Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has said that our Constitution must not pigeon hole women into a particular role. Deputy Mitchell O’Connor was speaking in the Dáil this week on the recommendations put forward by the Constitutional Convention on the Article 41.2 of the Constitution, which refers to the role of women in the home.

“As a mother of two, who has worked both inside and outside the home, I take particular issue with the specific reference in our Constitution to a mother’s ‘duties in the home’. I have a huge amount of respect for women who work full time in the home, just as I have huge respect for those who work full time outside the home. But our Constitution should not pigeon hole women into one particular role.

“Gender roles have changed greatly in Ireland in recent decades, and I believe this change should be reflected in our Constitution. Article 41.2 enforces a sexist view of women, which does not give recognition to the reality of modern families, where caring in the home is shared by mother and fathers, grandparents and others.

“Women account for 47% of the Irish workforce. And just over half of women with children are in employment. We should not stand over a situation where women in the workforce are defined as neglecting their duties at home. This places an unfair societal stigma on working women.

“Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg put it well when she said that most people assume that women are responsible for household chores and child care, and this fundamental assumption is holding women back. We must ensure that our Constitution does not contain a fundamental assumption that holds Irish women back.

“It is particularly appropriate that we would discuss this topic today on the UN International Day of the Girl, which aims to support millions of girls around the world to get the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives. Ireland should strive not only to address the plight of women in the developed world, but to lead by example here at home.

“I strongly support the recommendation that any change to Article 41.2 should be gender neutral, and rather than just referring to women it should instead refer to ‘carers in the home’ and ‘carers beyond the home’. Although research shows that the majority of carers are women, our Constitution should not promote a narrow view by defining this as an exclusively female role.

“Our Constitution must reflect the realities of a modern Ireland. It should not enforce stereotypical roles on either gender, and instead should be a document that we can look to with confidence to guide generations to come. I look forward to further progressing the report from the Constitutional Convention.”

ENDS