2. CONTESTING HISTORY OPPOSING VOICES 15: Permissive Society or Just Society? Women and Politics in Ireland, 1950-1970?

3. Permissive Society or Just Society? 1867: Reform Act – ‘man’ used to define electoral qualifications 1876: Irish Suffrage Society - Anna Haslam 1878: Intermediate Act – opened up higher education to women 1881: Ladies Land League founded 1898: Local Government vote granted to women in Ireland 1900: Inghinidhe na hEireann founded 1903: Women’s Social and Political Union – Emmeline Pankhurst 1908: Irish Women’s Franchise League - Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington 1910: Christabel Pankhurst spoke at the Rotunda 1911: Irish Women’s Suffrage Federation – Louie Bennett 1911: Irish Countrywomen’s Association 1911: Irish Women’s Workers Union established 1912: The Irish Citizen – weekly suffragist paper 1912: Women’s Suffrage Bill defeated - ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ passed

4. Permissive Society or Just Society? 1914: Cumann na mBan constituted – WW1 begins 1917: Representation of the People Act 1918: General Election – women over 30 with certain property qualifications allowed to vote – Constance Markievicz elected MP 1922: Constitution of Irish Free State gave the vote to all women and men over 21 1927: Women not eligible for jury service unless they apply specifically 1932: Public Service Marriage Ban -Women civil servants and national teachers lose their jobs on marriage 1935: Conditions of Employment Act - employment of women in industry may be restricted & controlled 1935: Pensions for widows and orphans 1935: Criminal Law (Amendment) Act - Contraceptives may not be sold, advertised or imported 1942: Irish Housewives Association

5. Permissive Society or Just Society? 1944: Children’s allowance introduced 1951: Mother and Child Scheme controversy 1952: Legal adoption introduced 1957: Married women gain more control over their own property 1958: Ban on married women national teachers lifted 1965: Succession Act – widowed spouse entitled to the family home and one half of the estate where there are no children, otherwise one third of the estate 1968: Irish Women’s Liberation Movement (IWLM) 1970: First commission on the status of women set up

6. Permissive Society or Just Society? Further Reading: Discovering Women in Irish History, Department of Education and Science (2004). Discovering Women in Irish History, Department of Education and Science (2004). McCurtain, M. & O’Corrain, D. (eds), Women in Irish Society (1978). McCurtain, M. & O’Corrain, D. (eds), Women in Irish Society (1978). Valiulis, M. & O’Dowd, M (eds), Women and Irish History (1997). Valiulis, M. & O’Dowd, M (eds), Women and Irish History (1997).