November Lecture: 'Committing Sexual Violence in 1920s Scotland'

Trigger/content warning: sexual violence. This event is not suitable for children.

Sexual violence – the majority of which is committed by men – can be a barometer for society’s public and private pressures and structural inequalities. This includes the pressure to be identified as ‘real men’, a signifier earned through hard physical labour, fighting and ‘pay-packet masculinity’ in Scotland. Taking a whole-nation qualitative and quantitative approach, this lecture by Dr Louise Heren FSAScot explores incest and rape cases prosecuted between 1918-1930 to explore inequality, and attempts to answer the principal questions: who assaulted whom, where, how and why?
This event is in collaboration with the
Lecture will be presented by Dr Louise Heren FRHistS FSAScot, Independent Researcher.
Dr Louise Heren is an alumna of the University of St Andrews and an independent researcher of Scottish History. She is the author of Sex and Violence in 1920s Scotland as well as co-author of the recently published Tanks on the Streets? The Battle of George Square, Glasgow 1919. Her key research interests are Scottish criminal violence and working-class lived experiences. Her research is grounded in the archives held at the National Records of Scotland at Edinburgh.

This will be a hybrid event which will take place both in Augustine United Church and online. Please keep an eye on the Society website, e-newsletters and your email inbox for the latest news and further information on Society events.

The Society has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment and bullying.

All attendees are requested to act with respect to one another during this hybrid event.

Anyone making comments which we believe to be inappropriate (e.g. offensive or abusive) will be removed from the event immediately. Equivalent procedures (e.g. with regard to spam) will apply online.

Please note, the hearing loop facility at Augustine United Church is currently unavailable. The venue is working to get this fixed as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The main entrance to the church is up four steps with a handrail.

Step free access is available via a door to the right of the building - please ring the bell for attention. Please note there is a tight turn in this passageway.

A standard accessible toilet is available on the ground floor and lower level (accessible via lift).

Assistance dogs are allowed inside the venue.

If attending via Zoom, captions are included.

You can find further information on Accessibility here.

The Society is grateful for our 2,600 Fellows across the globe whose support enables us to make these event free and open to all. If you're interested in being part of this network and supporting a charity that has actively supported the study and enjoyment of Scotland’s past for over 240 years, visit our Join Us page for more information about the benefits of becoming a Fellow.
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Header image credit: Cover image of 'Sex and Violence in 1920s Scotland' (c) Glasgow City Archives

Event Venue

Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, United Kingdom