Woman's Hour

BBC Radio 4

Women winning US midterms, Carer compensation, Brandee Younger

NOV 4, 202655 MIN

Description

The news of big gains for Democrats in the US midterm elections has included some historic wins for women - Texas has its first female Hispanic governor, Georgia its first black woman governor and Minnesota its first female Native American senator. We’ll be discussing this and other wins and losses and what it means for women. A woman who provided round-the-clock care for her elderly mother has been awarded £127,500 from her estate following years of legal proceedings. Bernadette Rogers was prosecuted for theft and fraud after withdrawing £100,000 from her mother's estate but was subsequently acquitted. She joins Clare McDonnell alongside specialist solicitor Laura Stone to discuss her experience and the wider implications of a potentially landmark ruling for family carers. American jazz harpist, composer, and educator Brandee Younger is redefining the instrument, fusing classical traditions with jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop and funk. She has performed with the likes of Lauryn Hill and John Legend, while her composition Hortense featured in Beyoncé's Homecoming documentary. In 2022, she became the first black woman nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, for her piece Beautiful Is Black. Early next year, Brandee will bring her unique musical vision to the new Blue Note London. She joins Clare to discuss her sound and latest album, Gadabout Season. Vinita Marwaha Madill is a British space engineer and founder of Rocket Women. Her career includes designing spacesuits at the European Space Agency's European Astronaut Centre and leading lunar exploration missions at Mission Control Space Services in Canada. Clare speaks to Vinita on National Engineering Day.