The Youngwummin exhibition will take place at the National Library of Scotland until Saturday 30 September
An exhibition to celebrate a century of women’s rights has been unveiled.
YouthLink Scotland has launched Youngwummin, a display created in partnership with the National Library of Scotland, which marks 100 years since women first received the vote and reflects on changes in equality at the end of the First World War.
As part of Scotland’s Year of Young People, young researchers across Scotland have been exploring women’s rights past and present.
The project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in Scotland, has provided young people with the opportunity to explore women’s history and support them to conduct research on the impact of WW1 and the suffragette movement on today’s society.
Five youth projects across the country have contributed to the exhibition. The display is divided into three themes: Scottish women’s hospitals; women, work and home; and women’s suffrage and the war. The exhibition will also include two short films, made by the young people: one showcasing a dance performance called Women Were One, created by Shaper Caper, and a film created at the Sky Academy exploring the themes and impact of the project.
The changing role of women during this time was described as a fascinating subject by the young people who took part and led them to reflect on how, despite women’s efforts during the war, they remained largely unrecognised.
Phoenix Gibb,15, who attends the Shaper Caper Youth Project in Dundee, said she learned a lot from being involved.
She said: “I feel women’s rights have come a long way, but many men feel threatened by this I think, and many women still don’t realise when they are victims of misogyny.”
Amy Calder, project lead at YouthLink Scotland said: “Through the Youngwummin project, a number of early-career youth workers have received support and training to develop their youth work, youth-led research and to support these young heritage researchers to understand women’s experiences during WW1 and reflect on how that resonates with their lives today.”
Maree Todd, minister for children and young people welcomed the launch of the exhibition.
She said: “Year of Young People is helping to celebrate and showcase the amazing talents and achievements of young people in Scotland. So I’m delighted to open the Youngwummin exhibition which has been developed by young people and looks at the impact of WW1 on women in Scotland, their significant contribution to the war effort and celebrates 100 years since women first received the vote.”
Sarah Wilmott, exhibitions assistant at the National Library said: “It’s been a privilege to collaborate with YouthLink and young people from across Scotland on this project. It was fascinating to see how these young researchers engaged and responded to our collections in such creative ways. This exhibition is not to be missed.”
