Gender and ethno-nationalist politics

This chapter examines the issue of feminism and mainstream scholarship and considers the continuing importance of feminist research within the context of Northern Irish politics. It then genders the Northern Irish conflict by examining three aspects of ethno-gender politics: ethno-gender ideologies or discourses, ethno-gendered inequalities and gendered practices of resistance within an ethno-nationalist society. The chapter illustrates the connection between ethnic conflict and gender power, albeit from a marginal and bounded location. It also illustrates how feminist and gender politics are part of the political culture of Northern Ireland and offers conceptual resources to academics engaged in investigating the conflict. The chapter also examines three forms of gendered resistance to gender power in Northern Ireland: organised feminism, military femininity and resistances based around traditional female identities. Feminist theory can be utilised to analyse dimensions of ethno-nationalist conflict.