Ireland was going to vote to remove sexist language from the constitution: “women’s responsibilities at home”

On International Women’s Day – March 8 – Irish people are voting in a referendum on whether to change the constitution to remove sexist language. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar believes the outcome is “hanging by a thread”.

Ireland is holding a referendum on March 8 to remove references to “women’s responsibilities in the home” from its constitution. After several years of debate, the government agreed to hold a referendum.

Article 41.2 of the Irish Constitution, dating from 1937, states: “The State recognizes that by her domestic life a woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. Therefore, the state should strive to ensure that mothers are not forced, due to economic necessity, to engage in work activities, neglecting their responsibilities at home.”

The government says the language is “sexist and outdated” and should be removed. They will be replaced by the words: “The State recognizes that the provision of assistance by members of a family to each other, by virtue of the ties existing between them, provides to the community a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and must endeavor to maintain such provision.”

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a vote against the changes would simply “reaffirm” sexist language and fail to recognize family protection in the constitution.

The National Council of Women is campaigning for change, saying “sexist, stereotypical language has no place in our constitution and reflects a time when women were treated as second-class citizens.”

Many family caregivers hope a “yes” vote will improve government support, while others believe the “strive” language falls far short of what’s needed.

Irishwoman Tracey Carroll cares full-time for her two children, seven-year-old Willow, who has complex medical needs, and nine-year-old Noah, who has autism.

“Women have faced difficulties all their lives,” she admitted. “Their place in society is seen as staying at home and taking care of our children and our husbands, and we have moved away from that, but the constitution has not changed and a woman’s place is where she wants to be.”

Members opposing the change are at pains to point out that, contrary to popular belief, the constitution does not actually say that a woman’s place is in the home, but instead suggests recognizing the work women do there.

Lawyer and Lawyers Without Law member Brenda Power explains that the Constitution “says that the work that women do in the home is fantastic, there’s no arguing with that, and it says that no woman should be forced to work outside the home if she prefers to be at home with his children.”

In early March, a survey was conducted in which 70 percent of women who currently work outside the home said: “Yes, if I had a choice, I would stay at home.”

“And this is presented as outdated and demeaning? I do not consider the work that women do around the house to be demeaning, and the reality is that women still do it,” the lawyer emphasizes.

Those opposed point out that the “strong relationship” language is “vague and ill-defined and will lead to years of legal disputes over issues relating to tax, inheritance and family reunification claims for asylum seekers in Ireland.” The Prime Minister of Ireland called this opinion a “red herring.”

The government is concerned that it could lose the referendum, which was considered inevitable when first discussed. Leo Varadkar believes failure may be closer than they thought, but such rhetoric is to be expected as the government battles voter complacency.

The outcome of the referendum will be known on Saturday when the final results are announced at the central counting center in Dublin Castle.