● Later 20th century ● 1960s onwards – Causes of changes: Access to education changes situation slowly; also growing wealth and influence of outside ideas; also more service jobs – more women at work.
● Irish Women’s Liberation Movement pressed for change. ● Commission on the Status of Women encouraged government and other bodies to eliminate all other aspects of inequality.
● Employment Equality Act 1977 outlawed discrimination on the basis of sex or marital status.
● Equal pay; equal opportunities; more involvement in politics – women became government ministers, e.g. Gemma Hussey; Mary Harney – first woman leader of a political party in Republic of Ireland. Election of Presidents Robinson and McAleese.
● More involvement of women in politics in Northern Ireland during civil rights campaign and the Troubles.
● Other restrictions lifted – divorce, contraception. ● Education: More women in second- and third-level education; career opportunities opened up.
● Overall: Significant changes in women’s lives between beginning and end of the 20th century.
● Problems: In spite of movement toward equality, there are not many senior women executives in industry, banking and the civil service.
● Some clubs and institutions are slow to accept women members on equal terms. ● Changing fashions – still exploitation of women in advertising.
Key Words Discrimination Equal pay Franchise
Suffragette
unjust treatment of different people, usually based on race, religion or sex workers doing the same work would get the same pay the vote or suffrage