Abstract
The 50th Anniversary of Ireland’s joining the European Union is being commemorated by a wide array of celebration. 2023 marks the anniversary of a further historic event. In 1973, the Marriage Bar was lifted for the women of Ireland, coinciding with joining the EU. Although the Bar only had a legislative basis in the Civil Service, it was implemented widely across society. Therefore, women were forced to leave certain occupations on marrying. Mosca and Wright (2020, p. 6) assert that the Marriage Bar was ‘effectively institutionalised gender discrimination.’
This gender inequality, though present in other jurisdictions, had a particular longevity in Ireland. The Irish societal context, specifically the pervasive influence of the Catholic Church, gives insight to how the bar endured for so long. The literature traces the establishment of the Marriage Bar, the society in which it existed, and its abolition in 1973. However, there is a notable knowledge gap whereby the voices of the women impacted are heard.
The research is inductive in nature, with a research philosophy and epistemology of interpretivism and social constructivism. Primary data collection is by means of semi-structured interviews with women and men with a minimum of three years’ experience in banking or associated banking services and any form of management role in same. Secondary data collection is by means of analysis of artefacts in the public domain, for the purpose of contextualisation.
Wengraf’s (2001) iteration of Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method (BNIM) forms the basis on which the interviews are conducted. BNIM allows for minimal interference from the researcher, enabling the emergence of key themes in the data.
The research is concerned with exploring the scarring effect of the Marriage Bar and its limitation of women’s participation in leadership roles within banking organisations, thereby identifying the challenges, pathways and gatekeepers to career advancement.
This gender inequality, though present in other jurisdictions, had a particular longevity in Ireland. The Irish societal context, specifically the pervasive influence of the Catholic Church, gives insight to how the bar endured for so long. The literature traces the establishment of the Marriage Bar, the society in which it existed, and its abolition in 1973. However, there is a notable knowledge gap whereby the voices of the women impacted are heard.
The research is inductive in nature, with a research philosophy and epistemology of interpretivism and social constructivism. Primary data collection is by means of semi-structured interviews with women and men with a minimum of three years’ experience in banking or associated banking services and any form of management role in same. Secondary data collection is by means of analysis of artefacts in the public domain, for the purpose of contextualisation.
Wengraf’s (2001) iteration of Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method (BNIM) forms the basis on which the interviews are conducted. BNIM allows for minimal interference from the researcher, enabling the emergence of key themes in the data.
The research is concerned with exploring the scarring effect of the Marriage Bar and its limitation of women’s participation in leadership roles within banking organisations, thereby identifying the challenges, pathways and gatekeepers to career advancement.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Unpublished - 25 May 2023 |
| Event | SETU Equitas HE (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education) Conference - SETU Waterford, Waterford, Ireland Duration: 25 May 2023 → 26 May 2023 https://www.setu.ie/events/south-east-technological-university-equitas-he-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-higher-education-nbsp-conference |
Conference
| Conference | SETU Equitas HE (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education) Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Ireland |
| City | Waterford |
| Period | 25/05/2023 → 26/05/2023 |
| Internet address |
