Women in 20th-Century Ireland

• Week 1: Women and the fight for the franchise
  As Ireland moved toward self-government, women fought for political equality. Led by figures such as Hanna Sheehy Skeffington and the Irish Women’s Franchise League, the suffrage movement campaigned alongside activists such as Emmeline Pankhurst in Britain, even confronting Prime Minister H.H. Asquith in protest. Yet, with the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922, new challenges
• Week 2: Nation-building in the new Irish Free State
  In the conservative Irish Free State, politics remained dominated by men, a reality reinforced by the constitution, which included a reference to a woman’s “life within the home.” Women persisted in challenging these limits, however, gradually reshaping Ireland’s political landscape over many decades. This culminated in the election of Ireland’s first female deputy prime minister and its first woman president in the 1990s. 
• Week 3: Social change in Ireland
  Despite its ideals, the new Irish state enforced strict bans on contraception and divorce, trapping many in abusive or unwanted marriages. When Dr. Nöel Browne, the Minister of Health, proposed the Mother and Child Scheme in 1951—offering free healthcare for women and children—he faced fierce opposition from Church and State alike, leading to his resignation and, along with other contributing factors, the government’s eventual collapse. 
• Week 4: The growth of women’s rights
  In the 1970s, women’s activism began reshaping Ireland’s social order. The Irish Women’s Liberation Movement challenged restrictive laws, highlighting how contraception was available in Northern Ireland but banned south of the border. Their efforts, supported by figures like future president Mary Robinson, led to Ireland’s strict contraception laws being declared unconstitutional and social reform gaining momentum. 
• Week 5: Women and the arts
  Women in Ireland long used the arts to express themselves and challenge societal norms. This includes Edna O’Brien, whose 1960 debut novel, The Country Girls, was banned in her country of birth, but celebrated internationally. The tradition continued with artists such as Sinéad O’Connor, whose provocative work in the 1980s and 1990s sparked controversy but has since gained lasting recognition and respect. 
• Week 6: Women in Northern Ireland: conflict and community
  Though spared the stricter laws south of the border, women in Northern Ireland faced their own unique challenges amid intercommunity conflict. Women played a crucial role in promoting peace during the Troubles, notably Mairéad Corrigan and Betty Williams, founders of the Peace People, whose tireless activism earned them the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. 

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Analyze political, social and cultural change in Ireland during the 20th century, focusing on the roles and experiences of women
• Identify key figures, including activists, political leaders and artists, who shaped Irish society and advanced women’s rights
• Evaluate the impact of women-led social movements in Ireland, including their successes and limitations

• Lectures
• Participation in discussions
  
• Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
  
• Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.