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Gender, Ethnicity and Politics: the Protestants of Northern Ireland

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Thinking Identities

Part of the book series: Explorations in Sociology ((EIS))

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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.

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Authors
  1. Rosemary Sales
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Birkbeck College, University of London, UK

    Avtar Brah (Senior Lecturer in Sociology) (Senior Lecturer in Sociology)

  2. Irish Studies Centre, University of North London, UK

    Mary J. Hickman (Reader in European Studies, Director) (Reader in European Studies, Director)

  3. Sheffield University, UK

    Máirtín Mac an Ghaill (Professor of Sociology of Education) (Professor of Sociology of Education)

Copyright information

© 1999 British Sociological Association

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Cite this chapter

Sales, R. (1999). Gender, Ethnicity and Politics: the Protestants of Northern Ireland. In: Brah, A., Hickman, M.J., Mac an Ghaill, M. (eds) Thinking Identities. Explorations in Sociology. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230375963_7

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