Nicola Sturgeon and the female cabinet members discuss being a woman in politics

Do you think there is a different dynamic at play during Cabinet meetings now that there is a 50:50 gender split?

Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training: Well, I’m a new Cabinet Secretary but compared to when I attended on occasions before, no, I can’t see much difference.

Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning: There is always a formality and sense of occasion around Cabinet but I do think there is a slightly different dynamic. That’s due to different leadership, a different group of people being round the table, and yes, some of it will also be down to gender.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs: It is more affected by having Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister and women now in charge of the large health and education briefs. We had 40 per cent women in the last Cabinet and the addition of Roseanna Cunningham is a welcome development.

Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport: Because there are quite a few new folk around the Cabinet table, I think there has been a bit of a change to the dynamics at Cabinet but I’m not sure how much of this is due to more women being present or just new voices generally.

Nicola Sturgeon, The First Minister of Scotland: Having a more balanced Cabinet means there are a wider range of views put forward, that’s not just a result of having women in Cabinet but of having a broad range of professional experience around the table. Alex’s final Cabinet was 60:40 so women were fairly well represented, but there are also different people in Cabinet now and that has changed the dynamic.

Do you think your male colleagues see you as a woman or simply as a colleague and do you ever play the ‘woman’s card’ to get what you want?

RC: No - and no!  That would get very short shrift!

AC: My experience of Cabinet is that we all view each other as colleagues, first and foremost.

FH: What is the ‘woman’s card’? I don’t know what the ‘woman’s card’ is – not a term of reference or concept that has ever been a part of my working life.

SR: I think my male colleagues see me as a colleague regardless of gender, and I only play the ‘woman’s card’ at home to get my husband to do what I want!

NS: It’s always been about being colleagues, not matter what role I’ve played in the party. Of course, now they see me as First Minister. I’m not really sure what it would mean to play ‘the woman’s card’.  Women might have different approaches to doing the job but I don’t think I’ve ever used being a woman to get what I want, though I have used it to dodge the occasional football question in interviews. 

Have you been in situations where it’s assumed that you are not the boss simply because you are a woman and how have you dealt with that?

RC: Not for a very long time. How you deal with it depends on the circumstances - most folk are pretty embarrassed when they realise their mistake. It’s not my job to make them feel more uncomfortable.

AC: No, I’ve not been in that situation.

FH: Men and also women will still make eye contact more with who they consider to be the most senior man in the room, even if I am the only minister in the room and leading the meeting – usually unconsciously. In these circumstances, I usually interrupt to ask a constructive question.

SR: I’ve not experienced that personally but have spoken to other women in leadership positions who have.

NS: Before I reached senior roles in politics, I’ve been in meetings where people would talk to the men in the room rather than me, or assume the more junior man with me was actually in the lead. It’s normally as awkward for those men as it is for the people who’ve made the wrong assumption and I try to correct people without embarrassing anyone. I have to say it hasn’t happened in quite a long time.

Did you ever feel that being a woman held you back or was an obstacle to what you wanted to be?

RC: It was tough early on and I’ve had my share of ‘wee lassie’ comments but I’ve always been pretty single minded. Things have obviously changed a lot compared to when I was starting out!

AC: Yes, I have felt that at times in my life but it’s also about me being a perfectionist and trying to accept that you can’t always be a perfectionist when you’re busy with lots of competing demands.

FH: I just had to work and try harder. Many years ago, when I told former party leader, Gordon Wilson that I was pregnant, he replied, “And I thought you were serious about your politics.” He was immediately chastised by the company we were in. He apologised, but the damage was done.

SR: I think as a woman, over the years I’ve had self-doubt perhaps more than a man would have and have always wanted to be more than 100 per cent sure I can do something before going for it! I’m not sure that is how most men approach new challenges.

NS: When it comes to my own career path, I can honestly say that I don’t think there has been a time when I’ve missed out on an opportunity because I’m a woman, but I know some people have been treated differently or have been put off pursuing their ambitions because they’ve felt that politics was for men. I’ll do everything I can as First Minister to make sure no woman in Scotland feels that way again.