Woman's Hour - 05/10/2009

With Jane Garvey. It was widely reported last week that, 'Children of working mothers are less healthy' - which prompted columnists and bloggers to bemoan yet more negative scrutiny directed at women who juggle paid work and parenting. Jane discusses the truth behind the news copy, and asks how useful the term 'working mother' is today. Claire Martin has been voted Best Vocalist a record five times at the BBC British Jazz Awards. She has opened concerts for Tony Bennett and worked with artists including Curtis Stigers, Jamie Cullum and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, and is known to thousands of jazz fans as presenter of Jazz Line-Up on BBC Radio 3. Currently touring the UK, Claire joins Jane to discuss her career and to play from her new album. A recent report commissioned by Italy's parliamentary anti-Mafia commission suggests that 13 million Italians still live in areas where organised crime exerts influence over everyday life. But in some parts of Italy, business owners are determined to stand up against the power of the Mafia. Five years ago a group of students in Palermo formed Addiopizzo; many of those at the forefront of the movement are women and young people who are tired of the reality of Mafia control. Jane finds out if they have made an impact. There is no one way to sum up the sister relationship - best friend, worst enemy, greatest rival, closest confidante. Luisa Dillner talks to Jane about her latest anthology, looking at sisters through the ages.