We're starting 2026 by focusing on each of the 10 vital areas covered in our manifesto for the Scottish election in May. Gender inequality is not inevitable. To see a Scotland where women & girls achieve their full potential, the next Scottish Govt must design policy to meet women's needs. ⬇

We're sharing a look at our recent research on women’s experiences in politics & how parties in Scotland are using positive action measures. If we want to see gender equal representation become a reality at future elections, work must begin now. Read more here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/we...

We desperately need quotas and positive action measures for women and other underrepresented groups in politics in Scotland. www.engender.org.uk/content/publ... New paper from @engenderscot.bsky.social based on research by myself, Rhianna and Talat from the collective.

A Scotland without violence against women & girls is possible. We're sharing 3 easy actions you can take to help local & national efforts to end VAWG. Read our #16DaysOfActivism briefing for MSPs & find out more about our work on primary prevention here: www.engender.org.uk/content/publ...

🎉 TODAY’S THE DAY — Our Patreon is LIVE! 💜 We’re launching the Protests & Suffragettes Patreon because we believe Scotland deserves a future where women’s histories are visible, celebrated, and impossible to ignore. Join TODAY (Launch Day!) for a 40% discount From 3–11 December: 25% off 🔗 in bio!

📢 Women, their families, & campaigners have waited far too long for this day. Today’s Autumn UK Budget announced that the two-child limit & barbaric associated ‘rape clause’ will be fully scrapped from April 2026. xx xx

Today marks the start of #16DaysOfActivism, the annual campaign calling for action on gender-based violence. Head to our website to find out how primary prevention of VAWG can help build a Scotland where women & men have equal access to rights, resources, decision-making & safety.

Today we've joined over 100 organisations in calling for the UK government to fully scrap the cruel two-child limit. We've waited long enough. Acting swiftly to support women & their families impacted by the limit is crucial. Find out more & read the letter here: cpag.org.uk/news/107-org...

📢 Women bring essential perspectives to politics, but are still being pushed to the margins. Our new report reveals the barriers women face & how parties can take action to get more women elected. Check out the report here & read more below ⬇: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

🗳️ We're sharing the final part of our interview series exploring women's political journeys. In this last clip, Edinburgh candidate Sally Donald talks about the challenges & impacts of online abuse & what it's like to stand as a woman political candidate.

🗳 Nominations are now open for elections to Engender’s Board of Directors! 🗳 To nominate yourself, you must have become an Engender member by 16th October 2025. 🗓 Nomination deadline is 9am, Monday, 10th Nov. ➡ Find out more & access the nomination form here: www.engender.org.uk/jobs/?jobid=18

📢 Change for the better happens when people stand together & demand it. Join us & others from across the women's movement next Saturday at the Scotland Demands Better March in Edinburgh - look out for our banner near the ponds on Horse Wynd from 10.30am. #WeDemandBetter @povertyalliance.org

📢From carers to firefighters, from Dundee to the Borders, we are standing together to demand change.✊ Join us this Saturday 25th October as we march together for a Scotland free from the injustice of poverty. #WeDemandBetter. Join us: www.scotland-demands-better.com

Women in Scotland need the Scottish Government to take bold action to tackle misogyny at a time of increasing threats to women's safety both online & on our streets. Read our response to the consultation on adding 'sex' to the Hate Crime & Public Order Act here: www.engender.org.uk/content/publ...

'If you don't see yourself, don't wait - just be the first person there.' Aberdeenshire Councillor @fatima-joji.bsky.social shares her experiences of standing for election & the need to improve our political systems. Read our report on women in politics here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

📝 We’ve signed - have you? We're proud to stand with over 200 women & organisations across Scotland who have signed the Women Against the Far Right Scotland open letter, rejecting the far right’s racist lies about “protecting” women & girls. 🧵⬇

Hear more from Falkirk Councillor Laura Murtagh in our interview series accompanying our latest report exploring women's political journeys & what it's like to stand as a candidate. Stay tuned to see more in the series soon & read more about the report here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

Today Aberdeenshire Councillor @fatima-joji.bsky.social shares her experiences of being a woman in politics ⬇ Our report highlights the barriers & challenges women face & outlines actions needed to improve our political systems. Find out more: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

📣 If you work in film exhibition in Scotland, the @emcc-scotland.bsky.social wants to hear your views on gender equity in the sector - take the survey before 17th October ⬇

TFN is @scvo.scot's magazine for the #VoluntarySector With next year’s crucial #Holyrood #elections moving ever closer, we hear about a report published by Engender urging reform to enable more women to become politicians Available to read here: buff.ly/ntybgci @engenderscot.bsky.social

📢 Women across Scotland have been sharing their experiences with us in a national series of workshops discussing their rights & where they most need change.

Correction: Apologies for the wee mistake in last week's Friday Feminist Five newsletter - the @abortionrightsscot.bsky.social International Safe Abortion Day event is happening on 28th September from 11.45am ⬇

👇

We welcome @engenderscot.bsky.social's manifesto, in which they seek to fix Scotland's broken and biased housing system to ensure all women have access to a safe, secure and affordable home. #HousingEmergency

We are increasingly alarmed at the way women’s rights and safety are being weaponised to demonise minorities across the UK. This kind of distortion of the facts only causes harm to individuals and communities and does nothing to end violence against women and girls.

Read here- www.thenational.scot/news/2542174...

💥LAUNCHED TODAY💥 'Investing in Women, Transforming Communities': Engender's Manifesto for Holyrood 2026. Read it here: www.engender.org.uk/holyrood-2026/

'.. how missing women's voices were from decision making...' We spoke with Laura Murtagh, about her experiences as a woman in politics. Read our report - shorturl.at/kSQVa #ScottishPolitics #WomeninPolitics @cheetaramummy.bsky.social

🗳️ What's it like to stand as a woman political candidate? We've spoken to candidate Sally Donald about her experiences of being a woman in politics as part of our work on women's political journeys ⬇

“Someone said to me, and I quote, ‘we can’t win here with someone who looks like her'.” Our allies at @engenderscot.bsky.social have launched a new campaign highlighting misogyny in the Scottish political system. Read the full article here: www.humanism.scot/2025/08/12/w...

📊 Could you help us research women's representation in politics? We're seeking a consultant to research candidate diversity data ahead of the 2026 election. 🗓 Deadline: 5pm, Monday 15th September. You can see the full Invitation To Tender here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/in...

ICYMI, our latest report on the barriers & abuse women face as political candidates was highlighted in a front-page feature in last week's @sundaypost.com Read the full piece here now & head to our website to check out the report: www.sundaypost.com/fp/sturgeon-...

“Someone said to me, and I quote, ‘we can’t win here with someone who looks like her'.” Our allies at @engenderscot.bsky.social have launched a new campaign highlighting misogyny in the Scottish political system. Read the full article here: www.humanism.scot/2025/08/12/w...

🗣️ We're sharing stories from women in politics about what it's like to stand as candidates & their political journeys. Today Kirsteen Sullivan MP shares her experiences of being a woman in politics ⬇

New report by me, Rhianna, @talatyaqoob.bsky.social and @engenderscot.bsky.social‬ on women’s political journeys in Scotland and their experiences of becoming and being a candidate. It's not a pretty picture... www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

📢 New research shows women face barriers & abuse as political candidates. In our new report, we wanted to dig deep & explore the candidate journey for women, from preparing to stand as a candidate, including interview & vetting processes, to being elected & what happens after 🧵⬇

Definitely recommend a read of this 👇 There is much more we need to do across all political spaces to improve the experience for everyone.

Thoughts on @engenderscot.bsky.social's excellent report on women's experiences in political parties by @caronmlindsay.bsky.social www.libdemvoice.org/report-highl...

Our new report was covered by @hannahmargbrown.bsky.social, highlighting how women across all major Scottish parties face entrenched sexism, opaque selection processes, caring barriers & widespread abuse. Read the full report here: www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/en...

📣 The political space is becoming increasingly hostile, with marginalised women & groups facing widespread sexism & abuse. Our new report highlights the barriers & abuse women face as political candidates 🧵⬇

We've joined @povertyalliance.org & more than 100 charities to call on Scottish MPs to stand against social security cuts. 🧵⬇

30 years on from the first Pride Scotia event, it's been great to see such a supportive turnout in the capital at the weekend & across Scotland throughout June. Pride is a powerful reminder of resistance, resilience, & the ongoing fight for dignity, safety, & equality for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The evidence is clear that child poverty is women’s poverty. It is not possible to target one, without the other. Ahead of the debate on the 'Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan' today, here's the link to our joint evidence response with Close the Gap and Scottish Women’s Aid - shorturl.at/UvLUn

@covid19inquiry.scot this AM. Our evidence explored the lack of gendered analysis in the Scottish Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Women’s needs continued to be misunderstood by the government, service providers and other governing bodies, further entrenching existing discrimination.

We've joined @povertyalliance.org to call on councillors in Aberdeenshire to reverse proposed nursery closures that will directly impact mothers on low incomes who are most affected by the loss of affordable, local childcare services. Read more here: www.povertyalliance.org/news-chariti...

📰 We've joined the Young Women's Movement to publish a piece in @scotsman.com on the impact of dropping the Misogyny Bill on young women. It’s time for the Scottish Government to step up with legal reform & investment in primary prevention. Read more here (£): www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

To ensure that policies & public services truly work for women, the #ScotPfG must focus on addressing the structural roots of intersectional gender inequality. Otherwise, the Scottish Government risks excluding the most marginalised & will fail to deliver the meaningful change we need. 🧵⬇

📣 The EMCC is now on Bluesky at @emcc-scotland.bsky.social! Make sure you give them a follow to stay up to date with all their work for equality in our media & culture ⬇

*Scottish Government drops Misogyny bill* Globally we are seeing a terrifying rise in misogyny, driven by the far right. This is making life more dangerous for women & girls and is eroding human rights. Scotland is not immune from these forces. The need for effective action is increasing by the day.

We've waited long enough. Women must be compensated for the negative impact of the cruel two-child limit policy. Mitigation payments are a vital opportunity to address child poverty & women's poverty. We've responded to the Scottish Government's consultation on mitigation of the two-child limit ⬇