Weekend Woman's Hour: Loan Sharks, Menopause and ADHD, Bra fitting
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Woman's Hour tackles a range of pressing issues affecting women today, beginning with a powerful exposé on coerced debt—a hidden form of economic abuse where abusive partners build up debt in victims' names without consent. Dr Jen Glinski of Scottish Women's Aid reveals how this abuse traps women in abusive relationships and drives them toward exploitative loan sharks, with long-term consequences including poverty, homelessness, and mental health struggles. The programme then highlights a groundbreaking innovation in childbirth: the Odon Assist device, a soft air cuff that offers a gentler alternative to forceps and vacuum extraction, developed after a decade of research and trialled with strong women-led participation. The discussion shifts to literature with Kanwen Shoe, author of the thriller 'Boring Asian Female,' who explores themes of identity, ambition, and the pressure to conform, drawing from her own experiences as an Asian American growing up in predominantly white areas. The episode also delves into the intersection of menopause and ADHD, with GP Dr Helen Wall explaining how hormonal fluctuations can 'unmask' long-hidden neurodivergence, leading to burnout and overwhelm, and offering practical strategies for support. Finally, the programme demystifies bra fitting, advocating for visual assessment over tape measures and introducing the concept of sister sizing, while celebrating flat pack world champion Hayley McCauley’s expertise in assembling furniture with speed and precision. The episode ends with a call to action for greater awareness, systemic change, and self-empowerment across all domains of women’s lives.
Coerced debt is a widespread but under-recognized form of domestic abuse that traps women in abusive relationships and pushes them toward predatory loan sharks.
The Odon Assist device offers a safer, gentler alternative to traditional forceps and vacuum extraction in childbirth, with global potential and strong support from women and clinicians.
Menopause can unmask long-hidden ADHD symptoms in women, particularly those who have spent years masking their neurodivergence, leading to burnout and emotional overwhelm.
Bra fitting should be based on visual assessment—checking band tension, cup encapsulation, and underwire placement—rather than relying solely on tape measures.
Sister sizing allows women to find the right bra fit by adjusting band and cup sizes proportionally, a crucial concept often overlooked in retail.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Hidden Crisis of Coerced Debt
“We found that there is a truly quite significant hidden crisis of coerced debt among survivors of domestic abuse, in particular coerced debt trapping women and children in abusive relationships but also meaning that they need to return to an abusive partner after physically separating because of the level of debt.”
A New Era in Childbirth: The Odon Assist Device
“It's a completely new way of delivering babies and it works through a soft air cuff that we sit the whole way around the baby's head. And that air cuff is designed to be more gentle for babies, to cause less trauma to the baby, unlike the devices that we use already.”
Identity, Ambition, and the 'Boring Asian Female' Stereotype
“The model minority myth really comes from this perception that Asians are the quote unquote good immigrants where they're the hardworking ones and they're the ones who are going to take instructions and do the job well. But then it seems like it's positive, right? But then you go a layer further and it's like it's actually really dehumanizing.”
Menopause, ADHD, and the Unravelling of the Masked Self
“Because women's symptoms are often internalised, they're running a script in their head. They're trying to overcompensate just to stand still often. It's not seen. So we call that masking and it's what I like to refer to as the scaffolding that women put in.”
Bra Fitting, Sister Sizing, and the Art of Flat Pack Mastery
The episode concludes with expert advice on bra fitting by eye, explaining key indicators like band tension, cup encapsulation, and underwire placement. It also explores the concept of sister sizing and celebrates flat pack world champion Hayley McCauley, who shares her techniques and passion for DIY, challenging gender norms in home assembly.
“We found that there is a truly quite significant hidden crisis of coerced debt among survivors of domestic abuse, in particular coerced debt trapping women and children in abusive relationships but also meaning that they need to return to an abusive partner after physically separating because of the level of debt.”
“The model minority myth really comes from this perception that Asians are the quote unquote good immigrants where they're the hardworking ones and they're the ones who are going to take instructions and do the job well. But then it seems like it's positive, right? But then you go a layer further and it's like it's actually really dehumanizing.”
“It's a completely new way of delivering babies and it works through a soft air cuff that we sit the whole way around the baby's head. And that air cuff is designed to be more gentle for babies, to cause less trauma to the baby, unlike the devices that we use already.”
Hosts
Guests
Kanwen Shoe
person
Dr Helen Wall
person
Boring Asian Female
book
Dr Jen Glinski
person
Odon Assist
product
Hayley McCauley
person
Dr Emily Houghton
person
Charlie Fuller
person
Menopause and ADHD
book
Katie Weir
person
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