Is feminism still relevant? The female Scottish cabinet secretaries explain

What woman do you most admire and why?

RC: Not sure I really have an answer to that. Women who succeed against the odds, I suppose. If you’re looking for names then maybe the likes of Hillary Clinton, or the suffragettes, those who achieve success on their own terms.

AC: I tend to admire women who are campaigners either within or outwith their profession. I admire people like Susan Sarandon – a very accomplished actress who has campaigned for equal marriage and to get a woman on a $20 bill!

I recently had the pleasure to meet the celebrated Canadian educator, Avis Glaze, who is a very inspirational campaigner. I met her earlier this year when I was at the OECD summit on teaching in Ontario. She has been a good friend of Scotland. She spoke a lot about the campaigns she’s been involved with including girls’ education, ensuring young mothers get their education and she is a leading thinker and activist on reducing the attainment gap.

In terms of politics, while I don’t share the politics of Angela Merkel, I think she is a very interesting woman. She has longevity in politics and her personal story is very inspiring. She grew up in East Germany and was never able to vote until she was in her 30s when the Berlin Wall came down and Germany was reunited. I think her story of not being able to vote until her 30s, to go on and become Chancellor and one of the most influential women in Europe is remarkable. I’m also a big fan of Vivienne Westwood. Great designer and campaigner. 

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FH: Winnie Ewing – who broke the mould, set Scotland on a different path and stood up to a baying and braying Westminster.

SR: When I joined the SNP, women like Winnie and Maggie Ewing were important role models as they showed you could be a female leader within the party. This encouraged me to stand for office within the party. The success of Nicola Sturgeon’s rise to become leader will provide the same encouragement to a whole new generation of young women in the SNP and beyond.

NS: I would probably have to choose my mum, for the way she raised my sister and I, and the continued support she has given us. I also have huge admiration for how she became involved in politics later in life, and the work she does as a local councillor.

Is being a feminist an outdated concept these days?

RC: No. Anyone who thinks this battle is won is kidding themselves.

AC: Absolutely not! I’m a feminist with a capital F!

FH: No. I think the term feminism has been hijacked too much by those who are ‘anti-feminism’. Feminism needs to be reinterpreted, re-presented, re-won and recaptured for this century and this generation.

SR: No, because there is still a long way to go to achieve true equality, and feminism is about recognising that some of that is structural and needs societal as well as attitudinal change.

NS: No.  For a while I think there was a belief that because some women were in prominent positions that we had achieved equality, but more recently I’m encouraged to see many young women standing up against some of the outdated attitudes that still exist. Projects like everydaysexism and the number of organisations now dedicated to promoting and mentoring women in their careers shows there’s still work to do.

I often say that I was quite glad to get my 20s out of the way and being in my 30s and 40s and now 50s have been the more relaxed years and certainly the more confident years. Did you feel that and how do we foster confidence in young women?

RC: I’m not sure I can answer the first part of that but re the second part, by continuing to make successful women in all fields more and more visible.

AC: I think as people get older and as they bounce back from the knocks in life, they do become more philosophical and so, become more robust. But they also become more relaxed about who they are and what it is they really want to achieve in life and I’m sure that applies to men as well as women. I think there are a lot of external pressures on women in terms of looking good, finding a life partner, becoming a parent and being able to ‘have it all’. I think it is probably true that women, as they get older, become more confident and I think there is a lot more we could do in supporting girls and young women within education, the work place and political organisations, not just in terms of role models but actively mentoring them as they start on their journey.

FH: I think this is a very subjective view and objectively, we can’t over-generalise for men and women. I am an older working mum with a ten year old and two teenagers and have a busy life – a life of relaxation is an ambition yet to be realised!

SR: I think you do grow older and wiser and more confident in yourself as you mature! I think sometimes men find the ageing process more difficult. I think young women are more confident than my generation, which is a good thing.

NS: I think everyone finds that their confidence improves as they gain more experience and get older. Young men can be as lacking in confidence as young women but are perhaps more likely to hide it behind a tough exterior whereas women often stay quiet or step back if we don’t know exactly what we’re doing. We need all our young people to grow up confident in their abilities, no matter their gender, which means ensuring that we don’t ever limit their ambitions and that we use education to build confidence.

Have you had to make sacrifices to get where you are in life and do you think men have to?

RC: You make the decisions that seem right at the time and I see no point in wasting time regretting those decisions. Can it be that much different for men?

AC: There are always compromises that need to be made.

FH: As with many men in politics, I would like to have spent more time with my family.

SR: Not being able to spend more time with my daughter when she was a baby was a huge sacrifice for me and for her. My husband was at home for her first year, a decision we made jointly given I was elected to the Scottish Parliament and he was able to work from home at the time.

NS: I think they are probably very similar. In politics, like many other jobs, the sacrifice you make is being available 24 hours, putting in the long hours that are needed to get elected and to stay on top of the job.

Can women have it all?

RC:  Depends on what you mean by ‘all’, I suppose, but my instinctive answer is to say no, no one can have it all. Life will always have challenges.

AC: No, nobody can have it all. While women can have successful careers and a happy family life, there are always compromises and there is an on-going juggling act.

FH: Define all? Women can have a fulfilling, stimulating and rewarding life combining work, family and friends. The balance bit still remains a challenge.

SR: You can have it all but there are always sacrifices and compromises along the way.

NS: Women shouldn’t face any artificial restrictions on what they can have. They should be able to have a family, and have a career – should they choose to do so. That’s why the SNP is committed to investing in quality, affordable childcare. Since 2007 the SNP have increased free childcare hours by 45 per cent – saving families up to £707 per child, per year. Improving childcare will continue to be a top priority for the Scottish Government.

If you could, what would be your advice to your younger self? 

RC: Lighten up. Stop being so serious! Have more fun!

AC: Self-awareness is good but not to be too self-conscious.

FH: Ignore the sexist ridicules in science, study physics and become an engineer. And always be yourself.

SR: My advice to my younger self would have been to focus more on what’s important instead of worrying too much about the things that didn’t really matter.

NS: I would probably tell myself to relax a little and not take myself too seriously. But I think it’s quite common to become more comfortable with ourselves, and have more confidence, as we get older.

What’s your idea of a good night out with the girls?

RC: What’s that?

AC: Cocktails and shopping.

FH: Going to see A Guid Cause – a play about votes for women by Edinburgh People’s Theatre and starring the fantastic Kirsty Boyle – with friends and colleagues from work.

SR: A nice meal, wine (or gin!) and good chat, often avoiding talking about politics!

NS: My schedule means that I have little free time, so I tend to stay in if I have the evening off. I don’t get to see my family as much as I’d like, so my ideal girls’ night would be spending time with my mum and sister – and enjoying a nice glass of red wine.