Scottish rape survivors, Writer Natasha Walter, New research on the Y chromosome and male infertility
Woman's Hour
BBC
4.1 • 3K Ratings
🗓️ 30 August 2023
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A group of women who were raped by the same man are now coming together to campaign for better treatment for survivors of rape in the Scottish justice system. After his sentencing, the women were photographed arm-in-arm outside the high court in Glasgow, having forged a close bond. Catriona Renton, reporter and presenter for BBC Scotland, joins Nuala. Writer and activist Natasha Walter joins Nuala to discuss her new, very personal book, Before the Light Fades: a memoir of grief and resistance. One day in December 2017 Natasha's mother Ruth took her own life. Natasha overwhelmed, by grief and guilt starts to look back through Ruth's history, trying to understand how her life led to this death. Last week scientists in America announced that they have taken an important step in understanding the human genome- our genetic blueprint- by decoding the Y chromosome which is passed from male parent to male offspring and determines biological sex and fertility. Professor Chris Barratt, head of Reproductive Medicine at Ninewells Hospital and the University of Dundee Medical School explains the implications of this research in relation to male infertility. Next to Normal is a Pulitzer prize-winning production currently on stage at the Donmar Theatre in London. At its heart Diana Goodman is a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar and haunted by her past. We speak to actor Caissie Levy playing Diana and birder and environmentalist, Mya-Rose Craig whose recent book Birdgirl talked about the impact on her and her family of having a mother with the same diagnosis. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore
Opener 00:00 Rape 01:20 Natasha Walter 10:32 Y Chromosome Breakthrough 22:23 Bipolar Mothers 30:19
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | He's a rule breaker, a trend setter. He reshaped art and redefined graffiti. |
| 0:07.4 | How does he smell? |
| 0:08.4 | Like paint. |
| 0:09.3 | Has he got any distinction features? |
| 0:10.8 | His anonymity. |
| 0:11.9 | But who is he? |
| 0:13.2 | What's his name? |
| 0:14.1 | Banksy. |
| 0:15.0 | Apparently I've met him twice. |
| 0:16.5 | The Banksy story. |
| 0:18.0 | Banksy's work is always about the human spirit versus establishment. |
| 0:24.2 | Listen on BBC Science. |
| 0:27.4 | BBC Science, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:32.1 | Hello, this is Nula McGoveran and you're listening to the Woman's Hour podcast. |
| 0:37.7 | We have Natasha Walter with us today in studio. |
| 0:40.7 | She's written a book before the light fades. |
| 0:44.0 | Natasha's mother took her own life at 75 and the consequences of that action |
| 0:48.8 | have given rise to this beautiful memoir of both grief and resistance. |
| 0:53.7 | So I'll chat in Natasha soon. |
| 0:55.6 | Also today scientists have fully sequenced the Y chromosome. |
| 0:59.4 | This is for the very first time and it could have far-reaching consequences |
| 1:03.0 | for sub-fertil couples as 50% of fertility problems within a heterosexual couple |
... |
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