Why do men rule the world?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 26 February 2021
⏱️ 38 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Listener Paula from Kenya is a computer scientist, she can’t help but notice the inequality in her workplace.
With only 1 in 10 countries having female heads of state, there is no doubt that men are in charge.
Paula wants to know if there is any scientific underpinning to this inequality? Perhaps it can be explained by our brains and bodies? Or does evolution weigh in?
Or maybe it is all down to society and the way we raise our boys and girls. The toys and ideals we give our children must surely have an impact.
And most importantly, if we want a world run by men and women equally, how can we get there? We hear how Iceland became the most gender equal country in the world.
Presented by Marnie Chesterton. Produced by Caroline Steel for the BBC World Service
[Image: Men in board room. Credit: Getty Images]
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.0 | Santa Marine is the world's youngest serving female Prime Minister and heads a coalition of five parties all led by women. |
| 0:40.0 | To those waiting with baited breath for that favorite media catchphrase the U-turn, |
| 0:47.0 | I have only one thing to say, |
| 0:50.0 | You turn if you want to. The ladies not for turning. |
| 0:57.0 | I want to start by saying that it is an absolute honor and a privilege to have the |
| 1:08.9 | ability as the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party to form a government for all New Zealanders. |
| 1:17.0 | Welcome to Crowd Science from the BBC World Service where we answer science questions from all around the world. |
| 1:24.7 | I'm Marnie Chesterton. |
| 1:26.9 | You've just heard a global selection of female leaders. |
| 1:30.1 | Hooray, women in the top jobs, roles that for hundreds of years have been occupied by men. |
| 1:36.0 | But you can't tick equality off the to-do list yet. This is from a couple of weeks ago |
| 1:41.4 | when the Tokyo Olympic Chief had to apologize for saying |
| 1:44.5 | women talked too much in meetings. |
| 1:47.0 | I was here. |
| 1:50.0 | In this case, the Olympic, ex-president of the United States who |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.