Gender, Ethnicity and Politics: the Protestants of Northern Ireland

Abstract

The dominance of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland has marginalised concern with gender inequality. Politics centres around community loyalties, giving little space for alternative agendas. Women’s rights have generally been seen as a lower priority than, or even in conflict with, the major political issues. While some women have gained prominence within nationalist and republican movements, Protestant women remain much less visible. The public face of the Protestant community is overwhelmingly male, represented by male political and Church leaders, and the annual displays of triumphalism by bowler-hatted, drum-beating Orangemen.