Championing Change
Advocating for Equality in Scotland’s Media and Cultural Landscapes
About us
Engender is home to Scotland’s first Equal Media and Culture Centre, a hub for research, monitoring and advocacy for equality in the creative and media sectors in Scotland.
Based on the National Advisory Council for Women and Girls’ 2018 recommendation that Scotland should have its own Women in Media Body, Engender received funding for a development project to identify what shape this might take.
Men’s over-representation across the media and creative industries is reflected in widespread stereotyping of women and lack of gender balance in print, on the airwaves and on screen. The portrayal of women across media is damagingly limited, especially for disabled women, minority ethnic women, older women, lesbian, bisexual and trans women.
Our manifesto for Holyrood 2026
Transforming Culture for a Fairer Future
EMCC & FIlmHub Scotland Launch new survey
Gender Equity in Scottish Film Exhibition
EMCC's written submission to the Creative Scotland Independent Review
Read our response to the Scottish Government's independent review
Guest post: Centring Marginalised Voices in Scottish Arts and Culture
Creative Balance tell us about their new research project
Our reports
The EMCC researches and publishes reports on gender equality in the arts, culture, media and sports sectors. We also share relevant research from partners and other organisations.
The Equal Media & Culture Centre for Scotland set out their manifesto asks in the lead up to the 2026 Holyrood elections.
September 2025
Categories: All publications
The Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland (EMCC) release a Scotland-specific report into women’s lived experiences of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives in the creative industries. Women working in various sectors across culture – film, television, journalism, theatre and music took part in this study, describing their first-hand accounts of EDI initiatives.
February 2025
Categories: All publications
Engender and the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland's response to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee call for views on its pre-budget scrutiny 2025-26.
August 2024
Categories: All publications
This paper explores what Scotland could look like if its cultural policymaking took a human rights approach, looking at cultural rights not just as a passive ‘right to access’ culture, but as a foundational feature of democratic citizenship.
January 2024
Categories: All publications
Recent news
EMCC Launch Manifesto for 2026 Holyrood Elections
Oct 1, 2025: EMCC Manifesto: Transforming Culture for a Fairer Future
Gender Equity in Scottish Film Survey
Sep 17, 2025: EMCC and FilmHub Scotland partner on exciting new survey
Guest Post: Centring Marginalised Voices in the Scottish Arts and Cultural Sectors
Sep 3, 2025: Researcher Loa Pour Mirza tells us about Creative Balance's latest project
EMCC Respond to the Creative Scotland Independent Review
Jul 25, 2025: EMCC's written submission to the 2025 Independent Review of Creative Scotland
Join EMCC at the Festival of Politics this August
Jul 7, 2025: Join EMCC at the Scottish Parliament's Festival of Politics this August
EMCC & Culture Counts Summer Advocacy Events
Jun 2, 2025: EMCC and Culture Counts invite participants to join an advocacy working group over the summer
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