A new three-part series \u2018The Women Who Changed Modern Scotland\u2019 will tell the story of women who had a role in shaping Scotland over the last 50 years.<\/p>\n
Presented by Kirsty Wark, it will highlight the women who, throughout the decades have challenged the status quo, defied sexism to seize new opportunities and in more recent years, have stepped up to lead in politics, in their communities and in the workplace.<\/p>\n
Well-known names such as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and actress Elaine C Smith, will be profiled alongside an extraordinary range of women who may not be household names, but their passion and commitment have changed the lives of everyone in Scotland.<\/p>\n
The first episode will transmit on BBC Scotland at 10pm<\/strong> on Tuesday 21st<\/sup> February<\/strong> with all three episodes available to view on iPlayer by International Women\u2019s Day (Wednesday 8th<\/sup> March).<\/p>\n The Open University<\/a> academic consultants on the series were Dr Kim Barker, Senior Lecturer in Law<\/a> and Dr Helen O\u2019Shea, Lecturer in History.<\/a><\/p>\n Dr Kim Barker said:<\/p>\n \u201cFrom Shetland to Shettleston women have shaped modern Scotland \u2013 its laws, its politics, its culture, its workforce \u2013 and this series presents their remarkable stories. Often these women have faced great struggles, yet for many still, their stories remain untold. These are voices that should be heard.\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Series presenter, Kirsty Wark said:<\/p>\n \u201cThis series will celebrate the monumental achievements of women, many of them unsung, who some quietly, and others shouting from the rafters, did so much to transform the lives of women and men in Scotland and beyond in the last five decades. \u00a0They campaigned, they cajoled, they sang, they bravely made a path and encouraged others to follow. \u00a0Whether it was sport, stage, screen or fighting sex discrimination they made modern Scotland.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/em>The first episode of this series, The Disruptors, focusses on the 60s and uncovers the stories of women who forged new paths in a society that largely favoured men.<\/p>\n Among the stories featured are a campaigner battling the football establishment to win recognition for the women\u2019s game, political pioneers Winnie Ewing and Margo MacDonald, a group of women who wrote for Jackie magazine in Dundee, and the women behind the drama series Sunset Song, a TV adaption of the novel, which broke new ground in its portrayal of the complex inner life of a young Scottish woman.<\/p>\n There are also inspiring interviews with some of the country\u2019s first female fire fighters, trade union shop stewards, and women who revolutionised attitudes to domestic violence in ways that reverberated around the world.<\/p>\n The second episode, Having It All, looks at the 80s and 90s when legislative leaps enshrined new rights for women and glass ceilings were smashed, while at the same time everyday sexism and domestic violence remained rife. As well as meeting women who developed successful careers in this period, in fields previously dominated by men, Kirsty tells the stories of those who fought to change the systems and structures that were holding women back.<\/p>\n The third and final part, Breakthroughs and Backlash, brings the story into the modern era and sees more women taking the lead, striving to make a difference across a wide range of issues.\u00a0 But this new prominence comes at a cost, and Kirsty also explores how women are encountering new forms of hostility on social media and beyond.<\/p>\n