Lynch, Catherine Jane (2015) The Awakening: Empowered by water what are the personal and political implications for female activists in the Irish Anti-Water charges movement? Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.

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Abstract

This research seeks to identify what are the personal and political implications for female activist in the Irish anti-water charges movement? While this movement is not a women-only organisation, nor is it concerned with gender-specific issues, the key findings in this research will demonstrate an astute and growing political awareness among women and a determined commitment to active political engagement. While this has not yet awakened any great ambition for these women to enter the structural political arena, their desire to have systematic and cultural change in Irish politics may hold the key for fuller female participation in the future. This thesis will argue that women are such a powerful resource to the anti-water charges movement; they can greatly influence and shape the organisations political goals. If the women‟s concerns and objectives are genuinely taken on board by the broader movement, there could be a popular push for a more accountable political system and culture that also facilitates women to take their place equally alongside men in Irish politics. Rather than trying to „fit‟ women into the current political system via gender-quotas, a change in system and culture, proposed and endorsed by women, may attract more able females into the Irish political arena by default. In order for the movement to embrace these concerns, it also has to organisationally demonstrate internal participatory practices and a culture that values and recognises the key contribution these women make.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Additional Information:	Submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the MA in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism
Keywords:	Awakening; Empowered by water; personal and political implications; female activists; Irish Anti-Water charges movement; MA in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Adult and Community Education
Item ID:	12218
Depositing User:	IR eTheses
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2020 15:22
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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