What Women Want Referendum Documentaries

In What Women Want, Jackie Bird meets women from all walks of life

in an attempt to find out why this gap exists.

Men and women are different. No great insight needed for that. At a

comedy club like this, toying with that gender gap. The way the sexes

approach their lives is the route to many a punchline. I've got four

kids. Of course I married for the second time. Four kids can't have

the same father. I'm visiting a different gene pool because you get

all. There might not be a lot of humour in the independence

referendum debate but the difference between men and women's reaction to

it are clear and crucial. Women are 6% or 7% less likely to say they

will support independence than men. Alex, if I voted yes, are you going

to bring back... Comedians and politicians alike are always trying

to work out what appeals to women. I don't believe you can simply

identify one thing that women will respond to, like cold care, and

therefore that will make them decide whether they want to leave the UK.

But the campaign that works out the serious business on what women want

could have the last laugh. Unless we can persuade a majority of

women, women are the majority of the population, marginally, then we

won't win the referendum. Bingo. You go to have a good time in

the hope you come out better off. But it's more luck than judgement.

The women here think the referendum debate so far is also a game of

chance. Here in Paisley, it is eyes down for a full house. Have you made

up your mind? Yes. No. Would you tell me how you will vote? No. You

are going to vote no? Yes. I don't know enough about it. I don't know

enough about it. Have you made up your mind? As to how you are going

to vote? I'm just not sure. What's making you unsure? I don't know if I

could go alone. What is the most you have ever won? I'm not saying. Women

make up 82% of voters in Scotland. So, it is women like these and other

big say in what happens September. To be honest, I'm not politically

minded. I don't bother with politics. I don't watch the even

television, watch the news. We will draw a veil over that. So many women

we have spoke to said they aren't interested because they aren't

interested in politics. Yes. It is a bit of a shame. I have heard that at

groups I go to. A lot of the women feel like that. They just aren't

interested at all. They just leave it to everybody else. If that's

because they are confused by the options, I know how they feel. There

is a preconception, and it's a misconception, among too many of the

women we have spoken to tonight, but they don't know enough about

politics. And they do. They know what they want in their lives and

they know when things are going right and when things are going

wrong. The thing is, to get them engaged, how do you dispel that?

There is plenty of evidence that women's vote is being taken

seriously in this referendum. A pro independence campaign has

established several groups to get women's votes. They are pushing the

message into Scotland's homes. This came through my letterbox and

nowhere does it say it is specifically targeted at women but I

think it makes an interesting read. From the front page onwards, there

is a woman and a child. The emphasis there on childcare and the things

that women say they are particular be interested in. Immediately we

have a famous female figure. Lots of women and children. Even Nicola

Sturgeon in the centre pages. A very able politician who we normally see

in serious mode here she is in the kitchen, receiving a wedding

picture. It is definitely female friendly. This targeting suggests

the pro independence campaigners are worried about getting women on their

side but are those fears grounded? When this woman isn't at home on

maternity leave riding her baby, she is the of the hugely influential

Scottish attitude survey. One of the most respected gauges of what

Scotland thinks. We've been asking about attitudes to the Constitution

since 1999 and the whole period since 1999 we have found a pretty

consistent 6%`7% gap in the support for independence between men and

women. `` percentage point gap. They are less likely to support

independence than men. That gender gap, if you like, has been found by

other companies, doing other surveys. It is one of the most

consistent findings across surveys and polls around attitudes to

independence. And that is supported by the latest survey from the

opinion polling firm TNS. It makes interesting reading. Here is what

they found. Yes, the gender gap certainly does still exist. On their

latest survey, 22% of women say they will vote yes. That's compared with

35% of men. That's a difference of 13 percentage points. Based on this,

and other polls, those fighting for a yes vote certainly seem to have

their work cut out for them it comes to persuading women. Most women, as

opposed to political activists, still usually flock to public

meetings. The first task for campaigners is to round up enough

women in order to inspire them. To see that, I am on my way to a

village tucked away on the peninsulas. There is this idea that

you can do is the big cities. But of course Scotland isn't just about the

big cities. Far from it. This is a place I know well, having

spent many holidays here. Today is strictly business.

I'm here to eavesdrop, as a group of women spend a Saturday morning

discussing the future of the country. Morning! Morning. We all

honestly believe, because we are women for it and is, but a yes vote

offers the best prospect for a fair Scotland, the communities and future

generations. No prizes for guessing that I'm very enthusiastic about the

idea of the opportunities independence would offer us.

Especially as women. The Women for Independence Group is hosting dozens

of meetings like this all over the country. Its members are on a

mission to convert the undecided, the uninterested and the

unconvinced. Let's take the leap of faith and trust that what we will

get in the long run will be good. Why should women go back and work

also have two more than pay their ways they can go to work and give

their child a better life? I think we need to be careful, people like

me need to be careful, in not suggesting that independence is some

kind of fairy dust. But all we have to do is vote for independence and

it. Raining out there. `` that all we have to do. I wish. It has to be

said, there wasn't a lot of opposition in the room. 45 people

turned up, 41 said they were voting yes. But there was some doubt. I am

arguing with my conscience. My son says, you have to vote for it. But I

think he thinks the ideal world, as a 16`year`old, but one day we will

vote and the next day everything will be different, the Tories will

be gone. But that his ideology and they should admire him for it. That

I am still... I don't know what to do. After an intense couple of

hours, and before she went to spread the word on neighbouring Bute, the

organiser Jean Freeman spoke about the ethos behind her campaign group.

What sort of women are you trying to attract? All women. Whether young or

old, whether they are employed or not. As we saw from this morning,

that is precisely the group we do attract. The brilliant thing about

it is when you create the opportunity women are interested in

this debate. They are interested in politics. They have ideas and

opinions. You just need to give them the space and room to voice goes.

Let's be honest, you were preaching to the converted. There were only

four women in a packed room who haven't yet made up their minds. It

is still important for us to come together because we know it is the

case that the majority of women in Scotland are still undecided. It is

our job to create the space and have those conversations with women, so

that they can make their own minds up when it comes to September.

I couldn't help but be disappointed that the event had been more than

independence rally than an exchange of opinions. When women for

independence was set up, it was billed as the space for women to

talk without fear of being shunted down by men. What would have been

the response to a woman who offered a steering defence of the union? We

will never know. We do know there are many women who want to stay part

of the UK. Indeed, new role to our at the forefront of their parties'

respective campaigns. Labour's member and Ruth Davidson for the

Conservatives. The UK belongs to all of us. We built it together, we

traded together, we fought together, we lived together, we

loved together, we settled together, we build our lives together. This

land is our land and we will allow do want to break it apart. I didn't

come into politics to debate the Constitution. I came into politics

to end poverty. Today... (APPLAUSE)

Women's roles in society, in the work base and in the home have

changed enormously over the decades. So, isn't it hypocritical for us to

rage for equal billing with men, but men say we will not sully our hands

with things like the referendum, that our conflict confusing? One

thing has remained constant in these changing times. Politics is a rough,

tough and dirty game. And there are few tougher players than the leader

of the SNP. That came up on my travels. I heard him make a comment

the other day that someone was voting for a certain person. Who was

at? I won't say. And it was just because they couldn't stand him.

Alex Salmond is... I don't know too much about him. To the leaders

matter? Now for a look at the weather.

I think so. Sometimes I think Alex Salmond is on an ego trip. I do like

Nicola Sturgeon? I feel sorry for her. Really? Absolutely sorry for

her. More women are listening to what he says than previously. It

will be didn't bother about politics or politicians. They know there is

an important vote coming up and so they are listening to him. ``

listening to him, who previously didn't bother about politics. He

goes through everybody fast. Hard. Takes no prisoners. I wouldn't say

that Wendy Alexander is the only problem the Labour Party has had a

think, quite convincingly after the last few days, we can decide that

she is not the answer. The first minister does not live in the real

world! Order! So much for the quality debate... This first

minister is staying in office and I don't know about the fate of the

Prime Minister! I think women don't like that. They like a bit of

contemplation. They like the eye but to get a chance of being answered.

Alex gives the impression that is swiped out of the road. Women don't

like that. The question regarding the Alex Salmond effect on women

voters has become a big enough issue to have been taken on by the Ulster

is. There is as yet it `` there is a suggestion that Alex Salmond is less

popular amongst women than men. Is that true? They're certainly does

seem to be a bit of a women problem for Alex Salmond, in terms of PE is

less popular amongst women than men. In 2011, after the Scottish

elections in 2000, we asked people to rate all party leaders and Alex

Salmond was rated as seven or more out of ten, pretty good, why 60% of

net but only 43% of women. That said, he is remarkably popular as a

leader amongst both men and women, competitive most other party

leaders, certainly compared with the Westminster party leaders. In terms

of using that as an explanation why women might be less likely to

support independence, because we can go back and look at support for

independence back to 1999, we can look at the period between 2000 and

2004. You still find a gap of 6% or seven percentage points in minute ``

in women and men's support for independence. So if Alex Salmond is

not a statistical deterrent, why has he played a central role in the

campaign? You are fronting this campaign, was that a conscious

decision to attract the female vote? No. I am the Deputy leader of

the SNP and that is why I am in the position I am. It is not as easy as

putting a woman in charge of the campaign and suddenly they will

flock to support independence. It is much more complicated than that. I

map what about the literature coming to people's doors. ``? They have

your wedding picture, you in the kitchen... Come on. If that is not a

direct pitch to women than I do not know what is. That must be one of

the only pictures of me in a kitchen that exists. You are appealing to

Scotland's's women? Unless we can persuade a majority of women then we

will not win the referendum. If we can do that then we will win because

I the time we have done that, we will have persuaded a majority of

men. Our pitch is not exclusively to women. That would be a silly thing

to do but if we can make it as appealing to women and we will have

cracked the referendum. Is it wrong to see her as a kind of balance to

Alex Salmond? This journalist is one of the nation's most prominent

feminist campaigners and recently announced her intention to vote"

Yes" And is keeping a close eye on the campaign. In terms of looking at

the female vote, do you think it was intentional to place a woman at the

front of the campaign? I am not sure about that. It looked like a fairly

obvious choice. I remember people being surprised that it was not just

Alex. She is a figure in her own right who has grown over time. I

suppose you could argue that they could have given a different figure

room for maneuver if they had chosen differently but I suppose that is

ancient history now. They would be relatively unrecognized as well. At

least here we have a recognisable woman with a title within the

campaign which should help somewhat. If there is a strategy

among this campaign to sit back and watch the underdog bring the battle

to them, then it you cannot see it. But they are dismissive of the idea

that their opponents know what women want. I think they have the idea

that cohorts of people will respond in specific ways. Some will respond

to the Corporation 's tax and others to other things. They have a notion

of what women respond to which I'm quite uncomfortable with. I do not

believe that you can simply identify one thing that women will respond

to, like child care, and then determine whether or not they will

want to live in the United Kingdom. The issues that matter to people

matter to all people. I get offended when I am told that I should care

about certain issues because I am a woman. That is not true. I think

women do care about practical implications to the household and

certainly when you look at the social attitudes survey, when they

try to look at the gender imbalance, they try to look at the results of

independence, what it would mean the on the votes more than men did. I

think that is where the comes in. `` The Gap. Here is your classical

female archetype. Women planning one of the biggest days of their lives.

Who is thinking more about their future choices and effects than

someone about to get married? Who is the bride`to`be? When is the

wedding? The 28th of December. That is the one! Is that your mother? It

is the stuff of the Better Together campaign's dreams. Women planning

for union. The main reason we are here is that we are talking to

people about the independence referendum. Have you made up your

mind which way you will about red would you tell us? No, no and no. I

have not date me `` made a decision yet. I'm don't have enough

information to make a decision yet `` I don't. If you have bothers or

brothers, would you say they have made up their mind? I don't think

men think about it enough. I really don't! We are in a financially

unstable time at the moment. We want more reassurances that we would be

financially stable on our own. Red the currency thing worries me. If we

had a safer currency things would be different. It will be something I

will leave up to the last minute. If something sways me then that is what

it has to be. I don't think it is a decision you want to take lightly.

You want to research it and there is no trial run after all. You cannot

go back. You cannot take this decision lightly. Like any of these

conversations, there are no easy answers. There is one thing that

women want. I am certainly sensing reluctance among many Scottish women

to make the final commitment until they know what it will mean. The

metaphor is not exactly subtle. It is about unions and eight pooling of

resources. Currently both campaigns are down on bended knee and as far

as the women we have spoken to are concerned, making this momentous

decision is something they will not be rushed into deciding on. That has

been a consistent message for many of the women I have met on my

travels. A are holding back on making a decision and we want to

know more about the potential consequences of Scotland becoming

independent. It is women that keep a household together when they are

often left alone to do so. It is women that have to be hardheaded

about the choices you make on a daily basis and I think they are

being hardheaded and unemotional about this. They want to look quite

carefully at which way things will go. I think sometimes that women

worry more and, let's face it, this whole situation is not predictable.

Perhaps that is what it all boils down to. Women taking a practical

view. We want answers. It is the head and not the heart that wins

out. Perhaps we are not the emotional creatures we are made out

to be. We are not risk`averse, but we are risk aware. I will be

covering the rest of the referendum from the studios. The choice will

continue to dominate the news agenda and working out what women want will

be vital. What I have discovered is that women's reluctance to make up

their minds is not because they do not know the facts or think that it

is a man's world. It is not based on an irrational fear of the unknown

but to be very rational reaction to a set of wildly different scenarios

and their consequences. What do women want? They make up more than

50% of the electorate so besides that wins this crucial campaign will

have to know the answer to that and at least look like they can

deliver. Temperatures through the course of

the weekend will not be Temperatures through the course of

the weekend will not too