I have to confess I am not a huge fan of Awareness Days. That is not to say that the issues themselves are unimportant. Far from it. But I suspect that, for some, there is a degree of tokenism and I, for one, am not into trite slogans and logoed T-shirts. I am, however, a fierce champion of women.
A mountain to climb
So, as we approach International Women’s Day (IWD) I have mixed feelings. While I wholeheartedly support the advancement of gender equality and empowerment for women and girls, at times it seems that we have a mountain to climb. The top of the mountain is hard to visualise while being fed a daily diet of Weinstein, Epstein and Pelicot, accounts that, while uniquely horrifying, are oh so depressingly familiar.
Working as a medical examiner in a rape and sexual assault service for many years I have been surrounded by dedicated, caring and admirable women who continue to devote their professional lives to improving the lives of the most vulnerable women in our society. It is in this environment however that the lack of visible change in the everyday experiences of women is particularly stark.
Human depravity
In my role I have become used to a certain degree of human depravity, however every now and again I would encounter a victim whose personal account would render me unable to continue. This was the same for all my colleagues. During the day I would attend meetings hosted by agencies who struggle in the current economic climate to provide support for these women. In the evening, I would be performing a rape examination on a trafficked 14-year-old girl. Domestic violence, child abuse, female genital mutilation, addiction, and prostitution became and have remained commonplace in all the years I have been working.
So, forgive me if I am not approaching IWD waving my flag and wearing the T shirt, I am aware my worldview can be skewed.
Role models
I was mindful to consider this when I recently attended the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPS) in Glasgow. Adorning the walls of this beautiful building are portraits of famous medical luminaries and past presidents. Gazing at these all-male portraits as a junior doctor in the 1980’s was a dispiriting experience. No role models for me then! Except now we have one.
In 2018, Professor Jackie Taylor was appointed the first female president in the RCPS’s 418-year history. The following week, having given evidence at a rape trial in Edinburgh, a stroll through Parliament Hall reminded me that we now have a powerful advocate for women’s rights in our current Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain. Painstakingly slow change, but change nonetheless.
Some progress
There have been other changes. In my lifetime, in the UK, I have witnessed the introduction of universal access to contraception, legislation on domestic violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation, and the legalisation of same-sex marriage. I have been fortunate enough to have been involved in a Scottish Government led strategy towards unprecedented change in the way we both understand and manage victims of sexual violence in Scotland.
Specialised Sexual Assault Response Centres (SARCS) have been created which are victim focussed, staffed by dedicated female medical and support staff and attended by appropriately trained female police officers. The environment is one of supportive non-judgement. Underpinning this is knowledge of the effect of trauma on victims of sexual violence, training which has now been extended to all Scottish judges.
Celebrating change and recognising the challenges ahead
So perhaps we have something to be proud of. And grateful, for behind every change there has been a hard-fought campaign led by tenacious women with unfailing determination to see it through, and often a lot to lose in doing so. These are mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts who simultaneously run households, bring up families and care for relatives and neighbours.
And maybe that is why celebrating IWD is so necessary. As well as a call to action for advancing gender equality it is also a celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. And there are many. So I say to the young women following in our footsteps – yes we still have a mountain to climb, but take some time to admire the view. Recognise the achievements of those on whose shoulders we stand. Look to and be inspired by the extraordinary women who are now running countries, tech companies and financial institutions and remember the multitude of ordinary women who are holding the fort. These women should be celebrated. In my book, this is what International Women’s Day is all about – but I still draw the line at wearing the T-shirt.
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