The man who invented the Pill
In 1951, in a lab in Mexico City, Austrian chemist Dr Carl Djerassi created a synthetic hormone from wild yams. It would go on to become the Pill's active ingredient.Rachel Naylor brings together archive interviews with Dr Djerassi.PHOTO: Carl Djerassi in 1992 (BBC Copyright)
14 Juli 20229min
When Tunisia led on women's rights
In 1956, Tunisia became the first country in the Muslim world to legalise civil divorce and abortion. President Bourguiba also gave women the vote and widened access to education. In 2019, Nidale Abou Mrad spoke to Saida El Gueyed, a founding member of the Tunisian Women's Union.(Image shows Tunisian Women’s Union speaking at an event. Credit: Courtesy of Saida El Gueyed)
13 Juli 20229min
Poland's strict abortion law
In 1993 Poland introduced some of the most stringent abortion laws in Europe. It followed the fall of Communism in 1989. Ewa Kowaleska was among those who campaigned for the new law, she’s been speaking to Laura Jones.(Image: Ewa Kowaleska speaking at an event. Credit: Ewa Kowaleska)
12 Juli 202210min
How abortion was legalised in Great Britain
In the 1960s, a young mother, Diane Munday became well-known in Britain for her work demanding abortion rights for women. She and others in the campaign faced fierce opposition, but in 1967 abortion was legalised in England, Scotland and Wales under certain circumstances. Diane has been speaking to Laura Jones.(Image: Diane Munday at her desk in the 1960s. Credit: Diane Munday)
11 Juli 202210min
The US’s first gay election candidate
In 1961 the first openly gay person ran for public office in the United States. He was called Jose Sarria and he was a drag queen. He was determined that gay people would no longer be second-class citizens and paved the way for future openly gay candidates, such as Harvey Milk. Josephine McDermott speaks to Jose’s friend and fellow drag performer Mike Michelle.(Photo: Jose Sarria in drag. Credit: The Jose Sarria Foundation)Credits: Jose Sarria archive material from the documentary, Nelly Queen: The Life and Times of Jose Sarria by kind permission of its director Joseph Castel. Black Cat monologue recorded by Ball Records.
8 Juli 202210min
How the smear test was invented
In 1928 Dr George Papanicoloau, a Greek immigrant living in New York, discovered he could detect pre-cancerous cell changes in the cervix. This led to the development of the smear test which has meant millions of women worldwide have not had to face cancer.Dr Papanicoloau's great niece Olga Stamatiou speaks to Laura Jones.(Image shows Dr Papanicoloau examining a slide in a laboratory. Credit: Getty Images)
7 Juli 202210min
Escaping Nigeria’s Civil War
The south-east region of Nigeria declared itself to be the independent state of Biafra. In response, Nigerian forces invaded the state on 6 July 1967, beginning the Nigerian civil war. More than a million people died before the fighting stopped. We bring you one child’s story of getting caught up in the frontline. In 2021 Paul Waters spoke to Patricia Ngozi Ebigwe, now better known as TV and music star Patti Boulaye, who was 13 years old when she had to try to escape the conflict. (Photo: The 13-year-old Patricia Ngozi Ebigwe, courtesy of Patti Boulaye)
6 Juli 20228min
Japanese university student riots
In 1968 and early 1969 university students across Japan fought pitched battles with riot police after they barricaded themselves into their lecture halls and went on strike. They were protesting about the poor quality of their education and the inequalities of Japanese society in a period of rapid economic change. Emily Finch talks to Kazuki Kumamoto who was a young student who joined the protests. This is a Whistledown production for BBC World Service.(Photo of a policeman looking at Tokyo University Building. Credit: Getty Images)
5 Juli 20228min
