Engender blog
All of Engender’s latest news. Reports, reviews, books, articles, and information from across Scotland’s women’s sector.
We would love to hear from other feminists around Scotland. Check out our guidelines for more information on how you can blog for us.
#Engender25 - the real struggle
Engender is working with the University of Stirling to host student Karen Watson who will be exploring Engender's archives as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary.
In Karen's second blog, she muses on the challenges of making real change, and why equality still seems so far off.
On the Engender: Women in Scotland's criminal justice system
This month I was privileged to host our podcast recording on women in the criminal justice system. Even though Scotland incarcerates more women than almost any other country in Northern Europe, this is an area which I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t given much thought before working for Engender*.
#Engender25: Engender's early days and the challenge of definition
Engender is working with the University of Stirling to host a student placement who will be exploring Engender's archives as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary.
Karen Watson worked for a large financial organisation for almost 20 years before deciding to return to University to follow her dream of getting involved in feminism and gender equality studies. She lives with her son, two cats and a dog and hopes to go on to PhD study in the Autumn.
Here's her first blog for Engender, charting the early discussions about purpose, vision, and the challenge of definition.
Did you hear the one about the aid executive exploiting women in Haiti?
The
UK Government should dedicate budget to international development.*
International development organisations should not enable their staff to engage in sexual exploitation, or to sexually harass or assault colleagues or beneficiaries.
I do not see a contradiction within these two sentences.
Frequently asked questions: Women’s equality and the Gender Recognition Act
Engender, along with Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Zero Tolerance, Equate Scotland, Close the Gap and the Women 5050 Campaign, have produced a document with frequently asked questions about women's equality and the Gender Recognition Act.
What is the Gender Recognition Act?
The Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) is the law that governs how trans people can get their gender identity legally recognised – and so have the correct gender marked on their birth certificate. The GRA is currently UK-wide legislation, but birth certificates are a devolved matter that the Scottish Parliament can legislate for.
Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004, it is possible to apply to a Gender Recognition Panel and obtain a full Gender Recognition Certificate. A person with a full Gender Recognition Certificate is recognised legally as having acquired a new gender, and their birth certificate is amended to reflect this. The process has been criticised as being too lengthy, complex, and intrusive. It also does not allow for recognition of non-binary people, or anyone under 18.
In November 2017, the Scottish Government launched a review of the Gender Recognition Act which includes proposals such as:
- Replacing requirements to provide medical evidence and to live in an acquired gender for two years when seeking legal gender recognition, with a self-declaration system
- Reducing the age at which recognition can be obtained to 16, and considering options for under-16s
- Options for the legal recognition of non-binary people – people who do not identify as male or female
The UK Government is also conducting a review of the Gender Recognition Act through a separate process.
RSSDownloads
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.
Newsletter
Sign up to receive our newsletter here:
Sign up to our mailing list
Receive key feminist updates direct to your inbox:
