Engender launches a report on gender equality and the independence debate

Today we are launching our report 'Gender Equality and Scotland's Constitutional Futures', to coincide with International Women's Day.

Every year Engender members, colleagues from the women's sector, and feminists from different walks of life celebrate IWD at our annual conference.

This year the focus of discussions will be around two key questions:

  • What does the current heightened focus on how we do politics in Scotland mean for gender equality and women's rights?
  • And how can feminists in Scotland use the platform of the independence debate to make progress on a diversity of issues, come what may on 18 September?

The report considers these questions in terms of economic, political and cultural life in Scotland, sketching out the policy landscape and looking at whether power and responsibility currently lie with Westminster or Holyrood.

Within this, a spectrum of issues are covered and while hardened policy types may well care to read from cover to cover, the policy chapters also aim to be something of a reference guide on key gender perspectives over the coming months – whether on employment, violence against women, social security, stereotyping or women’s representation in politics.

The final chapters look at the implications of the status quo and independence for gender advocacy and offer some commentary on the politics of the debate.

At Engender, we want to use the opportunities that the referendum presents to get women’s voices heard, and to balance the overwhelming spotlight on macro issues that many women in Scotland find alienating and even tedious.

The debate has recharged our thinking about how we might effectively tackle inequality and discrimination, and achieve the change we want to see – now we want to encourage the campaigns, commentators and the public to join in and to keep pushing for more attention to social issues that relate to communities and to the day to day.

Download the report

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Downloads

'Constitution Cafes' Activity Report'Constitution Cafes' Activity Report An activity report on three 'constitution cafe' discussion events on gender equality and the independence referendum, held between June and August 2014.

A Gender Edit of Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland This document is a ‘gender edit’ of the Scottish Government's white paper, which sets out its case for a ‘yes vote’ in the referendum.

A Gender Edit of Scottish Labour's 'Red Paper'A Gender Edit of Scottish Labour's 'Red Paper' This document is a ‘gender edit’ guide to the Scottish Labour party’s ‘red paper’ which sets out its case for a ‘no vote’ in the referendum.

Engender Briefing on the Smith CommissionEngender Briefing on the Smith Commission A short briefing paper on the Smith Commission on further devolution to the Scottish Parliament.

Engender Submission to the Smith CommissionEngender Submission to the Smith Commission Engender's submission to the Smith Commission on additional powers for the Scottish Parliament.

Gender Equality and Scotland's FuturesGender Equality and Scotland's Futures This policy report is Engender's contribution to the Scottish independence debate.

Scotland's Futures: Women and CareScotland's Futures: Women and Care This briefing is part of a series that sets out how power and responsibility to tackle critical gender equality issues are divided between Holyrood and Westminster.

Scotland's Futures: Women and PovertyScotland's Futures: Women and Poverty This briefing is part of a series that sets out how power and responsibility to tackle critical gender equality issues are divided between Holyrood and Westminster.

Scotland's Futures: Women and the ReferendumScotland's Futures: Women and the Referendum This briefing is part of a series that sets out how power and responsibility to tackle critical gender equality issues are divided between Holyrood and Westminster.

Scotland's Futures: Women, Politics and PowerScotland's Futures: Women, Politics and Power This briefing is part of a series that sets out how power and responsibility to tackle critical gender equality issues are divided between Holyrood and Westminster.

Scotland’s Futures: Women and the Labour MarketScotland’s Futures: Women and the Labour Market This briefing is part of a series that sets out how power and responsibility to tackle critical gender equality issues are divided between Holyrood and Westminster.

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