A new radio show is looking to grow the feminist movement in Suffolk and celebrate remarkable women from the county.
Suffolk Feminist Society is launching Broad Agenda on Ipswich Community Radio, with the first feature to air on January 2, 2017 at 9pm.
It will publicise match reports from local women’s sports teams; expose a ‘sexist of the week’; reminisce on women’s achievements in ‘herstory’; and include topical interviews with guests.
The six hosts are SFS members: Helen Taylor, Pippa Banham, Sue Wardell, Gem Thompson, Caroline Page and Amy Wragg.
Gem said: “It’s like a Women’s Hour for Suffolk.
“It’s localised but we are tackling national issues as well as local issues and it should be fun, amusing, challenging and provocative.”
The aim of the show is to keep feminism and equality on the agenda, Helen said, and challenge unconscious bias in Suffolk and beyond.
Pippa added: “It’s not about men-bashing, we want to encourage people to listen and learn exactly what feminism is, which is men and women being equal.”
Broad Agenda will also promote positive male role models who are supportive of the drive for equality, and highlight women’s achievements that may have previously gone unnoticed.
Caroline said: “Once you start digging down and finding out what women have invented and achieved but it has been airbrushed out of history, it’s perfectly acceptable to be infuriated by this.”
The hosts believe there is great need for the show in Suffolk.
A league table compiled by children’s charity Plan International UK earlier this year put Ipswich in the bottom fifth of areas for girls to live in England and Wales, according to child poverty, life expectancy, teenage pregnancy, GCSE results and employment.
Helen said Suffolk also scored badly for domestic violence rates, sexual violence convictions and maternity discrimination.
Nick Kabay, community development officer at ICR, has been training the new hosts ahead of next year’s launch.
He said: “I think this is exactly the type of programming ICR should be involved in.
“It’s going to be a really good listen and I think it will open people’s eyes about modern day feminism.”
The hour-long show will be on ICR 105.7fm every Monday from 9pm.
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