Herstory: 50 Years of Rape Crisis Podcast By Rape Crisis cover art

Herstory: 50 Years of Rape Crisis

Herstory: 50 Years of Rape Crisis

By: Rape Crisis
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About this listen

Herstory podcast traces 50 years of the Rape Crisis movement in England and Wales, as remembered by the women who built, shaped, and lived it. Founders, staff, volunteers, and survivors come together to share moments, memories, and reflections. What unfolds is not a complete history, but a deeply personal one, a window into the movement’s roots, its evolution, and the futures these women imagine.


The series is part of Rape Crisis: Herstories and Futures of the Movement, an oral herstory project featuring interviews with workers, volunteers, and movement leaders from across the Rape Crisis network. It was created in collaboration with Rape Crisis England & Wales, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, and National Life Stories at the British Library. The podcast sits alongside a new oral herstory archive — 37 long life-story interviews with women from the movement — held in perpetuity at the British Library.


This project was made possible by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the generous support of National Lottery players.

For more information: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes
  • Episode 1: The Dream

    Episode 1: The Dream
    Jun 25 2025

    In the 1970s and 1980s, a generation of women dared to speak the unspeakable and demanded a better life for women. This episode follows the birth of the Rape Crisis movement in Britain. Founders, volunteers, and current staff reflect on the feminist ideals that drove these women — and the tension between activism and survival as they built a service from scratch, in the face of silence and stigma.


    This series was made possible thanks to the voices and contributions of the women interviewed.

    Produced by Riham Moussa, with the assistance of Mary Holditch.

    Special thanks to Dr Ellie Whittingdale, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford; Anna Cole, Heritage Lead; and Kelly Bennaton, Communications and Marketing Lead at Rape Crisis England & Wales.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    17 mins
  • Episode 2: Along The Way

    Episode 2: Along The Way
    Jun 25 2025

    As the movement matured, so did its internal and external challenges. In this episode, women reflect on the struggle to stay rooted in feminist values while navigating power structures, limited resources, and growing demand. They speak candidly about what true inclusivity means, the emotional toll, and the ongoing pressure of managing long waiting lists.


    This series was made possible thanks to the voices and contributions of the women interviewed.

    Produced by Riham Moussa, with the assistance of Mary Holditch.

    Special thanks to Dr Ellie Whittingdale, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford; Anna Cole, Heritage Lead; and Kelly Bennaton, Communications and Marketing Lead at Rape Crisis England & Wales.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    19 mins
  • Episode 3: Holding The Line

    Episode 3: Holding The Line
    Jun 25 2025

    Today, Rape Crisis centres fight for survival amid austerity and competitive tendering. Workers talk about burnout, underfunding, and why survivor-centered care is still worth fighting for — even as efforts to professionalise the service bring both benefits and tensions. The shift away from relying on volunteers — once the backbone of the movement — is felt deeply across the sector.


    This series was made possible thanks to the voices and contributions of the women interviewed.

    Produced by Riham Moussa, with the assistance of Mary Holditch.

    Special thanks to Dr Ellie Whittingdale, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford; Anna Cole, Heritage Lead; and Kelly Bennaton, Communications and Marketing Lead at Rape Crisis England & Wales.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    22 mins
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