Will we see a first female junior jarl soon?

Contributed

17 June 2026 10:00

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I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone involved in the Compass Centre’s excellent Stand Up Spik Oot video, as featured in your recent Shetland News story:

Men speak out against gender-based violence in new campaign video

I suspect those with a good understanding of the issues would also want to see a Shetland which treats girls and boys, and young people of all genders, as being equally valid, equally valued.

Given the cultural significance of Up Helly Aa we can therefore only hope that the day will soon come when Shetland will see the first female junior jarl, and that the role will alternate for the years that follow.

Otherwise what messages are being sent about expectations of masculine superiority and entitlement and of female inferiority and submission?

Surely, in 2026, everyone can now axe fir what they want equally, without fear? The lasses have long spoken out on this issue. Are they still to be ignored?

Peter Hamilton
Edinburgh

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