International Women’s Day on National Prison Radio

International Women’s Day takes place on 8 March. It is a global awareness day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

Around 25 percent of women are reported to have experienced domestic violence. But for women in prison, that number is far higher. Around 60 percent of women in prison report having experienced abuse in the home. 

National Prison Radio’s Lady Unchained recently delivered a TED (Technology, Entert-ainment & Design) Talk on the subject of Women and Girls versus the justice system.

In her talk, Lady Unchained played out recorded voices of women and performed her own poetry to call on everyone, male and female, to be part of the movement tackling violence against women and girls. 

Prison sentences have become our safety blanket. We hide our pain behind bars that have become our safety net. 

Lady Unchained will be bringing her lyrical flow to NPR Friday, and National Prison Radio will be broadcasting a special show to mark International Women’s Day. 

“One thing that is crazy for me is that a lot of women feel safer in prison. That is mad to me”, Lady Unchained told National Prison Radio.

In the show, Lady Unchained and her co-hosts Frankie and Jason will be talking about how, in the UK today, women are more likely to enter the workforce with higher qualifications than men but earn less per hour. 

They’ll give you the chance to hear some recordings of women living outside prison and women in HMP Styal and HMP Bronzefield talking about how they experience these inequalities. 

Frankie tells Lady Unchained he already crosses the road when he’s walking behind a woman because he’s aware that a man walking behind a woman can cause fear. 

Jason says he wants women to talk about this more, so that men understand better what they can do to help.  

For this year’s International Women’s Day, Lady Unchained is calling for everyone to take action to end violence against women and girls. It’s important for men as well as women to be involved in this action. It includes remembering to be an ally to women and taking time to think deeply about what it means to be a woman in 2024. 

What would it mean if men and women switched for a day? What are the particular challenges that women face and how can I change that?

Lady Unchained writes in her poem: “Prison sentences have become our safety blanket. We hide our pain behind bars that have become our safety net. 

“These conversations are going to continue. There are a lot of women being abused out there. Let’s create some spaces where women are safe. I’m tired of walking home with my keys in my hand.”

If you’re a woman living in prison who has experienced domestic abuse, listen out on NPR for information about Women’s Champions in your prison. Women’s Champions are domestic violence peermentors who can help you access support and guidance. 

Lady Unchained’s International Women’s Day show will be broadcast on NPR Friday on Friday 8 March 2024. 

National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It’s available on in-cell TVs and Launchpad laptops in prisons across England and Wales. If it’s not available in your prison, or you would like to get involved by asking a question, sharing a story or requesting a track you can call us on 0808 123 1234.