Women welfare and the state

This paper poses a number of important questions with regards to women and their role both historically and currently in the Irish State Welfare system. It sets out to highlight the inequalities which suppressed females and those that continue to do so, the adaptation of roles within a socio economic welfare system and the important changes which have occurred in order to combat those inequalities and the improvements which have yet to come. This motion appealed to me not only because I feel strongly for the women of this country but I personally felt a need to explore the historic injustices which suppressed females and caused the gender gap and social inequalities apparent in Irish society. I shall in this article, aim to explain certain sociological phenomena which help to support my argument in relation to women inhabiting the dependant role. These shall include: dependency, gender segregation, gender roles, modernisation, globalisation, occupational segregation, feminism and stigmatisation. I will highlight key areas of modern concern and debate evidencing my argument with historical evidence and statistics. Finally I will conclude by illustrating the need for change in the nation’s internal mindset and external national welfare system.