‘Sometimes it would be nice to be a
man’: the salience of gender identity
after the Good Friday Agreement.
February 6, 2009
Dr. Theresa O’Keefe
Department of Sociology
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Email: theresa.okeefe@nuim.ie
Studying Gender Identity in Northern
Ireland
Has the Good Friday Agreement allowed us to
move beyond ethno-nationalism when studying
identity?
Past studies tend to focus on the gendered
nature of ethno-nationalism (Aretxaga,
Cockburn, O’Keefe, Sales, Ward).
Little qualitative work done on gender in its
own right. Contemporary Irish Identities Project
quite significant as a result.
Difficulties in Discussing Gender
How can you raise a discussion about
gender identity in a way that is
meaningful to the respondent?
Is gender identity too ‘naturalised’ to
study? What difficulties does this
present?
Understandings of Gender Difference
First recollection of difference
-could not recall
-natural/biological difference
-social roles
Current understanding
-motherhood
-femininity
Awareness of Gender Inequality
Gender inequality is ‘naturalised’/fixed.
Gender inequality is changing/changeable.
Hegemonic masculinity and difficulties for
Northern Irish men.
No gender inequality.
Key Findings
Gender not as salient/clear as one
might hope, particularly in comparison
to class.
Positionality is key.
Danger in ‘naturalising’ gender order.
Implications
Women’s/Feminist Organising
-importance of positionality
Future research
-gender identity – gender not as a subtext of
ethno-national identity.
-relationship between gender identity and
under-studied categories (i.e. class, sexuality,
ability).