ONE year ago, amid the tears and the heartache and the almost paralysing sense of loss, we heard the words “Scotland has changed, and changed utterly” and we felt them to be true.
One year on, how does it feel now? It is a recognised and much-marvelled-at fact that Scotland carried on. We are not torn apart or riven by turmoil, but we are not settled either. And for women in Scotland, for gender equality in Scotland, the arguments and battles continue.
We still have hundreds of eminently justified but unsettled equal pay claims. We have yet more research and evidence that tells us what we already know, that women are unfairly treated at work, in promotion prospects and in support. That being a woman “of a certain age” is a double discrimination whammy. We are still too often portrayed negatively in the media. We are damned if we have weans and work and damned if we don’t have weans and work.
We’re the easy target for ideologically driven welfare cuts and will lose sorely in the war on trade union rights being waged by the UK Government.
But our arguments aren’t only with the Tories and their clear intent to sacrifice anyone and everyone in pursuit of power. Our arguments are also with Labour and the unions whose male domination over decades has, as Deborah Orr wrote earlier this week “always sidelined women”. They do not rush to the barricades to fight for equal pay but will do you a good line in equality rhetoric.
In reading her article, I was reminded of the arguments of the 1970s and 80s that we’d “get to equality” when we’d achieved socialism. As if one could ever happen without the other. For, just as economic growth, prosperity or fairness don’t “trickle down” from the top, neither does equality. We need to act, use the levers at our disposal, and make effective gender-conscious interventions in policy, in representation and in spending decisions.
The battles continue, too, with male politicians who wear the mantle of left-wing persuasion but running through their “charismatic” calls to arms is a thread of misogyny so strong as to be unbreakable. And who have ridden to glory on the back of false promises and abused hopes. And who have used their power to undermine and belittle the women in their midst.
These are the battles of decades. Women cannot be valuable if we are ordinary. We have to be “special” in some way not demanded of men. But we are expected to settle for having an Equal Pay Act that is not enforced and be grateful when we see one woman on a media panel alongside three men.
And yet, on the back of a three-year political conversation in Scotland, change has come. Even if we still shake our heads and sigh when the same old prejudices and tired phrases are trotted out, women are a bit further to the fore than they were. We have a First Minister who has not only said equality matters, she has acted to make those words real. Her 50:50 cabinet is a symbol of a strong commitment to tackling inequality systematically and consistently.
A space has been created to reinvigorate gender politics. A space carved out, and led, by women for women. Women for Independence galvanised political debate and discussion among women across Scotland. And it is still doing so. With more than 1000 members, groups up and down the country and a social media reach of more than 20,000 on Twitter and 24,000 on Facebook, WFI keeps on going.
Women creating back-to-school uniform banks; collecting for foodbanks; running Christmas gift support shops; campaigning to end VAT on sanitary products or improve criminal justice systems for women; casting a beady eye on the doings in our media; or supporting local anti-poverty projects.
Women reaching out to other groups, working together to change lives in their own street, town or country. Women working for women – and not asking how they voted a year ago. Because we know that if change is to come we need to lead it, lead it together, and lead it from the ground up.
This isn’t a battle of women against men. It is a battle with those who hold power and a battle men should support because they and we recognise that gender equality is a human right, a democratic right; that real, living, energising, engaging democracy is not possible without equality. They are two sides of the same coin, effective only when they come hand in hand. Women played a significant role in the independence campaign. Their voices began to be heard.
When the flags were put away and the tears dried, some perhaps thought women would shuffle off quietly. But all that motivated us then, motivates us now. Independence for women, equality in the economic, social, public and political life of Scotland. Fair representation across politics, the community and the boardroom. A different way of working and involving people in the decisions that affect all our lives.
The belief in independence as the only way to build a prosperous, fair and equal Scotland remains and grows. To get there, and to be sure we take more with us, women will keep on working to raise our voices and make sure the 52 per cent of Scotland’s population that they make up is heard.
The National View: Why we're still Yes ... and will fight on
Letters to The National, September 18: Should we 'move on' from the indyref and accept our lot?
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp: The battle may have been lost but not the war
Sturgeon tells Cameron he’s ‘on borrowed time’ as she calls for PM to listen to Scotland’s voice
Patrick Harvie: We must do things differently next time around
Project Fear: Story of how the Better Together campaign nearly fell apart
Bella Caledonia: borne of a desire for a pro-indy voice
Wings over Scotland was a reaction to media myths
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