Scottish Public Life: The Absence of Marginalised Women and Intersectional Analysis

Abstract

The challenges and barriers to women participating in public and political life have been well documented. Institutionalised sexism within policy itself, sexist attitudes and behaviours within institutions and the disproportionate level of social media abuse have been evidenced within party politics and wider influencing systems. Furthermore, the impact on women who experience the intersecting consequences of racism and sexism have been reported widely. The issue is no different in Scotland. Campaigns such as Women 50:50, projects such as Pass the Mic, and decades of feminist activism and policy-influencing have been working to tackle these systemic inequalities by not simply highlighting the extent of the problem, but identifying practical interventions to overcome them. Despite this, the pertinacious nature of exclusion, particularly for marginalised women across Scotland’s politics, policy, media and influencing, remains. Whilst strides have been made in increasing the number of women in positions of political decision-making, those benefitting are those closest to power already, rather than women who have, historically, been furthest from power. This article reflects on the extent of the problem in Scotland, the research that exists to better understand it, the gaps in data that need to be addressed and the practical interventions that Scotland urgently needs to implement.