School of Social and Political Science

Content

How do gendered institutions change (and stay the same)?

Professor Meryl Kenny, School of Social and Political Science, delivers her inaugural lecture:

Institutions profoundly shape political life. They are also gendered – reflecting, structuring and reinforcing power inequalities. Changing institutions in the pursuit of gender equality and gender justice is, therefore, never an easy task. Formal gender equality reforms are often met by resistance and backlash, and/or undermined by informal ‘ways of doing things’ on the ground.

In this inaugural lecture, I ask how gendered institutions change (and stay the same), reflecting on the foundations and development of the field of feminist institutionalism, and its impact both within and beyond the academy. Drawing on ongoing research on ‘new’ political institutions, political parties and the gendered dynamics of institutional (re)design, I examine the importance of the ‘inner life’ and everyday reproduction of institutions. It is here where the formal and informal dynamics of contestation, change and resistance are often most visible, and where ‘small wins’ (or losses) can add up to more significant institutional shifts. The lecture concludes with some reflections on strategies for achieving gender equitable institutional change.

Introduction and closing remarks

Professor John Devaney's introduction

Good evening everyone. Sorry to break up the conversation, but there'll be plenty of time afterwards to catch up with friends and colleagues. My name is John Devaney, and I am the head of the School of Social and Political Science. And one of the tasks I get to do in this role is to host the inaugural lectures of newly appointed professors.

That's one of the nicest bits of the job, because not only do you get a chance to say nice words about really good colleagues, and we'll come on to that in a moment, but it's also an opportunity to welcome those from both inside and outside of the University to the School. The whole point of an inaugural lecture is that it's an opportunity for somebody who's either been appointed to the University, or recently promoted to a personal chair to introduce themselves to the wider community, both the community within the University and the wider community outside of the University.

It's slightly strange this evening because we've got a very full room, and I'm suspecting that everybody's here, not because they need introduced to Meryl, but because you all want to be here to celebrate the elevation to a personal chair, but also her significant contribution to the life of the University and the life and work within her own discipline and field. I'll come on to talk a bit more about that in a moment.

In terms of some of the practicalities, as always, please ensure that your mobile phones are switched to silent or turned off. We are recording the event tonight. Meryl's planning to talk for about 45 to 50 minutes.

As I said to Meryl, the person who's given the laureation, or who's giving the lecture, has the opportunity to continue speaking if they want to. Nobody dare interrupt them and nobody dare interrupt Meryl and her special moment. But we will speak for Meryl to speak for about 45-50 minutes. There won't be any time for questions afterwards, because Meryl felt it would be better for people just to have the opportunity to move into the reception area in the Chrystal McMillan building and actually have a glass of wine, have an opportunity to catch up with one another, and then you can speak to Meryl, not only about her presentation, but also talk to her about what she's brought into your life in terms of being a good friend, a good colleague, and also a wonderful academic.

The reason we're here is that Meryl was promoted to a personal chair, in August 2023, and the title of her chair is Professor of Gender and Politics. Meryl came to the university first as a student and then more latterly as a member of staff, first as a lecturer and then a senior lecturer and then with her promotion.

Her work itself is very much grounded in trying to do two things. It's looking at the issue of what gender politics scholars study, but also the process of how they go about studying that. And I hope that some of that will come out tonight in her lecture, which is looking at how do gendered institutions change and stay the same.

In terms of Meryl's body of work, looking through her CV, for anybody who's had the opportunity to do that, you'll see a very strong contribution to discourse and dialogue around these issues and trying to look in the very practical, in terms of how parliaments work here in Edinburgh as well as the UK, but also looking at that within a much more international context as well. What are our institutions, how are they shaped by external forces? How do they mould and change over time? But as the lecture itself is talking about how some things, such as gender representation and the performance and outworkings of gender actually play out in reality,

Alongside having a stellar career as a scholar and a researcher, Meryl is one of those people who's also been an incredibly good colleague and citizen to the University. And I think that's reflected in the number of people who are here, but also the breadth of individuals from right across the University who have turned up this evening. I've had the great privilege of working with Meryl very, very closely as Head of School, when Meryl has held a couple of very significant roles as the CTP lead for the school, the deputy director for learning and teaching within the school, and also stood in as the director of learning and teaching in the School as well for a period of time. And I'm really pleased that some colleagues in the room know as well that Meryl's agreed to take on the role of head of Politics and International Relations from the 1st of August next year.

We’ve many people in the audience today, but I'd like to acknowledge a few people who are here in particular. We've got Josh and Kiva. Kiva is probably her mum's biggest supporter and biggest critic as well, in terms of keeping her firmly grounded. But she's promised me that you'll not only eat all of her snacks here, but also will draw her mummy performing tonight as well. We've also got Meryl’s parents, Linda and Will. And it's great to see you both here. And also her sister, Derin. Thanks for coming along.

We've also some important guests from outside the university. We've got Linda Fabiani, who's a former MSP and former deputy presiding officer. And also Susan Duffy, who is former head of comms and engagement at the Scottish Parliament. And I know that Meryl spent time working at the Scottish Parliament, I think it was a fellowship that you had there, as well as also having very strong relationships with the Parliament as well. We've got Professor Alice Brown, who's here in the audience, who's been somebody who's been very foundational in the School, the University and also Politics here within the school. We've got Professor Joni Lovenduski, and Professor Yvonne Galligan from my own part of the world at Queen's Belfast. And we've also got members of Meryl’s running group as well.

And what dedication is there, to be here this evening, you're thinking? How did we get roped into all of this? But we're very glad that all of you have been able to take the time to be here this evening. I'm going to be quiet now because actually, I'm going to hand over to Meryl. On a personal note, I just want to say how pleased I am for your personal chair, but also how my time at the university has been enriched by having the opportunity to be alongside of you and to work with you over this period of time.

Professor John Devaney's closing remarks

Meryl, thanks very much for what's been a really interesting and thought-provoking presentation, not least with all the photographs. I've been impressed by the changing eyewear and how that is documented in all of these photographs over time. Listen, I want to say that you don't get to be a professor at the University of Edinburgh purely because you have built a reputation as somebody who's able to talk about these issues. It has to be built on a body of substantive work. And I think what's come across really clearly through the lecture tonight is that there's a real depth and meaning behind this body of work that you've done, from when you came here on an internship, right through to you standing here tonight, to talk to us about these important issues. And whilst you use the example of parliaments and politics as a way, as a case study of exploring these issues, I know that that's not the only place where both your interests and your influence lie. And we have benefited greatly as an institution, as a School, from your ability to help us think about how we engage with these issues. Because these are issues not just about out there. They're also about issues that are here. And we've got to meaningfully engage with those. And you've been able to help us to face up to those challenges, but also to think about how we go about dismantling some of the practices that you've referred to this evening and put in place better practices for the future, which is not to say that we have it solved, but at least so you've helped us to think about where we begin and what we can do.

What comes across here from your presentation is your personal commitment to change, but also the practice of change. And I think your final comments there about collegiality and community come across really strongly throughout all of your lecture, but all of your practices as well. We, as a School, we personally have benefited from that collegiality and that support, and also that critique, in terms of being prepared to speak out about issues which are not only important to speak out about, but can also be deeply uncomfortable to be the person that has to be the one who speaks out about these things. And that's all the more to do with your own principles and positioning in these issues. I appreciate that that sometimes comes at a personal cost for you and for others who have to speak out about issues which are complex, and also which don't sit comfortably with others. But that doesn't mean that this shouldn't be spoken about.

I would just like to extend my thanks for your lecture this evening, for your contribution, to this institution. And to say that we look forward to your continued contribution in the future, in many different ways. Because you talk there about what you've received from other bits of the University and other groups that you've been involved in. But there will be many people here who also know the contribution that you've made to the likes of GENDER.ED, as a part of this institution; to the School, as one element of the University. But I'm sure also the other people here who can talk, very eloquently, about your contribution to all of those other groups that you've benefited from, but also contributed to.

I'm going to end it there by just thanking you and inviting everybody to join us for the drinks reception and also to say that there's an added bonus this evening for those who have come along to this inaugural in that the SPS choir are going to perform a song this evening. You don't have to join in. I'm not sure if you're allowed to join an even if you wanted to. But, Meryl’s got many personal interests outside of work, including running. And one of them is the choir. So, please do, if you've got the time and you're able to, please join us.