Gender and Social Movements in the Republic of Ireland
Kate Hunt
International Studies
Jeff Heerdink-Santos
Hutton Honors College
Ireland has a fascinating relationship with gender that is made complex by the central place of the Catholic Church in society, the shadow of British Colonialism, and the contemporary relationship with the international community. This course focuses on analyzing and applying core social movement theories to the case of gender movements in the Republic of Ireland over (roughly) the past fifty years. During nine weeks in Bloomington, we will engage in scholarly discussions centering on two core questions: First, how do movements form and deploy a collective identity, and what types of tactics help them succeed? Second, what is the role of media and government in movement strategies?
The course will culminate in a week-long trip to Dublin over Spring Break during the week of International Women’s Day. Activists working on gender hold events surrounding this international day to draw attention to issues at home. Students will have the opportunity to see activism in action, consider the link between international activism and domestic activism, and listen to the voices of those we have been studying. More permanent sites will also enhance student understanding of the context within which movements take place. The National Museum of Ireland is opening (2023) an exhibition on 20th Century History of Ireland. The exhibition will include archival materials and items representing the events we will be discussing in class. This includes the mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries, the Contraception Train, the Marriage Ban, and the many referenda over the years on issues such as divorce, abortion, and marriage equality. Evening outings may include the legendary PantiBar, owned and run by Ireland’s famous Drag Queen and political activist Panti Bliss. These opportunities will allow students to feel the texture of the issues we have been discussing, contextualizing them in a way that is simply not possible through scholarly study alone.
Catalog Information: HON-H 251 HUTTON HONORS STUDY ABROAD