Women, citizenship and Catholicism in the Irish free state, 1922-1948

This article explores the ways in which Catholic social teaching influenced and shaped the changing definitions of women's citizenship during the formative years of the Irish Free State. The 1922 Irish Free State Constitution guaranteed equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens. By 1937 this guarantee of equal citizenship for women had been transformed into a more gender based definition. Citizenship for women was now clearly defined in terms of their role as wives and mothers. The essay examines the relationship between Catholic social teaching and State legislation which resulted in such a narrow interpretation of women's role. The article also considers the opinions and activities of women's societies who campaigned for women's citizenship rights during these years. It is argued that despite the prevalence of Catholic social teaching, women did assert their citizenship rights and in doing so reclaimed their right to equal citizenship.