Woman's Hour - 15/10/2008

Presented by Jane Garvey. The National Gallery's new exhibition Renaissance Faces features a remarkable collection of female portraits. Jane discusses some of the intriguing personalities on display with historian Gaia Servadio and the lead curator of the exhibition, Susan Foister. Travel writer Dervla Murphy joins Jane to discuss her latest book The Island That Dared: Journeys in Cuba. Female genital cutting was outlawed in Kenya in 2001, but many communities continue to practice it as an important rite of passage to womanhood. Angela Robson talks to a group of girls in Narok, south-west Kenya, who have denounced the practice amidst widespread condemnation from their community. Jane asks Jill Kirby, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, and Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee whether women are likely to be hit particularly hard by the current economic crisis. Why do women underestimate their knowledge of politics? Jane discusses the issues with Dr Sarah Childs, Senior Lecturer in Politics at Bristol University, Jill Kirby, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies and Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee. Including drama: The Color Purple (8/10).