Fig 18.3 Mary Harney became the first woman to lead a political party in Ireland when she took over the Progressive Democrats in 1993.
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DiScOvErInG HiStOrY
Even with these developments, women are still under-represented in positions of authority. By the end of the twentieth century, only 5% of university professors were female and only 16% were judges. So far, there has been no female Taoiseach. Mary Harney became the first female leader of a political party when she led the Progressive Democrats in 1993. She also became the first woman to be Tánaiste, in 1997.
In 1990, Mary Robinson was the first woman elected President of Ireland. She was followed by Mary McAleese who became president in 1997.
20
10
1971
1981
1991
Single women at work as a % of total workforce of men and women Married women at work as % of same
Fig 18.5 Women at work RECALL
1. What changes in education helped to encourage equality for women?
2. What does the term ‘suffrage’ mean? 3. How did the changes in education contribute to the women’s suffrage movement?
4. When were women first given the right to vote in Ireland?
5. What was the importance of Countess Markievicz’s election in 1918?
6. In the beginning of the twentieth century, what were the main occupations of women?
7. What changes in legislation made it more difficult for women to work outside the home?
8. Why do you think more women than men emigrated between 1946 and 1951? 9. What was the Marriage Ban?
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1997
Fig 18.4 Mary Robinson became the first female president of Ireland in 1990.
10. List four organisations that pushed for women’s equality.
11. List two changes in legislation that gave women equal status in employment.
CHANGE AND CONTINUITY 12.Write an account of the changes that have occurred for a woman living in Ireland during the twentieth century. Use the following headings as a guide: (a) Education (b) Changes in employment legislation (c) Right to vote (d) Political status
EVALUATE 13. In your opinion, why are women still not represented at the highest levels of authority? Give reasons for your answer.
14. As a class, discuss: do women now have equality with men in politics and employment?