Main content

'Beauty Day' gives respite to women in the Calais 'Jungle'

Do we need a refugee integration strategy for men coming to the UK? Plus the Summer of Love series - Pretty Woman, Beauty Day in the Calais refugee camp, and GB women's rugby.

A 'sensitive' introduction to a different culture should be available to men settling in Britain, says Labour MP, Thangam Debbonaire, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees. In Norway it is compulsory for every asylum seeker to attend classes on female rights and respect for women. How effective are these classes, how are they received by the refugees themselves and should something similar be established in the UK? Zoe Gardner from Asylum Aid joins journalist, Jenny Kleeman to discuss.

In the latest of our Summer of Love series the writer Jenny Colgan explains why there is still pleasure to be had from watching Pretty Woman despite its sexual politics. And, the journalist and sex educator Alix Fox on Julia Roberts' portrayal of a sex worker rescued by a millionaire.

Around 600 women currently live in the refugee and migrant camp in Calais. The Unofficial Women and Children's centre run by Help Refugees stocks nappies, shampoo, sanitary items and tickets for clothes and shoes distribution. Men are never allowed inside the centre. On a Saturday residents gather for the weekly 'Beauty Day', a free service which gives the women chance to socialise.

In this month's edition of Women's Health, five of the members of the women's GB rugby sevens team have taken part in a nude photo shoot aiming to celebrate female bodies of different shapes and different sizes. Is it an empowering portrayal or does it undermine a message that women's sport is taken seriously?

Presenter: Nikki Bedi
Producer: Kirsty Starkey.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Asylum Seeker Culture Lessons

    Zoe Gardner from Asylum Aid joins journalist Jenny Kleeman to discuss these classes.

    Duration: 09:32

  • Summer Of Love - Pretty Woman

    Writer Jenny Colgan and journalist Alix Fox discuss the sexual politics of Pretty Woman.

    Duration: 11:22

  • Mothers In The Calais 'Jungle'

    The second feature in our series with Catherine Carr about women in the Calais ‘Jungle’.

    Duration: 12:47

  • GB Women's Rugby Players Reveal All

    We discuss if the GB women's rugby team's naked photo shoot is empowering or demeaning?

    Duration: 07:10

Mothers In The Calais 'Jungle'

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Nikki Bedi
Producer Kirsty Starkey
Interviewed Guest Jenny Kleeman
Interviewed Guest Zoe Gardner
Interviewed Guest Jenny Colgan
Interviewed Guest Alix Fox
Interviewed Guest Sali Hughes
Interviewed Guest Anna Kessel

Broadcast

  • Tue 2 Aug 2016 10:00

Follow us on Instagram

Get all the pictures, videos, behind the scenes and more from Woman’s Hour

Podcast