On The Engender

In this final episode (for now) of On the Engender, we say goodbye to our amazing Podcast Producer Amanda Aitken, who has started a new career path as a carpenter.  We are also delighted to introduce Engender's new Executive Director, Catherine Murphy, who joins hosts Alys and Amanda to talk a bit about herself and her background, as well as what the future has in store for Engender and for the feminist movement in Scotland. Recommendations for this episode: Podcast: The first episode of Of the Engender!  Podcast: Dolly Parton's America (via Apple or WNYC Studios) Book: Klara and the Sun TV: The Great British Sewing Bee Book: Her Country - How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be. Documentary: Shut up and Sing Podcast: Cocaine & Rhinestones - the history of country music made in the 20th century. TV: Alma's Not Normal Access a transcript of this episode here. On the Engender is produced for Engender by Amanda Aitken. Jingle by Bossy Love.

[CN: This episode contains mentions of rape, abuse and FGM] In this episode, Engender's Alys Mumford interviews Baroness Helena Kennedy on her work as a lawyer, the experiences of women in the criminal justice system, and whether the law can bring about cultural change.  They also discuss her role in chairing The Independent Working Group on Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland and the group's final report, Misogyny - A Human Rights Issue.  Resources: Eve was Framed Misogyny - A Human Rights Issue.  A transcript of this episode will be available from next week.  On the Engender is produced for Engender by Amanda Aitken. Jingle by Bossy Love.

[CN: This episode contains mentions of rape and online abuse.] In this episode of On the Engender, hosts Alys Mumford and Amanda Aitken are joined by Eilidh Dickson to discuss the final report of the Misogyny Working Group: Misogyny - A Human Rights Issue. Resources: Misogyny - A Human Rights Issue.  Recommendations:  Interior Design Masters via BBC iPlayer Picking wild garlic  ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: How Lauryn Hill Became Music’s Great Dual Threat Access a transcript of this episode here.  On the Engender is produced for Engender by Amanda Aitken. Jingle by Bossy Love.

On International Women's Day, Engender were joined by Professor Akwugo Emejulu and Assa Samaké-Roman to discuss Black feminism in Europe. Listen to their conversation here. 

This week On The Engender, hosts Alys and Amanda discuss abortion rights in Scotland with Alice Murray and Lucy Grieve from Back Off Scotland, and hear about their campaign for the Scottish Government to introduce 'buffer zones' (protest-free areas) around clinics that provide abortion services across Scotland.  They also talk to Jane Carnall about the work and history of Abortion Rights Edinburgh and get an update on abortion policy in Scotland from Engender's Policy Manager, Jill Wood.  Resources mentioned in this episode are: Gender Edit of the Party Manifestos Joint Report, 2016: Our Bodies, Our Choice: The Case for a Scottish Approach to Abortion Back Off Scotland Twitter and Instagram Edinburgh Abortion Rights Twitter and Facebook Recommendations for this episode are: Without Apology: The Abortion Struggle Now by Jenny Brown from Lighthouse Books. Glasgow Women's Library - Stride with Pride: LGBTQ Heritage Walking Tour The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks By Rebecca Skloot The Great Pottery Throw Do

In this episode of On the Engender, hosts Alys and Amanda look back over the podcast episodes from 2021. From PSED to Pass the Mic, the Young Parent Penalty to policy participation, as well as elections, unions and city planning, this past year's episodes will have something for every feminist listener. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of the new episodes in 2022!  You can find all of the On the Engender episodes here. You can access a transcript of the episode here. On the Engender is produced for Engender by Amanda Aitken. Jingle by Bossy Love.

In this episode, we look again at the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland and discuss how it could be used to advance equality for all women. Host Alys Mumford is joined by Engender's Policy Manager, Jill Wood, Kirsty McNeill, the Policy and Research Officer at the Coalition for Racial Equality (CRER), and Lindsey Millen, Policy and Development Manager at Close The Gap to discuss all things PSED.  Resources mentioned in this episode are: An example of Jill Wood ripping a (lack of) EQIA into shreds in Engender's response to Local Place Plan regulations p.7-8 CRER's report "Equality in Glasgow 2021" and blog on the PSED review Close the Gap's guidance for public bodies on PSED Recommendations from this episode are: The West Wing and The West Wing Weekly Keeping up to date with the Sheku Bayoh inquiry, including on Aamer Anwar's Twitter Black Widow and Dr Who (as yet uncreated...PSED TikTok dance) Access a transcript of this episode here and listen back to our episode on PSED from 2020: The Public Se

Another special episode of On the Engender as we are joined by author Eve Livingston and trade union organiser Suki Sangha,  hot off the heels of an event held in September.  Alys Mumford and Amanda Aitken chat with Eve and Suki about how unions can do more to represent women, how worker power can bring about changes for equality, and how intersectional organising can bring about the world we want to see. Recommendations from this episode are: Sarah Jaffe and her book 'Work Won't Love You Back Joan Eardley: a centenary of lives and landscapes at Glasgow Women's Library 'You are not replaceable' from Vittles Magazine Photos of the protests and solidarity actions at COP26 Access a transcript of this episode here and watch the webinar here. On the Engender is produced for Engender by Amanda Aitken. Jingle by Bossy Love.  

On the Engender hosts, Alys Mumford and Amanda Aitken are joined by Jessie Duncan, Engender's Equal Representation Development Officer, Ethan Young, the Civic Participation Manager at Inclusion Scotland, and Kirn Kaur, a human rights lawyer and activist, to discuss participation and representation in policymaking.  The Equal Representation in Politics Toolkit can be found here. Recommendations from this episode are:  Cook As You Are by Ruby Tandoh Essentialism by Greg McKeown The Right Sort of Girl by Anita Rani  Impeachment: American Crime Story TV series The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman Access a transcript of this episode here. On the Engender is produced for Engender by Amanda Aitken. Jingle by Bossy Love.

An exciting special episode of On the Engender today as we are joined by author Leslie Kern and urbanism expert Daisy Narayanan, hot off the heels of an event held in September.  Alys Mumford and Amanda Aitken chat with Leslie, Daisy and Engender's Policy and Parliamentary Manager Eilidh Dickson about planning, transport, safety, care work, and how we can build feminist spaces.  Content note: this episode includes reference to Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa's murders.  Recommendations from this episode are: Flâneuse by Lauren Elkin Following Glasgow Women's Library, Talat Yaqoob, Louise MacDonald, Engender and Leslie Kern on Twitter Feminism, Interrupted by Lola Olufemi Schitt's Creek She Settles in the Shields: 10 years on  How we live now: reimagining spaces with Matrix Feminist Design Collective Feminist Housing Activism blog series Access a transcript of this episode here and watch the webinar here. On the Engender is produced for Engender by Amanda Aitken. Jingle by Bossy Love.

We've got our pencils sharpened, our notebooks labelled, and we're feeling the new term spirit for season 4 of On the Engender. Hosts Alys Mumford and Amanda Aitken are joined by Engender's Policy Manager Jill Wood and Policy and Parliamentary Manager Eilidh Dickson to discuss what's coming up over the next five years of the Scottish Parliament.  This episode includes reference to Emma Ritch, Engender's Executive Director, who passed away in July. Tributes to Emma mentioned in the episode are: Engender's Tribute page Golden Eagle Chick named after Emma Glasgow Women's Library Women on the Wall Obituaries in the Scotsman and the Herald On the Engender: 2020 review Briefings mentioned in this episode are: Gender Edit of the Programme for Government Engender's 2021 Manifesto Gender Matters Roadmap Engender submission of evidence to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee call for views on its Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022/23 Engender response to the call for views on the aims and principles of th

"Often we found that a term branded 'white feminism' has been used to talk about the fact that a lot of feminist activity, both historically and currently, focuses on and attracts more white women to it. And isn't talking about the multiple discriminations, the intersecting inequalities, that women of colour experience with the overlap of racism and sexism. And how that finds itself, illustrates itself, in policymaking, in service design, in the boardroom or within media and journalism. And these are things that are critical to feminism and critical to creating an inclusive feminism that works for those who need it the most, those furthest away from access to opportunity, power, wealth. That is the kind of feminism that we're interested in" In the fourth episode of the Pass the Mic takeover of On the Engender, host Talat Yaqoob is joined by Toni Haastrup and Zoe Daniel to discuss how intersectional feminism must work with, and for, women of colour, and the need for real systemic and institutional change in Sc

In the third episode of the Pass the Mic takeover of On the Engender, host Talat Yaqoob talks to Shasta Ali, Shubhanna Hussain-Ahmed, and Nathalia Urban to discuss COVID-19, and the disproportionate impact it has had on women of colour and communities of colour.  Find out more about the Pass the Mic project here. Access a transcript of this episode here.  On the Engender is produced by Amanda Aitken for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love

In this second episode of the Pass the Mic takeover of On the Engender, host Talat Yaqoob speaks with Rosario Blue, Melissa Espinoza, and Kirndeep Kaur about lived experience and the power of meaningful participation in policy.  Find out more about the Pass the Mic project here. Access a transcript of this episode here. On the Engender is produced by Amanda Stanley for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love

After a short break, we're re-releasing this first episode of the Pass the Mic takeover of On the Engender. Host Talat Yaqoob speaks with Helen Minnis, Viana Maya and Ketsuda Phoutinane about why the media needs to do more to properly represent women of colour in Scotland.  Find out more about the Pass the Mic project here. Access a transcript of this episode here. On the Engender is produced by Amanda Stanley for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love

Exciting times here at On the Engender as we prepare for a podcast takeover by the 'Pass the Mic' network of women of colour, who will be running the podcast for the next few episode.  Hear Alys Mumford and Pass the Mic founder Talat Yaqoob discuss what's coming up in this advert.  Access a transcript of this advert here. On the Engender is produced by Amanda Stanley for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love  

In this episode, hosts Alys Mumford and Amanda Stanley are joined by Engender's Eilidh Dickson, and Caitlin Logan and Marie Spalding from One Parent Families Scotland.  Hear from Caitlin and Marie about how young single parent families are up to £66.13 worse off per month under Universal Credit compared with the previous social security system, and why Engender are supporting One Parent Families Scotland's campaign to End the Young Parent Penalty.  Find out more about the campaign here and follow OPFS on Twitter here. Access a transcript of this episode here. Recommendations from this episode were: Philip Sim's thread on the Scottish Government photo day Feminist City by Leslie Kern The Great British Sewing Bee Couch to 5k The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Beloved by Toni Morrison  On the Engender is produced by Amanda Stanley for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love

The Scottish Parliament elections took place on May 6th. In the second part of our election special, Alys Mumford chats with Engender's Executive Director Emma Ritch, and Policy and Parliamentary Manager Eilidh Dickson to dissect the election results, and what they means for women in Scotland.  Access a transcript of this episode here. Resources mentioned in this episode are: Recording of Engender hustings; 'Vision for a feminist recovery' Engender manifesto; A Gender Edit of Party Manifestos, and a Supplementary Gender Edit Recommendations from this episode were: This Is How We Come Back Stronger edited by the Feminist Book Society Feminist Democratic Representation by Sarah Childs and Karen Celis 'What White People Can Do Next' by Emma Dabiri On the Engender is produced by Amanda Stanley for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love

The Scottish Parliament elections are taking place on May 6th. In this election special, Alys Mumford and Amanda Stanley chat with Engender's Executive Director Emma Ritch, and Policy and Parliamentary Manager Eilidh Dickson.  Access a transcript of this episode here. Resources mentioned in this episode are: Recording of Engender hustings; 'Vision for a feminist recovery' Engender manifesto; Gender edits of party manifestos will appear here; Guide to the Scottish Electoral system: How to vote guide (from the Electoral Commission) How the Scottish Parliament elections work video (from the BBC) An in-depth explanation of the Alternative Member System (from BallotBox Scotland) Recommendations from this episode were: The 5th Annual Ailsa McKay Memorial Lecture on May 20th Library and Archives Paper Company Cherry Bombe magazine and conference Taylor Swift  On the Engender is produced by Amanda Stanley for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love

A very special episode of On the Engender featuring author, activist and founder of the Everyday Sexism project, Laura Bates. Alys Mumford discusses Laura's book 'Men Who Hate Women' and how we can tackle the problem of misogyny in Scotland, alongside Engender's Emma Ritch, and Kathryn Dawson from Rape Crisis Scotland. This podcast was recorded directly after an event with Laura - if you missed the event, you can watch a recording of it here. Access a transcription of this episode here. Recommendations from this episode are: Men Who Hate Women, by Laura Bates Eloquent Rage, by Brittney Cooper Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister Rage Becomes Her, by Soraya Chemaly Against Memoir, by Michelle Tea A virtual tour of Gloria Steinem's home Joining Engender Spending time with animals (here's a pic of Alys' cats if you don't have access to any of your own) and the Muppet Christmas Carol live in concert (sorrynotsorry) On the Engender is produced by Amanda Stanley for Engender. Jingle by Bossy Love