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CONTESTING HISTORY OPPOSING VOICES. 15: Permissive Society or Just Society? Women and Politics in Ireland, 1950-1970?. Permissive Society or Just Society?. 1867: Reform Act – ‘man’ used to define electoral qualifications 1876: Irish Suffrage Society - Anna Haslam
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CONTESTINGHISTORYOPPOSINGVOICES 15: Permissive Society or Just Society? Women and Politics in Ireland, 1950-1970?
Permissive Society or Just Society? • 1867: Reform Act – ‘man’ used to define electoral qualifications • 1876: Irish Suffrage Society - Anna Haslam • 1878: Intermediate Act – opened up higher education to women • 1881: Ladies Land League founded • 1898: Local Government vote granted to women in Ireland • 1900: Inghinidhe na hEireann founded • 1903: Women’s Social and Political Union – Emmeline Pankhurst • 1908: Irish Women’s Franchise League - Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington • 1910: Christabel Pankhurst spoke at the Rotunda • 1911: Irish Women’s Suffrage Federation – Louie Bennett • 1911: Irish Countrywomen’s Association • 1911: Irish Women’s Workers Union established • 1912: The Irish Citizen – weekly suffragist paper • 1912: Women’s Suffrage Bill defeated - ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ passed
Permissive Society or Just Society? • 1914: Cumann na mBan constituted – WW1 begins • 1917: Representation of the People Act • 1918: General Election – women over 30 with certain property qualifications allowed to vote – Constance Markievicz elected MP • 1922: Constitution of Irish Free State gave the vote to all women and men over 21 • 1927: Women not eligible for jury service unless they apply specifically • 1932: Public Service Marriage Ban -Women civil servants and national teachers lose their jobs on marriage • 1935: Conditions of Employment Act - employment of women in industry may be restricted & controlled • 1935: Pensions for widows and orphans • 1935: Criminal Law (Amendment) Act - Contraceptives may not be sold, advertised or imported • 1942: Irish Housewives Association
Permissive Society or Just Society? • 1944: Children’s allowance introduced • 1951: Mother and Child Scheme controversy • 1952: Legal adoption introduced • 1957: Married women gain more control over their own property • 1958: Ban on married women national teachers lifted • 1965: Succession Act – widowed spouse entitled to the family home and one half of the estate where there are no children, otherwise one third of the estate • 1968: Irish Women’s Liberation Movement (IWLM) • 1970: First commission on the status of women set up
Permissive Society or Just Society? • Further Reading: • Discovering Women in Irish History, Department of Education and Science (2004). • McCurtain, M. & O’Corrain, D. (eds), Women in Irish Society (1978). • Valiulis, M. & O’Dowd, M (eds), Women and Irish History (1997).