Why do women still die when they don´t have to? Despite global advancements and available resources, preventable deaths among women persist. Women continue to shoulder the weight of healthcare work and the socio-economic impact of health crises. Sophie Harman, prize-winning Professor of International Politics at Queen Mary London, is – as her new book flags – sick of it. In conversation with host Polly Pallister-Wilkins they discuss Sick of It: The Global Fight for Women’s Health which maps out how women´s health is manipulated for political gain, from health-washing to attacks on maternity hospitals and the exploitation of health workers. As we navigate a year of crucial elections, this book offers a candid reflection on the state of women´s health in global politics and a vision for reclaiming equality in health. Sophie Harman brings her extensive expertise to the discussion. With seven academic books and numerous articles on global health politics, she has been a voice in major media outlets and a consultant for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She has also co-written and produced the feature film Pili (2017), highlighting the real-life struggles of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. Tune in for a groundbreaking contribution that reveals the causes for why politics is still jeopardising women´s health around the world.

Harman, Sophie (2024): Sick of It. The Global Fight for Womens Health. London, Virago.

Harman, Sophie and Papamichail, Andreas (2025): Global Health Governance, 2nd edition. London, Routledge.

Pili (Sophie Harman, Leanne Welham, 2017)

Elnakib, Shatha; Aly, Sarah; Asi, Yara M. and Shawar, Yusra Ribhi (2024): The Humanitarian System: Politics can not be avoided. The Lancet 404 (10458), pp. 1105-1106.

Bedford, Kate (2019): Bingo Capitalism. Oxford, Oxford University Press.