Women in Ulster, 1600-1800

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

Some have entertained the belief that early modern Gaelic society conferred substantial rights on women. This could hardly be farther from the truth. In aristocratic Gaelic circles women were used ruthlessly as pawns in political alliances and other manoeuvres. The status of women at the lower levels of society also seems to have been low relative to men. While patriarchal relationships persisted after the Plantation of Ulster, they took new forms. Some women actually benefited in terms of property rights relative to men. Economic change in the eighteenth century, in particular the development of proto-industry, opened up opportunities for poorer women but it is notable that women did not feature at all in the public political sphere before 1800
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUlster since 1600: Politics, Economy, and Society
EditorsLiam Kennedy, Philip Ollerenshaw
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages43-57
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9780199583119
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Arts and Humanities

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