Women's traditional ‘leisure' pursuits are closely connected to the home: practicing needlework and perfecting cookery have the knock on benefit of producing better homes. But what happens when women seek more public pleasures? From taking part in sports to going out dancing, women's public pleasure seeking has challenged accepted codes of behaviour and broken social taboos. In the 1920s the idea of the independent, fun loving and carefree flapper girl provoked both concern and curiosity.

But how far have things changed? As far as we would like to think? Or is it okay for women to indulge in spas but not in spritzers?

The 2002 Living in Britain survey reported that in the space of 10 years young women's alcohol consumption had doubled, whilst men's intake had fallen. It sparked a big public debate. Are girls today not only dancing on the tables but also drinking boys under them? What is happening to women? Is lager swilling ladette culture triumphing?

Just how easy is it for women to have fun without being judged?