Gender, Sexuality and the Ideology of the Family in Ireland (original) (raw)

In Ireland, the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922 was followed by the institutionalisation of a deeply conservative notion of national identity, firmly sustained by Catholic and patriarchal values which were at odds with the personal rights of women and homosexuals. Described in the 1937 Constitution as "the natural, primary and fundamental unit group of society" (article 41.1), the traditional definition of family seems to have played an instrumental role in the promotion of a national ethos in the newly independent Republic. The paper critically analyzes the evolution of family ideology, drawing upon Judith Butler's concept of performativity and exploring historical contexts, contemporary shifts in societal norms, and the implications for marginalized groups.