Â鶹Éç

It has been twenty years since the laws on prostitution have been looked at and over the past few weeks Woman’s Hour has investigated the proposals for England and Wales to follow the ‘Nordic model’. Implementing this would mean the criminalisation of those who pay for sex and the decriminalisation of those who sell it. We have spoken to many involved in the industry and today we speak to two academics Professor Sheila Jeffreys from Melbourne University and Dr Jackie West, senior sociologist from Bristol University, to give us a perspective on how other countries deal with prostitution and how successful, or not, different approaches have been.

Jane talks to journalist Sally Williams about the tiny but growing number of policewomen in Afghanistan. Recruited to do the jobs that men can’t, not only risk death in the line of duty, they also face personal attack from extremists and bigotry within.

Michelle joins Jane to talk about starring in two of the UK’s most famous soaps and growing up  in working-class London with her young single mother in the 60s and 70s. Michelle’s path towards acting success has included being a punk and starting out as a backing singer.  As a single mother, Michelle says she’s been accused of being a man eater and having a bad northern accent, but despite such criticism, she explains how she carved out a successful career in such a competitive industry and how she and her 18 year old daughter are committed feminists. 

Next Saturday sees a highlight of the horse racing calendar when the Grand National is run. At the moment the favourite is a horse called Teaforthree. His trainer is a woman – Rebecca Curtis – is based at Newport in Pembrokeshire. She’s in her early thirties and only set up as a trainer six years ago.  If Teaforthree wins at Aintree, Rebecca will be only the fourth woman trainer to have won the National. So what’s it like to have the favourite in your yard? Louise Adamson has been to West Wales to meet her …. And, of course, Teaforthree.