Representation Of Women

The Just Representation of Women in “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” Women in history have continually been excluded, marginalised and ultimately forgotten. It is no exception in Irish history. Throughout history, the number of women appointed to parliament or in a position of power has been considerably lower than the number of men elected (Hagan 13). Belief that women were unable to be politically involved was the norm (Valiulis 118). Exclusion of women from the public sphere and their relegation to the private sphere where expectations of perfection exist. The expectations of mothers to be supportive and raise their sons to become great men are the standard (Valiulis 117-8). Women writers, in history, were nearly unheard of and those that …show more content…
Though this is not a normal sermon, the priest is inciting the anti-treaty individuals to stop their fighting and to join the Irish Free State. He is demonstrating clear political preferences towards the Free State. In addition to this, the priest reads a letter from people higher up in the clergy declaring that members of the IRA that right against the Free State will be excommunicated. The discourse gets heated when Damien stands and says that the election that ratified the Treaty was rigged. He states that because the British threaten to go to war if the Treaty is not sanctioned then it is natural for the people to show fear in the face of this looming presence. The election was not fair due to this overwhelming fear of conflict. Following Damien’s outburst, Lily, the court justice, stands and refutes the priest’s speech of peace by stating that the constitution for the Irish Free State came out on the day of the election. She is, then, prevented from saying anything more and patronised by the priest telling her that she is not at the market. This scene demonstrates that women, although essential during the War of Independence, have been relegated to their “natural” or “due place”. They are no longer welcome to comment on the political situation of Ireland and are expected to welcome back their role in the household and the private sphere. The priest, in this scene, is not only denigrating her opinions but is also reproaching her for speaking out of turn. Sadly, this is historically accurate as well. Women, for example, who participated in the World War I effort were forced back into silence and into the homestead once the men returned. Women were rapidly relegated to their previous “jobs” of being a stay-at-home mothers once the Treaty was ratified; they were expected to be mothers and wives (Valiulis 118). The social hierarchy

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Texas Women Representation

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