International Women's Day: Everyday life of women in Scotland through the decades in pictures

International Women’s Day is the focal point in the movement for gender equality – recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world.

Celebrated on March 8, the day also serves as a reminder to continue the fight for the empowerment of women by addressing challenges such as gender-based violence, healthcare rights, economic disparities and access to education and work opportunities.

Scotland has had its fair share of women who have paved the way for change; the Suffragettes who fought for the vote in the early 20th century; the mothers and housewives taking on landlords in the 1915 Rent Strikes; through to the workers who won a 12-year equal pay battle with Glasgow City Council in 2019.

Strong women can be found at every chapter of the nation’s history – and for too long, the stories of ordinary women who have been the backbone of society for centuries have gone untold.

Here are photographs of women working, campaigning, raising families and having some fun in Scotland through the decades to mark International Women’s Day.