Jo Cox 10 years on, Actor Geraldine James, Swinging investigation

Ten years after the murder of MP Jo Cox, this episode of Woman's Hour confronts the enduring crisis of online abuse and intimidation faced by women in public life. Despite promises of a more respectful politics, data reveals that 96% of MPs have experienced threats, with women and ethnic minority politicians disproportionately targeted. The Jo Cox Foundation's CEO and a government think tank researcher detail how security has improved but systemic toxicity remains, normalizing self-censorship and deterring diverse voices from entering politics. The episode then shifts to a powerful investigation into the dark underbelly of the swinging community, exposing how one woman was coerced into hundreds of non-consensual sexual encounters through a popular website, with her ex-husband refusing to respond and the platform failing to protect her. A solicitor specializing in domestic abuse reveals how such experiences are weaponized through threats of exposure, creating a climate of fear that silences victims. In contrast, the episode ends on a hopeful note, spotlighting a resurgence in women-led specialty bookshops—particularly fantasy and romance—where readers seek emotional refuge from digital overload, finding connection and escapism in physical, curated spaces.