A referendum that ignores the trojan work of mothers

The View

On March 8, one of the amendments to our Constitution that you are being asked to vote on seeks to remove the recognition and protection given to the extraordinary role that women and mothers play in society. In fact, a ‘Yes’ vote would remove the word mother from the Constitution entirely.

As well as being a waste of time and money, the Government’s clarion call that this is somehow a step forward for women, couldn’t be more misguided.

According to Ámárach research, two out of three mothers would choose to stay at home with their children if they could afford it, and just 17% would opt for full-time work given the choice. The same piece of research found just 12% of mothers felt valued by society, and now the Government, and the self-proclaimed faux feminists, want to strip us of the few places where we are seen, where we are valued, where we are Constitutionally recognised. They are tone deaf to the choices women want to make.

Aspiration

Sadly, the aspiration in the Constitution for mothers to not have to leave the home out of economic necessity has not yet been achieved. Mothers across the country are having to do just that. Maybe that’s where the Government should focus their efforts, giving women an authentic choice, and supporting whatever amount of time they want to spend at home.
While the wording might be a little outdated, erasing women and mothers and the often invisible, and rarely celebrated, work we do in raising our families is an insult.

The Constitution does not say, as the National Women’s Council of Ireland and other members of the Yes brigade would like you to believe, that ‘a woman’s place is in the home’, what article 42.2.1 actually says is that: “In particular, the state recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the state a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.”

It’s saying society can’t function well without us. Far be it from being ‘sexist’, that’s pretty empowering stuff. Why would we want to remove that recognition?”

It goes on to say: “The State shall, therefore, 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.”
You are being asked to remove this part of our Constitution with a muddled gender neutral definition: “The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another, by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such a provision.”

Recognition

By all means add in the aforementioned. Give protection and recognition to fathers and other caregivers. But why erase women and motherhood? Whether you’re a mother who works inside or outside the home, the Constitution recognises the role that you play in the common good of society. It’s saying society can’t function well without us. Far be it from being ‘sexist’, that’s pretty empowering stuff. Why would we want to remove that recognition?

To them, we are ‘units of production’ or as the OECD called stay at home mothers ‘a waste of human capital’”

Former chief Justice Susan Denhim and former Attorney General Senator Michael McDowell have both made it clear that this line in the Constitution in no way assigns a woman’s role to the home. Indeed, Article 45.2.1 gives all “men and women equally” the right to earn a living.

At the recent launch of the Electoral Commission, Supreme Court Judge, and the commission’s chair, Marie Baker echoed this reality. She cited that the “case law of the supreme court is quite clear, that doesn’t mean a woman’s place is in the home, it says that the work women do, provides an important protection, to society and the common good”.
It’s clear that the Government doesn’t see it that way. To them, we are ‘units of production’ or as the OECD called stay at home mothers “a waste of human capital”. It’s no surprise then that the State is trying to remove their obligation to try to protect mothers from being forced to work outside the home due to economic necessity.

Influential

If I was to ask you who is the most influential person in your life, you would probably say your mother. And yet, by being asked to remove this article, we will erase any acknowledgement of the vitally important role women and mothers play in our society.

It’s even more frustrating that campaigning groups like the aforementioned NWCI seem more intent on towing the Government line rather than representing women in all aspects of our lives. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised given they are practically bankrolled by the Government. It seems they will only fight for you if you have an impressive title on your business card, they refuse to accept we are not being oppressed into this role, we are choosing it.

Let’s face it, much of the push for this is coming from the ‘big boys’ club in Leinster house”

A Yes vote in this referendum will further create an Ireland that makes it harder for a woman to stay at home, if that’s where she wants to be. And let’s face it, much of the push for this is coming from the ‘big boys’ club in Leinster house.
You will cast your vote on International Women’s Day, a day that usually spends time celebrating women who have impressive jobs, and ignoring the trojan work and needs of mothers. Lets send a clear message that our work raising our families is just as important, and that for once we would like the Government, and groups who claim to represent all women, to actually fight for what the Constitution aspires to do: recognise, value and provide financial protection for women and mothers.