Conflicting categories? Women, conflict and identity in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Women's involvement in ethno-national conflicts is often overlooked, due partly to gender expectations. The gendered nature of ethno-nationalist identities and the salience of gender categories during conflict both work to render women ‘invisible’. However, women do frequently engage directly in ethno-national conflict. Such engagement can provide a space to disrupt gender ideologies, but is typically evaluated by others with reference to gender norms. This paper examines direct conflict engagement by a group of loyalist women in Northern Ireland, a region noted for both ethno-national conflict and gender conservatism. Using discourse analysis, it explores how the women themselves understand their central role in street protests and confrontations. It examines: (1) how they construct their identities as women in this situation; (2) the extent to which they refer to gender in explaining the conflict; and (3) how they see their actions affecting gender norms and relations within their community.

Keywords:

• women
• loyalist
• Northern Ireland
• conflict
• discourse
• gender identity

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a study funded by the Leverhulme Trust (Women and Conflict, 2005).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karyn Stapleton

KARYN STAPLETON is Senior Lecturer in the School of Communication at the University of Ulster.

John Wilson

JOHN WILSON is Professor in the School of Communication at the University of Ulster