Engender blog
Smash the Patriarchy, Save the Planet
As people around the world prepare to go on #ClimateStrike tomorrow, Engender's Communications and Engagement Manager, Alys Mumford, writes about why feminists should take action on climate change.
Climate change is a feminist issue. Just as we strive to include intersectional analysis in all of our work for women’s equality, we must recognise that climate change is an issue which disproportionately affects women around the world. Within this, as with so many issues of women’s inequality, it is poorer women, women of colour, carers, disabled women, and other marginalised women who are easier to ignore by decision-makers, and who will bear the brunt of the extreme weather, conflict, forced migration, increased illness, and resource shortages.
Speak out even though your voice shakes
Our Communications and Engagement Manager Alys Mumford blogs about the importance of bystander action in preventing inequality.
Since I saw the video of Elin Ersson preventing the deportation of a man to Afghanistan from Sweden a few days ago, I just haven’t been able to get it out of my head. When I tell people about it I get goosebumps. It gives me hope in a world where hope seems naïve.
As young women, we are told not to take up space. To sit down and shut up, and never, never to inconvenience others. Elin does none of these things.
Just imagine the bravery that takes. You know that people on the flight are keen to get home, to start their holidays, to visit loved ones. You know that flight attendants are just doing their jobs, and have enough to deal with without this. You know that there are children on the flight who are scared (more by the shouting man who just stole your phone, than by your calm act of bravery). You know that you are drawing attention to yourself online, with all of the dangers that poses for women.
And still you stay standing, voice shaking, to save a life.
5 things you can do to help call on the UK Government to scrap the 'family cap' and 'rape clause'
This week, we've released a special edition of #FridayFeministFive focusing on our campaign calling on the UK Government to scrap the abhorrent ‘family cap’ and ‘rape clause’. Here we list 5 simple things you can do to help.
Review: Nasty Women, edited by 404ink
Maxine Blane is Engender's communications and administration assistant. Here she reviews Nasty Women, a new anthology of essays published by 404ink.
“This is an emergency. Tell your stories and tell them loud.” declares the brief preface to Nasty Women, the eagerly awaited collection of essays published by 404ink, Scottish publishing’s new wunderkind. Commissioned as both a response to and in defiance of the now infamous description of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton by Donald Trump, the collection contains twenty-one essays written by playwrights, poets, punk-rockers, photographers and more.
Feminist action against Trump
Next week on 20th January Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the President of the United States of America.
Given statements made during the election campaign, many are understandably worried about what a Trump presidency may mean for women's equality, the fight against racism, LGBTQI rights, religious freedoms, violence, climate change, migrant rights, international relations, democratic freedoms and many more vital issues.
Here, we outline some of the things happening in Scotland (and the rest of the UK) which you might want to get involved in.
Please note that we do not endorse these events (except our own, of course!), and would encourage women considering attending to think about the organisers and messaging of any action, and to ensure you feel safe and comfortable in attending. Where appropriate, we have linked to further information to consider before getting involved.
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Engender Briefing: Pension Credit Entitlement Changes
From 15 May 2019, new changes will be introduced which will require couples where one partner has reached state pension age and one has not (‘mixed age couples’) to claim universal credit (UC) instead of Pension Credit.
Engender Parliamentary Briefing: Condemnation of Misogyny, Racism, Harassment and Sexism
Engender welcomes this Scottish Parliament Debate on Condemnation of Misogyny, Racism, Harassment and Sexism and the opportunity to raise awareness of the ways in which women in Scotland’s inequality contributes to gender-based violence.
Gender Matters in Social Security: Individual Payments of Universal Credit
A paper calling on the Scottish Government to automatically split payments of Universal Credit between couples, once this power is devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Gender Matters Manifesto: Twenty for 2016
This manifesto sets out measures that, with political will, can be taken over the next parliamentary term in pursuit of these goals.
Scottish NGO Briefing for UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
Joint briefing paper for the UN Rapporteur on Violence Against Women.
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