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.

Guest Blog: Why do older women in Scotland experience further financial inequality?

Women experience high levels of pension inequality, due to women’s care responsibilities, part-time work, occupational segregation, the gender pay gap and maternity and gender discrimination at work, reducing women’s access to both state and private pensions. In this guest blog, Louise Brady from Independent Age explores the links between state pensions and gender inequality, what we can learn from the Older People’s Economic Wellbeing Index, and what needs to change.

The graphic shows a light teal background with dark teal left-aligned text quote that reads "Addressing the inequalities women face during their working age lives, and ensuring the social security system is adequate and affords a decent standard of life is central to reducing pensioner poverty, and the disproportionate impact of it that is experienced by women.  ". The quote is attributed to Louise Brady, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Independent Age. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is Engender's logo, which is an equals sign in a bright teal circle.

Supreme Court Judgment

At Engender it will take us time to fully assess the implications of the lengthy and complex judgment released today by the Supreme Court. We will share further reflections in due course.

Free Feminist Artwork...

We’ve a wee surprise for you this International Women’s Day...

We’ll be sending out a stunning limited edition A6 print to every Engender member, created by fabulous local designer, Madeleine Leisk.

3 Steps to Achieving Primary Prevention in Housing

We’ve published the second in our series of mini-briefings shining a spotlight on how to achieve a primary prevention approach in different areas of public policy with this new briefing highlighting why ensuring women’s access to safe, secure and quality housing is essential for advancing women’s equality and preventing VAWG once and for all.

Graphic showing a repeating cycle between gender inequality, our unequal housing system, and violence against women and girls

Why we need better data collection to improve women’s representation

We’ve written to the Minister of State for Women and Equalities, Annelise Dodds MP, calling on the UK Government to enact Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010.

Image of a women's hand putting a ballot into a ballot box at a polling station

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Amplifying Marginalised Perspectives Through Journalism and Storytelling

Migrant Women Press have launched a powerful new initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the specific and often overlooked challenges faced by migrant and ethnically diverse women victims/survivors of gender-based violence.

3 Steps to Achieving Primary Prevention in Public Transport

We’ve launched our new series of mini-briefings shining a spotlight on how to achieve a primary prevention approach in different areas of public policy with this new briefing highlighting why safe and accessible public transport is key to gender equality and preventing violence against women.

Diagram showing the cycle between gender inequality, our unequal public transport system, and violence against women and girls

GUEST POST: The Repeal of the Concealment of Birth Act is Urgently Needed

Earlier this year, we launched our campaign calling for modernised abortion law in Scotland that works for women’s human rights and prevents unnecessary prosecutions. You can read our report here. Part of the outdated patchwork of laws that restrict women’s reproductive rights is the little-known Concealment of Birth Act. In this blog, expert Dr Emma Milne explores how the Act criminalises vulnerable women and why we need action to create a system that puts women’s needs first.

The graphic has a dark teal background and an illustration of two women holding up a placard which reads: “It is incredibly alarming that in Scotland, the same behaviour becomes a crime if the child dies around the time of the birth.” The quote is attributed to Dr Emma Milne. On the right hand side of the graphic is text that reads Why we urgently need to repeal the Concealment of Birth Act. The Engender logo is in the top right hand corner of the graphic

Invitation to Tender, Development of Engender’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030

We are seeking a consultant(s) to work with us to deliver a strategic review and planning process that will result in the development of Engender’s next Strategic Plan 2025-2030. This process will help us focus our efforts and resources on securing the most impactful change for women in Scotland.  To do this, we must engage with a diversity of women and identify priorities that work for the most marginalised. Undertaking this process now will help us ensure that our organisation is in a strong position to respond to future challenges.  

Broken and biased: new report shows impact of housing emergency on women

A new report published today by Shelter Scotland and Engender shines a light on the disproportionate impact of the housing emergency on women, and the additional barriers they face in accessing safe, secure, affordable, housing.

Graphic with a black background and white and red text that reads New report shows impact of housing emergency on women

Why we need to modernise abortion law in Scotland - your questions answered

For too long women in Scotland & the UK have had to settle for a system of abortion law that doesn’t put their needs & rights first. We’re calling for modernised abortion law that works for women’s human rights & prevents further unnecessary prosecutions.

8 Steps Towards Women’s Equality in Scotland

Ahead of the next Programme for Government for 2024-25, we have outlined several important actions we want the Scottish Government to take to protect women’s rights and promote gender equality in Scotland.

Join our team: Project Manager, Equal Media & Culture Centre for Scotland

Closing date: August 19, 2024
Anticipated week of interview: Thursday the 29th of August.

General Election 2024 - Reforming social security to fight women's poverty

We’re calling on candidates in the upcoming General Election to commit to taking action on four key areas for women if elected.

General Election 2024 - Why we need equal representation of women in politics

We’re calling on candidates in the upcoming General Election to commit to taking action on four key areas for women if elected.

General Election 2024 – The urgent need to modernise abortion law.

We’re calling on candidates in the upcoming General Election to commit to taking action on four key areas for women if elected. In our What’s in it for women? four-part series, we’ll break down each of our key asks covering health, social security, equal representation and immigration. 

General Election 2024?– What’s in it for women??

Email your local candidates with our pre-written letter here

In a few clicks, contact your local candidates to ask what they will do for women's rights in Scotland.

  1. Find your local candidates by searching your postcode below
  2. On the next page, edit and send the campaign letter
To start, enter your postcode:.polform { background: #f7f0f9; padding: 20px; }.polform input[type=text],.polform input[type=email],.polform textarea,.polform select { background:#fff!important; }

Building primary prevention of VAWG in Scottish policymaking - Invitation to Tender

Could you help us develop a programme of engagement and participatory research?

Graphic with a photo of a woman in conversation at a table with a conference taking place in the background, with text that reads Primary Prevention of VAWG Policymaking Network Invitation to Tender

Downloads

Engender Briefing: Pension Credit Entitlement ChangesEngender 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 SexismEngender 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 CreditGender 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 2016Gender 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 WomenScottish 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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