International Women’s Day 2019: 5 women in Outlander to gain inspiration from

2. Jocasta Cameron

Who she was: Jocasta Cameron has only just been introduced into the world of Outlander in the show. The book fans will know more about her but, as I said at the start, for International Women’s Day this year, I’m solely focusing on the first four books/seasons.

In Outlander Season 4/”Drums of Autumn,” Jocasta is the aunt of Jamie Fraser. The only family he has in the Colonies, he turns to her in the hope that he has a stop gap for his family. With the decision to remain in America to make a new life, he even considers taking on her plantation after she is gone.

However, there are factors that prevent that. Jocasta is naturally disappointed but she’s still not ready to just give it up to anyone. In fact, she uses her connection to Brianna as a way to stall things, making it clear she wants to leave it to Brianna in the end.

In the books, Jocasta goes on to start a relationship with Duncan Innes. In the show, we find out she starts a relationship with Murtagh. Jocasta isn’t afraid to marry if it works for her and she certainly has a penchant for Camerons.

Take inspiration from her because: This International Women’s Day, it’s important to look at how things have changed from the past to now. If our husbands died now, we wouldn’t have to think about remarrying for the sake of a plantation or for our lives. We wouldn’t have to rely on men to make decisions and for those decisions to be respected.

Jocasta is stuck in the 18th century, where she runs the risk of losing everything. Not only is she a woman, but she’s blind. She needs people around her but that doesn’t mean she wants them. Jocasta does what it takes to keep River Run and her legacy is supported.

In a way, she’s selfish. However, she’s also forward-thinking and a MacKenzie. She plays by the time period rules while also manipulating things for herself. That’s something to take inspiration from for International Women’s Day.