Chairperson of the Scottish Countryside Rangers’ Association (SCRA)
Credit: European Ranger Association
“As SCRA’s first female Chairperson, I’m proud to represent Scotland’s Ranger community, where women now make up around 50% of the workforce and bring a wealth of skills, perspective, and dedication to the role. However, some still face challenges—from ill-fitting uniforms and outdated attitudes to degrading language, and assumptions about leadership and authority: There are still challenges that show the issues faced by female rangers in Scotland can often be the same as those experienced by women worldwide.”
Kate Elliott is not only the first ever Chair of the Scottish Countryside Rangers’ Association (SCRA). The proportion of female rangers in Scotland has also risen from very few to around half in recent decades.
That’s not to say that there isn’t still a way to go before there is real equality. As Kate says: “From ill-fitting uniforms and outdated attitudes to degrading language, and assumptions about leadership and authority: There are still challenges that show the issues faced by female rangers in Scotland can often be the same as those experienced by women worldwide.”
But the increase of female rangers in Scotland and their presence in crucial roles is a great achievement. One that must now urgently be followed by full equality in terms of facilities, respect and recognition of the valuable skills of women in the ranger profession!