Women's Role in Society in Ireland in 1930s
Women’s Role in Society
In Ireland during the 1930s, women had very few rights and they were considered to be the inferior sex. This affected their everyday lives as often they were treated as second class citizens and their opinions were considered to be invalid. This is reflected by the fact that they were not allowed to vote in general elections.
Women were also expected to stay at home, looking after and rearing their children. They were expected to live a rather domestic life and so very few had a career outside the home. This restricted what women could do. Women were usually forced to retire from their jobs when they married, for example, any teacher who qualified after 1933, was obliged to retire on marriage. This had a great impact on the lives of women as they were forced to retire on marriage and so they would receive no more income to support their family. Sympathy was growing for the woman in the home and the difficult conditions under which she had to labour.
In rural areas, woman had a very important role. Women were usually responsible for the care of the small livestock, the poultry, pigs and calves. Women would also attend to the vegetable garden as well as cooking, ironing, churning and looking after children and elderly relatives. Such jobs could involve a lot of manual work and so this may have impacted on their health.
Women were also expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, observing rules of etiquette and decorum. Inappropriate behaviour such as, drinking, wearing make-up and the use of vulgar language was greatly frowned upon and considered to be extremely un-lady like. High expectations were implemented. This made it hard for women to be themselves as they had to be continuously aware of what people would think of them. At this time, the kitchen was the main room of activity and usually contained an open hearth fire. The main fuel used was turf or wood and would have been collected by the family by hand. Cooking
In Ireland during the 1930s, women had very few rights and they were considered to be the inferior sex. This affected their everyday lives as often they were treated as second class citizens and their opinions were considered to be invalid. This is reflected by the fact that they were not allowed to vote in general elections.
Women were also expected to stay at home, looking after and rearing their children. They were expected to live a rather domestic life and so very few had a career outside the home. This restricted what women could do. Women were usually forced to retire from their jobs when they married, for example, any teacher who qualified after 1933, was obliged to retire on marriage. This had a great impact on the lives of women as they were forced to retire on marriage and so they would receive no more income to support their family. Sympathy was growing for the woman in the home and the difficult conditions under which she had to labour.
In rural areas, woman had a very important role. Women were usually responsible for the care of the small livestock, the poultry, pigs and calves. Women would also attend to the vegetable garden as well as cooking, ironing, churning and looking after children and elderly relatives. Such jobs could involve a lot of manual work and so this may have impacted on their health.
Women were also expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, observing rules of etiquette and decorum. Inappropriate behaviour such as, drinking, wearing make-up and the use of vulgar language was greatly frowned upon and considered to be extremely un-lady like. High expectations were implemented. This made it hard for women to be themselves as they had to be continuously aware of what people would think of them. At this time, the kitchen was the main room of activity and usually contained an open hearth fire. The main fuel used was turf or wood and would have been collected by the family by hand. Cooking