Les femmes Makars: ambassadrices de l’Écosse contemporaine

Résumé 0

The 1990s were a time of numerous ambitions for the new Scottish Parliament which was seen as another opportunity to do better, especially concerning gender equality. This ambition was first to be found in feminist movements (for instance, Scottish Women Convention) which took part in picturing a new government. The products of those movements are visible today through the appointment of women to lead the Scottish Parliament (Nicola Sturgeon) and the main political parties, the 50: 50 gender balance of the cabinet ministers, but also through the appointment of two female Scots Makars, Liz Lochhead (2011- 2016) and Jackie Kay (since March 2016). In 2004, the creation of the Scots Makar title –Scottish national poet – underlined the “significant contribution of poetry to the culture of Scotland” (McConnell, 2004). By appointing two women as Scots Makars, the Parliament foregrounds women’s contribution to the national culture, in a time when other British national poets are women too. Those female Makars and their poetry take part in the country’s image. This poetry by Scottish women, who are ambassadors of a post-devolution Scotland, echoes the voice of this diversified nation born from a new Parliament and attached to its indigenous languages.