W&P
King's College London's Women in Politics society official podcast, the largest Women in Politics society in the UK.
The podcast shines light on women in politics and the politics of women-amplifying voices, stories and perspectives too often overlooked.
- Astrid Jaubert and Apeksha Pehal
EPISODES
EPISODE 5. Women in Literature: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the personal as political
In this episode, we explore the work of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, one of the most influential feminist voices of our time. From Purple Hibiscus to Americanah and We Should AlI Be Feminists, we unpack how her literature transforms stories of gender, race, and postcolonial politics into acts of resistance and cultural change. This episode highlights how literature can be deeply political and how women's voices shape history, society, and the global imagination.
EPISODE 4. The resurgence of conservatism: Trad wives, gender backlash & digital politics
In this episode, we unpack the viral resurgence of conservatism and the rise of the "trad-wife" movement across social media. From TikTok homemaking aesthetics to the politics of submission, we explore how nostalgic visions of femininity are being repackaged as empowerment, and what this means for feminism, gender equality, and women in politics today. Situating the trend within global political shifts, economic precarity, post-feminist backlash, and algorithmic culture, we examine how lifestyle influencers, religious conservatism, and the manosphere are reshaping contemporary gender norms. We also reflect on the intersectional limits of "choice," the impact on women's leadership and policy, and whether this moment signals a deeper cultural turning point.
Is the trad-wife revival harmless lifestyle content, or a soft pathway back to rigid gender hierarchies?
EPISODE 3. Technology against her: how Al and emerging technologies harm women in power.
In this episode, we explore how emerging technologies are reshaping, and often reinforcing, gender inequality. Drawing on global data, feminist theory, and real-world cases, we examine how Al, algorithms, bots, and deepfakes reproduce existing power structures, disproportionately targeting women in politics and leadership. From technology-facilitated gender-based violence and online harassment to the algorithmic amplification of misogyny and racism, we ask how digital spaces have become new sites of exclusion, and what social and regulatory change is needed to protect women's voices, visibility, and democratic participation.
EPISODE 2. Would having more female leaders actually help gender inequality?
In this episode, we debate a deceptively simple but deeply complex question: would having more female leaders really help reduce gender inequality? Drawing on political theory, global data, and real-world examples, we unpack the difference between descriptive and substantive representation - asking whether visibility truly translates into power. From the transformative potential of role models and inclusive policymaking to the risks of tokenism and shallow quotas, this episode explores how representation can both challenge and reproduce inequality. Ultimately, we question whether more women in leadership is enough
- or if genuine equality demands a deeper transformation of political institutions and culture.
EPISODE 1. She can't win? The barriers for women in politics
In this episode, we explore the challenges contemporary women face in politics today. From enduring sociocultural expectations and structural barriers to the growing threat of digital harassment, we unpack how these obstacles continue to shape women's representation and participation in political life. Drawing on global examples and recent studies, we discuss how gendered stereotypes, institutional bias, and media narratives intersect to reinforce inequality - and what positive action mechanisms like gender quotas can do to create change. This episode highlights why women's political participation is not only a matter of fairness but essential to the quality and inclusivity of democracy itself.