Abstract
ABSTRACT This article explores the consequences for women’s citizenship that arise from
the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. It argues that, despite the promises of inclusion and
equality set out in the peace document, subsequent institutional arrangements and policy
decisions have retained gendered exclusions and reasserted gender stereotypes. With the
further institutionalisation of ethnonationalism as the dominant political discourse through
the changes ratified in the St Andrews Agreement, the political settlement has failed to
address fully the gendered legacy of conflict and fulfil the democratic promises of advancing
women’s citizenship claims. However, despite persisting constraints, women continue the
pattern of active civic engagement in the community and voluntary sector and pursue lobbying
strategies that strive to make their claims relevant in institutionalised policymaking spheres. At
the same time, the article maintains that the emergence of new forms of feminist grass-roots
activism, exemplified by the Belfast Feminist Network, contributes to enhancing women’s citizenship claims in the broader cultural and social context of post-Agreement Northern Ireland.
Original language | Undefined/Unknown |
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Pages (from-to) | 399-412 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Irish Political Studies |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 10 Sept 2013 |