FROM THE ARCHIVES:A conference in Dublin of an international women's organisation prompted The Irish Times to ask where were the local daughters of the suffragettes. – JOE JOYCE
DUBLIN THIS week is the centre of an interesting gathering of women of distinction. Some 250 delegates representing 30 countries have arrived to take part in the 19th Triennial Congress of the International Alliance of Women, which opens to-day. One hopes their duties will not be so arduous as to prevent them from seeing something of Ireland – and, perhaps, forming opinions on the place of women in Irish life . . .
They may well find it surprising that Irishwomen appear to play so insignificant a part in public affairs: and even more surprising that, in general, the ambition to play a larger part seems to be absent. It is sometimes argued by ardent feminists that Irishmen will not allow women to emerge as full citizens, exercising full rights and undertaking full duties. The reproach is partially just; but there is no sign of any strong desire among Irishwomen to knock down the barrier.
Is there a single woman member in Dáil Éireann who was elected simply on merit, and not because she was the daughter or widow of a former T.D.? If not, does the fault lie with the electorate, or with the parties, or with lack of political ambition among the women themselves?
Certainly those who have appeared in the House have not exerted themselves to make any individual mark. They are content to listen and vote. Some women have attained high position in the Civil Service, but they are few by comparison with the total numbers employed; and in the professions the woman of outstanding achievement is still something of a rarity.
It has not always been thus. A generation back there were many women active – militantly active – in public affairs in Ireland. The names of Countess Markiewicz and Maude Gonne come readily to mind, but they were no more notable than, in their own way, were Louie Bennett, Hannah Sheehy Skeffington, and a dozen others. Many of them came up on the wave of the Suffragette movement. But where are their daughters? What are they doing with the vote which their mothers went to such lengths to win?
There were few among those Suffragettes who did not believe that women would exercise a profound influence on political life. They did not seek a mere symbol of equality; they wanted a passport to political activity. The use they have made of that passport would surely be a disappointment to their predecessors. This is of course a country of large families, and it is not easy for mothers to get the freedom necessary for an occupation outside the home; nor would one care to suggest that public life is more important than the private responsibility of raising a family. But this is not the full answer to a somewhat perplexing question. Women cannot be given a bigger share in running this country until they claim it; and where are the claimants?