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.
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.
Posted on January 29 2018 at 16:19
#FeminismOnFilm
Feminist film buff? Weekend cinema-goer? Casual couch critic? We want your reviews of the films you love, or love to hate.
Posted on January 18 2018 at 09:58
A year in the life of Engender...
2017 has seen its fair share of ups and downs in the pursuit of women's equality, and we wanted to take this chance to look back at what Engender has been up to over this year.
Posted on December 15 2017 at 15:22
Guest post: Period shaming is a serious problem
This week we have been joined in the new Engender office by Livi, a student on a work experience placement from Holy Rood RC High. While here, Livi has written a piece on period shaming, an issue which she has previously researched at school and feels strongly should be more widely covered.
Posted on December 15 2017 at 13:18
Gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals
A few weeks ago, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations asked our Policy and Parliamentary Manager, Emma Trottier, to write a short blog about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the SDG concerning gender equality and its link to the rest of the goals. Here she sets out what needs to happen for the goal to become a reality.
For those unfamiliar, the fifth of the 17 SDGs commits member states to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. By 2030. Or 15 years from the time the SDGs were agreed to in 2015. Ambitious, isn’t it?
Posted on December 14 2017 at 11:19
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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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