6 March 2013

'Independence: a distraction or an opportunity for Scottish women?' - public debate on Friday, 8th March

The impact of potential Scottish independence on the nation's women will be debated by a panel of prominent female politicians, commentators and cultural figures at the University of Dundee later this week.

MSPs Shona Robison and Kezia Dugdale, commentator Christine Jardine, writer Susan Dalgety, and singer Sheena Wellington, who performed at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, will examine the role that women will play in deciding the nation's future at the Dalhousie Building at 6pm on Friday, 8th March.

The event, entitled 'Independence: a distraction or an opportunity for Scottish women?', has been organised by the University's '5 Million Questions' project to coincide with International Women's Day.

"The 2014 referendum on Scotland's constitutional future will impact on the lives of every Scot, and so it is right to examine what it means for Scottish women" said David Torrance, Associate Director of 5 Million Questions.

"Is it an opportunity to address the issues that concern women in Scotland or is it just a constitutional distraction? Despite analysts predicting that women's votes will be critical to both camps there has been an absence of gender analysis in the broader debate so far.

"We are delighted to be welcoming five respected and influential Scottish women to debate what the independence referendum means for them."

The University launched the 5 Million Questions project to examine the issues surrounding the biggest event in Scotland for over 300 years. Every aspect of Scottish life stands to be impacted upon by the result of the 2014 referendum, and everyone has a question about how the decision will affect them and the future of the country.

The public debate to this stage has been both highly technical and overtly party political. 5 Million Questions aims to stimulate wider debate, apply academic rigour to examination of the issues, and engage with the public on all aspects of the major questions they are facing.

'Independence: a distraction or an opportunity for Scottish women?' takes place as part of Dundee Women's Festival. A limited number of free tickets for the debate, which is being held on Friday, 8th March and available from events@dundee.ac.uk, www.dundee.ac.uk/tickets, and Tower Building Reception, or by calling 01382 385564 / 385108.

More information about the project can be found at www.fivemillionquestions.org.

For more information on other events in the Dundee Women's Festival, which run from 4th-24th March visit, www.d-v-a.org.uk/dundee-womens-festival.htm

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277