What does a female First Minister mean for gender equality in Scotland?

The two main parties in Scotland are likely to undergo some real changes as new leaders settle in and seek to make their mark. The choices they make will have a profound effect on people’s lives and that makes me think about my own future, and the challenges that unpaid carers face in maintaining a life of their own. As an unpaid carer, how you live your life is inextricably intertwined in the life of the person you love and support.  For many, there is a “carer penalty” – the likelihood that you may have to give up your job, your career; that you may find yourself living in poverty through no fault of your own. This was highlighted by Engender in its response to the Smith Commission: “..women’s career progression and earning potential is undermined” because of their roles at home.  The bulk of unpaid care still falls on women – a point so passionately made by economists such as the deeply missed Ailsa McKay. Feminist nonsense,  I hear you say?  Absolutely not. The reality of women’s worsening position in the economy and society was laid bare by…The Houses of Commons Library. Yes, the very institution that let through a raft of policies which have reduced women’s income by over 70%, acknowledges that women are most definitely not equal.

Devolution still fails women in so many ways & the lack of female representation in parliament & local government doesn’t help

I have seen this scenario played out in the lives of friends who have had to give up their jobs to deal with the bureaucracy of public services.  And even now, in a 21^st century economy, women’s position in the labour market is becoming weaker. They are still easy targets when it comes to public savings.  Increasing the pension age will leave carers – most of whom are women – living in poverty for longer on the pittance that is Carers Allowance. It is this inequality which will set the context for the new party leaders as they take up the reins over the coming weeks.   Devolution still fails women in so many ways – the lack of female representation in parliament and in local government doesn’t help. Cuts to local authority budgets are fed into care packages which leave families struggling to pick up an increasing care gap. Cuts to special education support and the lack of rights for carers are all roads that lead to deeply ingrained inequality for women in Scotland. I am delighted we are going to have a female First Minister – but for many carers, the reality of this kind of career progression is a dream. Well, have you ever heard of a job-share MSP?  The issues affecting women – affecting carers – need to be at the heart of the programme for Government and at the heart of all political parties’ agendas. The Scottish Women’s Budget Group will have an important role in this context. It is within the gift of the new party leaders and other politicians to realise that Scotland can and must do better. Interested in gender equality in politics? Have a listen to this interview with Jill Wood from Engender on politics, gender and pay.