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.

Before the Ballot - Why Candidate Assessment is a crucial step on the journey to more equal representation in politics

With partners in the Equal Representation Coalition, Engender is launching a brand new chapter of the Equal Representation in Politics Toolkit focusing on Candidate Assessment. Ahead of the Scottish Parliament and Local Council elections in 2026 and 2027, now is the time for parties to review how aspiring candidates gain approval to stand if we're to see more diversity on the ballot. Our Development Officer for Equal Representation, Jessie Duncan, explains how the new Toolkit chapter can help. 

 The graphic shows a dark purple background with cream left-aligned text quote that reads "Across our councils & parliaments, underrepresentation of marginalised groups is rife –  women make up approximately just 35% of councillors in Scotland.". The quote is attributed to Jessie Duncan, Equal Representation Development Officer at Engender. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is Engender's logo, which is an equals sign in a white circle.

Women, Scotland & Inclusion: We need more than 'inspiring' inclusion

This International Women's Day, we're overjoyed to share with you four guest blogs from women across Scotland who are making meaningful steps towards women's equality. The theme of IWD this year is #InspireInclusion, & we asked our bloggers to talk about the communities and campaigns happening across the country.

graphic with a photo of Nosheen Ahmed in front of a background of icons incorporating the Engender logo, with text which reads Women, Scotland & Inclusion #IWD2024

Women, Scotland & Inclusion: What's next for Scotland's feminist future?

This International Women's Day, we're overjoyed to share with you four guest blogs from women across Scotland who are making meaningful steps towards women's equality. The theme of IWD this year is #InspireInclusion, & we asked our bloggers to talk about the communities and campaigns happening across the country.

graphic with a photo of Amanda Amaeshi against a background of icons incorporating the Engender logo, with text which reads Women, Scotland & Inclusion #IWD2024

Women, Scotland & Inclusion: Barriers to disclosure and support in an island setting

This International Women's Day we're overjoyed to share with you four guest blogs from women across Scotland who are making meaningful steps towards women's equality. The theme of IWD this year is #InspireInclusion, & we asked our bloggers to talk about the communities and campaigns happening across the country.

Graphic with a photo of Zelda Bradley, Service Director at ORSAS against a background of icons incorporating the Engender logo, with text which reads Women, Scotland & Inclusion #IWD2024

Women, Scotland & Inclusion: Half of humanity is waiting for you

This International Women's Day we're overjoyed to share with you four guest blogs from women across Scotland who are making meaningful steps towards women's equality. The theme of IWD this year is #InspireInclusion, & we asked our bloggers to talk about the communities and campaigns happening across the country.

A graphic with a photo of Azita Jabbari in front of a background of icons incorporating the Engender logo, with text which reads Women, Scotland & Inclusion #IWD2024

Making women's work visible in Scotland

Much of the work done by women – caring, household management and support – is often undervalued and invisible. We know that this free, unrecognised work props up our society.  

graphic with an illustration of several women performing work like nursing, science and teaching while also doing household tasks like shopping, ironing and cleaning, with text which reads: women’s work is often unpaid, undervalued & invisible

3 ways to support 16 Days of Activism in Scotland

Engender is proud to work with our sisters in Scotland's violence against women sector, and today we're sharing three ways you can support their essential work during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The graphic shows a bright teal background with dark teal and white left-aligned text that reads "3 things you can do to support 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Scotland". In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is Engender's logo, which is an equals sign in a white circle. In the bottom right-hand corner of the graphic there is an icon of a megaphone.

Making the case for decriminalising abortion

The campaign to decriminalise abortion has gained momentum in recent months, and Engender has continued to advocate for change. We've pulled together a quick rundown of our recent work on this issue and the need for progress.

The graphic shows a light grey background with black left-aligned text quote that reads "Regulation of abortion care in Scotland is in urgent need of modernisation, with the current framework acting as a drag on services and as a barrier to timely access."

New report reveals stark gender divide in Scottish sports media coverage

A new report published today by the Equal Media and Culture Centre (EMCC), based at Engender, reveals a significant gender gap in how men and women athletes are covered in Scottish sports media.

The graphic shows a navy background with white and orange left-aligned text quote that reads "New report reveals huge imbalance in the coverage of men and women's sport in Scotland persists". In the bottom right-hand corner of the graphic is the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland logo.

The largest poverty indicator that no one's talking about

This week (2-7th October) marks Challenge Poverty Week, an annual campaign highlighting the injustice of poverty in Scotland, and to show that collective action based on justice and compassion can create solutions. We know that women’s poverty is a result of long-standing, deep-rooted, and systemic fault lines in our society. In this blog, our Communications and Engagement Manager Jade Stein explores the need to make visible how poverty & economic inequality are experienced at higher rates by women & marginalised groups across our society.

The graphic shows a light blue background with pink left-aligned text quote that reads "It is crucial that the Scottish Government build intersectional gendered budgeting and analysis into the core of public decision- making. Without this women’s poverty, child poverty and overall poverty rates cannot be effectively addressed in Scotland.  ". The quote is attributed to Jade Stein, Communications & Engagement Manager, Engender. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic is the Challenge Poverty Week logo.

New report reveals devastating impact of Covid-19 on access to pregnancy and maternity services 

Engender and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) have today published a new report spotlighting women’s experiences of pregnancy and maternity services during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The report, ‘“Trauma, abandonment and isolation”: Experiences of pregnancy and maternity services in Scotland during Covid-19’, draws on survey responses from over 200 women across Scotland. It documents the profound and negative impact that public health restrictions had on access to vital healthcare across all aspects of these services from antenatal care, fertility treatment, to miscarriage and baby loss, birth and the postnatal period. 

GUEST POST: Critically minded? The problem of diversity in film criticism

Engender and the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland have hosted student placements from the MSc in Social Research at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde Applied Gender Studies and Research Methods course. As part of their research outputs, the students have produced a series of blogs. In this post, Alex highlights the need for an intersectional approach to examining our cultural data and why we need more diverse voices in film criticism.

 The graphic shows a dark blue background with white left-aligned text quote that reads "Whether or not the critics are men or women, an almost entirely white perspective on film keeps our Scottish film-reviewing culture pale and stale, if not wholly male.". The quote is attributed to Alex Davies, Student Placement, University of Strathclyde. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is the Equal Media and Culture Centre logo.

GUEST POST: Feminist urbanism: Creating gender-equal cities in Scotland

Engender and the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland have hosted student placements from the MSc in Social Research at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde Applied Gender Studies and Research Methods course. As part of their research outputs, the students have produced a series of blogs. In this post, Beth looks at how women and men experience public space and urban environments and how we can create gender-equal cities in Scotland.

The graphic shows a bright pink background with black left-aligned text quote that reads "Whilst budget and bureaucracy restrictions are inevitably always going to pose a challenge, the growing evidence of the gendered nature of urban experiences does not appear to have led to any substantive change to urban planning policy in the UK.". The quote is attributed to Beth Allen, Student Placement, University of Edinburgh. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is Engender's logo, which is an equals sign in a black circle.

GUEST POST: Digital abuse against feminist scholars: a case study

Engender and the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland have hosted student placements from the MSc in Social Research at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde Applied Gender Studies and Research Methods course. As part of their research outputs, the students have produced a series of blogs. In this post, Yoke explores a case study of the online backlash and digital abuse experienced by feminist researchers and scholars.

The graphic shows a light blue background with white left-aligned text quote that reads "Research has shown that when women speak publicly about ‘controversial’ topics, such as feminism, this triggers online abuse. [...] These attacks must be recognised as part of a historical pattern of violent repercussions against those who defy patriarchal, white supremacist, capitalist dominance.". The quote is attributed to Yoke Baeyens, Student Placement, University of Strathclyde. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is the Equal Media and Culture Centre logo.

GUEST POST: The Cost of Childcare Crisis

Engender has recently hosted student placements from the MSc in Social Research at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde Applied Gender Studies and Research Methods course. As part of their research outputs, the students have produced a series of blogs. In this post, Marianne looks at how the cost of living crisis continues to disproportionately impact women, and how this is compounded by women's unpaid work and childcare responsibilities.

The graphic shows a bright green background with black left-aligned text quote that reads "The issue does not just lie in access to childcare, either; gender roles are deeply embedded into our society and are a major reason why mothers still feel pressure to be the primary carer for their children. The government needs to do more to tackle these stereotypes, such as making parliament itself more family-friendly.". The quote is attributed to Marianne Willetts, Student Placement, University of Strathclyde. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is Engender's logo, which is an equals sign in a black circle.

GUEST POST: Do we need diversity quotas in film?

Engender and the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland have hosted student placements from the MSc in Social Research at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde Applied Gender Studies and Research Methods course. As part of their research outputs, the students have produced a series of blogs.In this post, Alex looks at why there's still work to do to ensure diversity behind the camera in Scotland's film industry.

The graphic shows a dark blue background with white left-aligned text quote that reads "Despite efforts to include women directors, women in other behind-the-camera roles and especially women of colour, were overlooked, suggesting attention to diversity targets for production and crew members are still very much necessary.". The quote is attributed to Alex Davies, Student Placement, Univsity of Strathclyde. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland logo.

GUEST POST: Reflections of the Student Placement Experience - An Insight into the Women’s Sector in Scotland

Today we're publishing the next in a series of blogs from recent student placements Engender has hosted from the MSc in Social Research at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde Applied Gender Studies and Research Methods course.In this post, Beth reflects on her experience of undertaking a research placement and the importance of considering urban planning policies through a feminist lens.

The graphic shows a bright pink background with black left-aligned text quote that reads "From how women inherently experience urban living differently, how transport systems are predominantly based on the traditional 9-5 bi-daily commuter journey, to even how public spending budgets disadvantage certain groups, I’ve found it eye-opening to see the full extent of gender inequality even within the 21st century.". The quote is attributed to Beth Allen, Student Placement, University of Edinburgh. In the top right-hand corner of the graphic there is Engender's logo, which is an equals sign in a black circle.

Call for expert working group on decriminalisation of abortion accepted by Scottish Government

Abortion care in Scotland is in urgent need of modernisation, with the current framework acting as a drag on services and as a barrier to timely access. In June we wrote to the First Minister on abortion rights, alongside 16 other equalities, abortion and health organisations. In the letter, we welcomed the commitments made on the leadership campaign trail and called for creation of an expert working group on decriminalisation of abortion.

Two-child benefits cap confirmed to stay if Labour Party win next UK General Election

This week, we join many other civil society organisations in the UK in expressing our concern and deep disappointment that Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the UK Labour Party will keep the two-child benefits cap policy if successful at the next General Election. This policy, alongside many others introduced by the Conservative UK Government in so-called ‘welfare reforms’, is discriminatory and misogynistic- worsening gender inequality by pushing millions of families into poverty. It is a political choice to penalise the most vulnerable in our society and alongside organisations such CPAG, Action for Children and others, we will also be urging the UK Labour Party to reconsider their position.

Where are the women? Nearly 500 women are ‘missing’ from key positions of power in Scotland

New figures from Engender show that 471 women are ‘missing’ from key positions of power in Scotland.

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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