AS I SEE IT
BY MARIANNE HERON
Oh no, not that again! A UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has suggested that we rerun the amendment of article 41.2 of the Constitution. We hardly need reminding that the changes supported by politicians in every party, save for Aontu, which sought to do away with the words woman, home and marriage, ironically held on Women’s Day March 8 last year, were roundly defeated.
What aspect of our democratic decision do the members of the UN committee, which is proposing that we carry out information campaigns about the negative impact of ‘gender stereotyping’ of women in the home’, not get? Forget about that overworked ‘woke’ word gender. The wording which the amendment sought to remove – “by her life within the home woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved” – is a statement of fact.
Women, not men, bear children, women do the majority of unpaid work involved in raising children and looking after their families, often while holding down full-time jobs. The article recognises the value of work that women do for love not money. Imagine if women went on strike? Their families could forget about meals, sex, sharing mortgage payments, cleaning, laundry, shopping.
The amendment also sought to add a new article on ‘care’, in which the State was to recognise the care provided “by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them” and pledged to “strive” (didn’t sound very reassuring did it? ) to support that care.
And what did the words “durable relationship” –intended to replace marriage – actually mean? A resounding 73% of voters said no to the new article.
The defeat of the amendment is a badly missed opportunity. The Government and political parties could have read and acted on the valuable feedback it provided. One is that a majority don’t buy into gender neutrality moves which can erode women’s rights and obscure the fact that there are two only biological sexes: women and men. Perhaps it’s no coincidence the LGBTQ+ community are experiencing push-back against their demands.
Another issue is the need to address the poor treatment of of carers, the ‘invisible army’ half a million strong in numbers, who save the State an estimated €20 Billion a year caring for family members with additional needs. A study carried out by Family Carers Ireland (FCI), 61% of whom are women and 39% men, shows they hardly get the help and support they deserve. For instance, the study found that 70% had difficulties accessing services around care, 69% experienced barriers to respite care to allow them a break ranging from a day off to a holiday, 68% percent experienced financial stress and 71% felt left out.
Then there is the elephant in the room, that empty Constitutional promise that “the State shall endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home”. How many mothers, or indeed fathers, in a situation where it now requires two incomes to meet the cost of living and soaring mortgage repayments, would prefer to be at home when their children are young. One recent survey suggests that 63% of women would prefer to be at home with their babies.
Despite mounting concerns about the shifting demographic where in future there will be only two workers to support one retired person compared with a ratio of five to one now, not enough is being done to provide more support for raising children.
The number of over 66s is expected to double but the falling birth rate, down by 20% in the last 20 years tells its own story. The cost of childcare in Ireland, at around €200 a week, minus some subsidy under the National Childcare scheme, is among the most expensive in Europe. Families can’t afford to have more children and young people are leaving Ireland because they have no hope of being able to afford a home in which to raise a family.
Perhaps it’s time to forget about woke window-dressing around gender neutrality. Better by far to concentrate on the issues that could really make a difference. Meaningful support for parents raising children and for carers and affordable homes are what really matter.
