Here’s to a final International Women’s Day…

Lady Wolffe

 

A STIMULATING and entertaining talk by Lady Wolffe to mark International Women’s Day ended with a hope – that such days could soon be consigned to history.

Lady Wolffe said it was 110 years since the first International Women’s Day (IWD) in New York, and the day was now celebrated by millions of people  - women and men - around the world.

“It is an occasion for women and men to promote positive steps for change, and this can only be a good thing,” she told an audience at the Faculty’s IWD event, in the library of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow.

Lady Wolffe paid tribute to a number of women who had achieved notable firsts in the law in Scotland. Women like Madge Easton Anderson (first law agent), Dame Margaret Kidd (first Advocate, first KC), Laura Dunlop, QC, (first law commissioner), Lady Cosgrove (first Senator, and with Dame Margaret Kidd, the first women to have portraits hanging in Parliament Hall), Elish Angiolini, QC, (first Lord Advocate), Lady Dorrian (first advocate-depute and first Lord Justice Clerk) and Lady Smith (as Anne Smith, QC, first woman to wear trousers in the Inner House).

“It is equally important to recognise the efforts of those who tried, but did not always succeed in overcoming the barriers they faced. It took many women to knock on the doors of the universities and the professions before those doors were eventually opened,” said Lady Wolffe.

“On International Women’s Day, we must celebrate those who have preceded us. Those of us who, by the fortuity of timing, got there as the first woman in this or that profession or position  were not ‘superwomen’...we are, all of us, where we are because of the efforts of those who preceded us.”

Recalling her own days of “Bar and babies”, Lady Wolffe said it was pleasing to see in recent years a rising number of women being admitted to Faculty and progress being made in retaining them and welcoming them back after any break.

“New policies and practical support – simple and mundane support but really important - are where the greatest strides have been made since I started at the Bar. Then, it was not the fashion to take any significant maternity leave because you were seen to be ‘not  committed’ - that has, hopefully, been dispelled. The new developments, not available in my time, are heartily to be welcomed. But there is no room for complacency.”

Drawing to a close, Lady Wolffe said: “If you take one message away from this talk, it should be that you do not need to be a ‘superwoman’ to succeed. You have to work hard, and make the best of opportunities, and take any bumps in the road in your stride and retain a sense of humour and proportion. Remember the efforts of those who preceded you, women who tried and failed but tried and persevered, and the men who helped achieve the necessary reforms.”

Lady Wolffe said she looked to the day when days like International Women’s Day “become superfluous”.