Woman's Hour - 21/01/2010

With Jenni Murray. Actor Julie Walters' latest role is playing politician Mo Mowlam, who was known to be both 'larger than life' and 'down to earth' with an unorthodox negotiating style. Despite having been diagnosed with a brain tumour, she became Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Tony Blair's government in 1997 and now the story of her life at that time has been made into a film. Jenni talks to Julie about Mo Mowlam's life and character, and about how she approached playing such a well-known public figure. Is sleep the 'next feminist issue'? Well it is, according to one of the top women journalists in the US. Arianna Huffington has proclaimed that in order for women to get ahead 'we're all going to have to lie down and take a nap'. She's putting her pillow where her mouth is, and has pledged to get a full night's sleep every night this month. But is it true that women are second class citizens when it comes to getting their fair share of time under the duvet? And how do parents negotiate whose sleep is more important when there are babies to be fed? Kira Cochrane, from The Guardian and Professor Jim Horne, Director of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, join Jenni to discuss the politics of sleep. Up until the 20th century black clothes were associated with mourning. The strictest rules were for women who often had to wear their widow's weeds for some years after the death of their loved one. So why and when did this trend stop? And do we miss it or are we glad to have the freedom to wear what we want, when we want to? Jenni is joined by Professor Jean Seaton, who has written on the issue, and journalist Justine Picardie.