journey into the world of abortion care. He discusses how his upbringing and faith shaped his moral duty to provide abortions, emphasizing the compassionate aspect of his work. Parker tackles misconceptions about what the Bible says regarding abortion and argues for policy grounded in science, not religious doctrine. He highlights the urgent need for accessible care, particularly for marginalized communities, while sharing stories that matter.

Abortion is a topic that generates a lot of emotion, so in this episode we’re looking at the facts. Today I talk with Carole Joffe and David S. Cohen about their book, Obstacle Course: The Everyday Struggle to Get an Abortion in America Getting an abortion in the United States of America can be a monumental challenge. From forced ultrasounds and dishonest medical information, to arbitrary waiting periods and harassing protesters, Carole and David tell the story of abortion in America, capturing a disturbing reality of insurmountable barriers people face when trying to exercise their legal rights to medical services. Based on patients’ stories as well as interviews with abortion providers and allies from every state in the country, Obstacle Course reveals the unstoppable determination required of women in the pursuit of reproductive autonomy as well as the incredible commitment of abortion providers.  Some topics of discussion include: Basic facts about abortion - public sentiment, demographics, prevalence, safety, how long it has been around  What some of these (irrational and unscientific) obstacles are and where they come from How Crisis Pregnancy Centres (aka fake abortion clinics) have more legal rights than real abortion clinics Falsehoods surrounding “later abortions” and what the reality is What happens to women and pregnant people that are not able to get the abortions they want The future and we talk about what we can do as individuals And more! Transcription is available here Buy the book: US | UK  -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

Koa Beck’s reporting and analysis on gender, identity, race, and culture have won her international acclaim, and in this episode, I talk with Koa about her book, White Feminism: from the suffragettes to influencers and who they leave behind This book is an important addition to the conversation around race, empowerment and inclusion in the United States. Not to be confused with feminists who happen to be white, Koa explores the ‘white feminism’ ideology of past and present, demonstrating how society commodifies feminism and systemically shuts out women of color and other marginalized groups. Some topics of discussion include: What white feminism is, along with it’s long and consistent history of elitism and prejudice Who white feminism leaves behind (think: prioritising “mompreneurs” over women who can’t afford diapers) The role capitalism plays and the commodification of feminism Problematic language like “lucky”, “divisive” and the white privilege disclaimer What we can do to change things for the next generation And more! Buy the book: US | UK Transcription is available here Mentioned in the episode: Living a Feminist Life - Sarah Ahmed -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com

In this episode, I talk with Asha Dahya about her book, Today’s Wonder Women. Not all superheroes wear capes! Many of them are everyday women challenging the status quo with love, determination, vision and grit. In Asha’s book, a compilation of the stories of 50 female identifying people, you’ll meet the everyday superheroes who are changing the world. They’ve identified a problem and taken it upon themselves to do something about it, dismantling any barriers that stand in their way. It’s an inspiring read.  Some topics of discussion include: Stories of female-identifying heroes who have defied death, flouted cultural norms, and risen above poverty to become CEOs, entrepreneurs, activists, role models, media moguls, and movement creators The “fairytale conditioning” that teaches girls to wait for Prince Charming to save them Learning to define what strength and success look like for ourselves The important of female representation in the arts, media and leadership How we can start to show up as our true, authentic selves and become our own superheroes The quotes you will hear read during the interview are taken directly from the book, Today’s Wonder Women. Transcription is available here Buy the book: US | UK Mentioned in the episode: Books: Gender Swapped Fairytales - Karrie Fransman, Jonathan Plackett Becoming - Michelle Obama Lemons in the Garden of Love - Ames Sheldon Call Us What We Carry - Amanda Gorman The Book of the City of Ladies - Christine de Pizan People / organisations: Fraidy Reiss - founder of Unchained at Last Sarah Moshman - filmmaker Gloria Feldt - Take the Lead Violeta Ayala - filmmaker Indira Cesarine - Untitled Space art gallery Amalii de Alwis - Code First Girls Dannielle Owens-Reid Ana Flores Sara Cunningham Films: The Mask You Live In Y: The Last Man -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow along: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - and be sure to rate and review to help other people find us! Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com