HERE'S a snapshot of Scottish women today: they're politically engaged thanks to the referendum, and inspired by vibrant feminist campaigns like No More Page 3, and powerful role models like Nicola Sturgeon.
It's a post referendum high for Scottish women, according to research carried out by the YWCA Scotland - The Young Women's Movement. The researchers have released some of their findings in this as yet-unfinished project, for International Women's Day, to the Sunday Herald. The study involves interviews with young women aged 16 to 30, and explores their 'gender lightbulb moment': when they felt they were treated differently because they were female.
Alongside the research there is also a website - https://youngwomenscotland.wordpress.com - and Twitter campaign encouraging women to tell their personal stories under the hashtag #genderlightbulb.
Though these young women were buoyed by the role women had to play in the independence referendum, the majority also feel that the current UK general election is less inclusive for young women. One said that the current general election campaign had "ignored younger voters... whereas in the referendum votes from young people and women were vital, so more was done to find out what we care about ... We're now a more politically aware generation". Another said she felt "largely ignored" by the political parties and that "the most high profile effort I can think of to include women is Labour's 'pink bus'. Are they serious?'
But also what stands out is that here are a generation of young women who feel their lives are still constrained by gender and feel the impact of everyday sexisms. There are schoolgirls who feel it's not approved of to ask by a boy out - "a girl should wait to be asked out by a boy". Others who have been told that technology is not a girl's subject. And there are working young women who believe they come up against hidden workplace barriers. Some recounted instances of their clothing or appearance being commented on by senior staff as part of employee feedback.
"It's about being hidden, excluded, overlooked," said Jackie Scutt, , director of YWCA Scotland. What Scutt was most struck by, however, was the energy of this generation for change. Some of those interviewed were actively involved in campaigns or activities to kick back against gender inequality. One said she had tried to push for a day at school where the male teachers wear skirts. Another said she followed "new role models, Emma Watson and Angela Merkel". Yet another said, "Let's have more statues of successful and inspiring women from history". Many young women also said they felt that men need to be engaged in fighting for gender equality. "We can't create real change if we just engage half of those involved in gender issues," said one interviewee.
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