Sturgeon, Davidson and Dugdale prove women can make mark in government

Nicola Sturgeon has been a leading figure in paving the way through the political landscape, having been congratulated by equality campaigners for "shattering one of the toughest glass ceilings in public life" when she was elected as First Minister.

As Ms Sturgeon said prior to her election to the top job, she wanted to "send a strong message to every girl and young woman in Scotland.

"No matter your background... there is no glass ceiling on ambition."

One of her first plans in her new role as First Minister was to replace men in her cabinet, appointing Shona Robison and Angela Constance to the health and education departments, two of the most high-profile areas of the Scottish Government.

But even as deputy First Minister, she was surrounded by other leading female figures including Annabelle Goldie and Johann Lamont who were working towards a better representation of women's issues within politics.

Margo MacDonald, a former SNP MSP and later an independent MSP, also stands out as a strong political figure who campaigned tirelessly towards the end of her life for assisted suicide.

Ruth Davidson, despite her disagreement that there should be assigned gender quotas in politics, has been reported as saying in the past that she wants to "advance equality and parity to the point where gender becomes irrelevant and no longer merits note or comment."

She is also working within her own party to encourage women to come forward and get more involved in political life.

Now with the election of Kezia Dugdale as leader of the Scottish Labour party, Scotland has become one of the only countries in the world to have all of its main political parties led by women.

This, however, cannot be a “one-day story” according to Ms Dugdale, who defeated Ken Macintosh earlier this month in the leadership race.

The Lothians MSP said the proof of the impact female leaders have, will come from their actions, not just because of their political status.

She said: “As much as it’s fantastic having three women leading political parties in Scotland, the proof of whether that makes politics any different is what they do about improving the lives of women across Scotland.

“We now have to act.”

Her party is no stranger to gender equality, having led the way when the Scottish Parliament opened by introducing a 50/50 quota on elected members.

But even before then, women were fighting for equality, helping to make decisions and influence policy in a way that led to the equality seen at Holyrood almost three decades ago.

During the Glasgow rent strikes in 1915, for example, activists such as Mary Barbour were leading the way and helping people organise themselves into committees and resistance movements.

In 1973, Women’s Aid groups in Glasgow and Edinburgh opened their first refuges for ‘battered women’ in Scotland, and two years later a Parliamentary select committee agreed they would provide refuge space.

In 1976, Glasgow’s first Rape Crisis Centre opened its doors followed by Edinburgh’s the year after, and in 1981 the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act was introduced, allowing women to have an abusive partner excluded from their family home.

Professor Neil McGarvey, a senior politics researcher at Strathclyde University, said women’s movements were crucial in raising the issue of domestic violence and bringing about appropriate changes in legislation.

He said: “Domestic violence wasn’t an issue until about 30 or 40 years ago.

“Why? Because men dominated the judiciary, police force, politics and the civil service.

“It’s only through the campaigning efforts of the women’s movements that it has been recognised.

“Domestic violence is a mainstream issue with a lot of public funds attached to it. It’s dealt with explicitly by police forces, in court rooms, in all sorts of ways.

“It’s an example of the impact that women had on the political process.

“Instead of it being a voluntary effort to have facilities for ‘battered women,’ the councils started to invest and spend money on these types of things.”

Mr McGarvey also said the role women played in the campaign for devolution and home rule in the 80s and 90s was vital.

He said: “Women’s movements became involved in the constitution and were influential in putting equal opportunities as one of the key principles.”

Women’s movements, he said, played an important part in the development of the standing orders for the new Scottish Parliament which had a knock-on effect on the Labour party and their adoption of twinning, to ensure they elected a cabinet with equal representation of men and women.

As it approaches the Holyrood elections next year, many Scottish parties are focusing more on gender equality, and trying to make sure more women are elected as MSPs.

Labour is introducing gender quotas, and the SNP is replacing any incumbent who stands down with an all-female list in the hope of boosting their numbers.