Episodes
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In anticipation of new hate crime legislation in Scotland, people have been arguing about whether misgendering - for example referring to a trans woman as a man - should be against the law.
Adam Fleming speaks to Sharon Cowan, professor of feminist and queer legal studies at the University of Edinburgh, to find out how this question has been handled elsewhere in the UK.
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Exploring the debate around gender, pronouns, and Scotland’s new hate crime law.
People online are threatening to report misgendering - for example referring to a trans woman as a man - to the police. They say new Scottish legislation due to come into force in April will make misgendering a criminal offence. What does the new law actually say? What existing laws apply across the UK around misgendering? And does Scotland’s new law prioritise trans people over women?
Presenter: Adam FlemingProducers: Simon Maybin, Simon Tulett, Ellie House, Paige Neal-HolderEditor: Richard Vadon
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Statues, monuments, and memorials have become battlegrounds in recent decades. Whether it’s tearing down statues of controversial historical figures, or erecting monuments for minority communities, they are often at the centre of debates about identity, history, and representation. How did statues become so central to the culture wars, and why do they make people so angry?
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Plans announced in the Budget to spend £1 million on a war memorial for Muslim soldiers who died in the two World Wars have been applauded by campaigners, but others worry it is singling out one religious group for special treatment. Some have also questioned the timing of the announcement, when the Conservative Party is facing allegations of Islamophobia.
What role did Muslims play in the two World Wars? Do other religious groups have their own memorials? And how have monuments like this become flashpoints of the culture wars?
Presenter: Adam FlemingProduction team: Simon Tulett, Nick Holland, and Ellie HouseEditor: Penny Murphy
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The term ‘white gaze’ was popularised by author Toni Morrison in the 1990s, to describe the sense that the white experience was considered the norm. She said: “I've spent my entire writing life trying to make sure that the white gaze was not the dominant one in any of my books.” Adam Fleming speaks to Steve Garner, an associate professor of Sociology at Swansea University, to find out what people mean when they talk about the ‘white gaze’, and where the concept came from.
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A theatre production dealing with race issues has been criticised after announcing plans to stage some of its performances for primarily black audiences.The so-called ‘Black Out’ nights are scheduled for two dates of Slave Play’s West End run. Some have labelled the move divisive and unnecessary, and even Downing Street has got involved. The show’s playwright and producers say they’re aiming to bring new audiences to the theatre and allow black people to watch it without the “white gaze”. But what does this term mean, what are the origins of Black Out performances, and is this a concept that’s applicable to other minority groups?
Presenter: Adam FlemingProducers: Ellie House, Sandra Kanthal, Simon TulettEditor: Richard Vadon
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An AntiSocial special, charting the culture wars across Europe.
In Italy, there's a battle over surrogacy - bringing into question the rights of same-sex couples, the exploitation of women, and the influence of the Church. In Spain, more than half the country thinks that men are being discriminated against with the push for women's equality. And across borders, both progressive and conservative activists are creating international networks to spread their message.
Presenter: Adam FlemingProducer: Ellie HouseReporter: Sofia BettizaResearcher: Thomas FarmerEditor: Richard VadonStudio Managers: Graham Puddifoot and Matt Cadman Production Coordinators: Janet Staples and Katie Morrison
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How patriotic is the UK, and what do we know about the small but outspoken group of people who influence the debate about things like the monarchy and the Union Jack? Luke Tryl, UK director of focus group and opinion polling company More in Common, tells Adam Fleming about a section of society he’s termed ‘progressive activists’.
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Bristol University has dropped the national anthem from some of its graduation ceremonies, sparking a discussion about the song’s relevance to students and the merits of the national anthem more broadly. The university made the change in 2020 and will now sing ‘God Save the King’ at just two ceremonies a year, when a representative of the royal family attends. So why has it sparked a heated discussion this week? Some say the national anthem is too focused on the monarch, which represents an outdated way of running the state and reminds us of a problematic past. Others say it's an important tradition, we have much to be proud of and there is too much snobbishness about displaying national pride. Our panel discuss their views and we consider what a new anthem might sound like. We hear that the anthem originates from a turbulent time for the monarchy. Pollsters at More in Common explain that a small group of the population that are most likely to dislike the monarchy are also the most likely to write political social media posts, giving them a disproportionate say in the debate.
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What do we know about the impact of social transitioning on young people, which is when they want to be treated as the opposite gender. Hannah Barnes, journalist and author of ‘Time to Think’ a book examining the UK's gender identity service for children, explains.
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What should teachers do if a pupil wants to use a name, uniform, toilet or changing room of the opposite sex because they feel it better represents who they are? It's known as 'social transitioning'. It's in the news because the former Prime Minister Liz Truss has proposed a new law that would ban it in schools - re-charging a debate that's been going on from a while.
Social transitioning isn't the same as having surgery or taking drugs. So what is it? Schools have been crying out for some guidance from the government. We'll hear what teachers have been doing in the meantime. There are laws that protect pupils and laws that protect teachers. We'll find out where they sometimes clash.
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Moya Bailey coined the term ‘misogynoir’ in 2008 to describe a particular kind of sexism faced by black women. The associate professor at Northwestern University, in the USA, tells Adam Fleming this anti-black misogyny has been prevalent in popular culture for more than 100 years and uses the term to analyse the way black women are portrayed in the media. She sets out the origin of the ‘angry black woman’ stereotype and argues this is an example of misogynoir.
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Nella Rose, a black woman on the reality TV show 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' has divided opinion online - some accuse her of being rude and aggressive in the Australian jungle, while others say she's the victim of racism and misogyny. We explore some of the comments made about her and examine the history, meaning and potential real-world symptoms of 'misogynoir' - a theory about a combination of racism and sexism faced by black women. Plus, are the casting directors and editors of reality TV shows guilty of stereotyping black women as rude and aggressive, and what evidence is there of racism amongst the viewing and voting public?
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When did people start using the phrase ‘lefty lawyers’ and why? Legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg explains the recent events that gave rise to the use of the phrase and gives examples showing that politicians criticising lawyers is nothing new.
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The debate around so-called 'lefty lawyers'. After the government's Rwanda asylum policy was found to be unlawful by the Supreme Court, lots of people on social media started to say this was down to so-called 'lefty lawyers'. Some say using legal challenges to override government policy is undemocratic. Others say it's important to hold the government to account and ensure politicians stick to the laws they write. Lawyers also push back on being called either left or right wing, as they are just acting on behalf of their client, no matter their personal views.
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There’s been a debate on social media about whether Central Bank Digital Currencies pose a threat to our privacy and some even fear it could give governments power over our spending. Former Bank of England economist Dan Davies explains what a CBDC actually is.
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A clip from the European Central Bank, talking about progress towards an electronic version of the euro, has sparked concern on social media. Some suggest new central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) like this - including a digital pound under consideration in the UK - are designed to track our spending, or even restrict it. And there are fears it could lead to the elimination of cash altogether. But others say CBDCs are a recognition of cash’s decline, providing an alternative, and that central banks need to keep up with changing financial technologies. So what exactly is a digital pound, how would people use it, and how different is it to the way we pay for things now?
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Where does the phrase come from, and do younger generations have different expectations of the workplace? Dr Kirsteen Grant, Associate Professor of Human Resource Management at Edinburgh Napier University explains.
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A photo that appeared to show an NHS healthcare worker wearing a Palestine badge caused a heated debate on social media. Some say during the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Palestine flag becomes a political symbol and therefore breaches the principal that NHS staff should appear to be impartial. Others point to a double standard and question why the poppy can be worn by state sector workers even though some believe it is a political symbol. What counts as 'political' and how free should we feel in the workplace to express our beliefs?
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Professor Cath Mercer from University College London on asking people about how many opposite-sex sexual partners they’ve had and what the average numbers are for British people.
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