Press release

New university course in Gender and Social Justice announced

Edinburgh, March 8 2010 ; On International Women’s Day, Queen Margaret University and Scottish Women’s Aid has jointly launched a new postgraduate course towards an MSc in Gender and Social Justice to start in September 2010.

The course is the product of a working relationship developed over the past four years between Scottish Women’s Aid and Queen Margaret University – both products of the women’s movement. Women's Aid grew out of the women's liberation movement of the late 1960s. Queen Margaret University’s origins are in the nineteenth century Women’s movement’s campaigns for education for women. (1)

Despite the work of campaigners and changes in policy the gender pay gap still exists, politics is dominated by men and women still experience abuse and harassment at home, at work and in the street.

The new Gender and Social Justice course has been developed in response to demands of professionals in a range of social care organisations and feminist activists to have a serious academic reflection on their work without losing touch with their practice. There will be a focus on injustices to women and the way in which gender affects attempts to create social justice. Poverty cannot be tackled without recognising that men and women experience poverty differently, and single mothers and older women are especially vulnerable to poverty. Health inequalities cannot be addressed without exploring the gendered nature of health and the services provided.

Programme coordinator at Queen Margaret University Dr. Eurig Scandrett said:

“Education needs to be relevant to the pressing issues in society. Queen Margaret University is doing this by working closely with Women’s Aid, which has always been in the front line of addressing domestic abuse and other injustices experienced by women.”

Dean of Arts and Social Sciences at Queen Margaret University, Dr Christine Bovis-Cnossen is a specialist in equality and diversity and an equal rights campaigner. She said;

“It is essential to tackle inequalities throughout society and universities should facilitate and support those who are working for social justice. I’m delighted that this course is being launched at the university, and will continue the innovative relationship with Scottish Women’s Aid”.

Caterina O'Connor, Training Co-ordinator Gender Based Violence, Greater Glasgow Training Consortium said;

“I have been a qualified social worker for 21 years, and have spent most of that time working with women and children experiencing violence and abuse, and training other workers in this area. Through that time I have attended many training courses and conferences. While all of these have been beneficial to my practice, none of them have provided me with the space, the opportunities and the understanding that the Gender Justice Course has. Involvement in this course not only informed and improved my present practice, it has also left me wanting to learn more and I am excited by the Masters programme starting in September.”

Stephen O’Neill completed an undergraduate module run by QMU and Scottish Women’s Aid and is hoping to start the Masters programme in September. He said;

“The undergraduate module was an invaluable insight into a vital subject from a perspective which isn't given enough academic attention. I feel it's important for men to engage in this area, which is too often misleadingly viewed as hostile to them. In a wider context, these programmes situate academic theory with practical life experience and afford students a chance to study alongside people working in frontline services. The Masters course prepares students well for any career or future study which requires an advanced level of critical thinking.”

Lily Greenan, Manager of Scottish Women’s Aid said:

“We hope that one day everyone – policy makers, service providers, businesses and individuals - will see that the gender equality can bring enormous benefits for the whole of society. It’s our view that this course will play an important role towards achieving that goal, and we are proud to be a part of this project.”

ENDS

Issued by Maggie Wright Associates on 0131 266 3622

Further information on the course from Eurig Scandrett on 07799311059

Information for editors

(1)     Women’s Aid was formed in 1974 from grassroots campaigns supporting women escaping domestic abuse. In 1875 Christian Guthrie Wright and Louisa Stevenson founded Edinburgh School of Cookery which was to become Queen Margaret University.