Did mum just get certified? We only have one mum in the whole wide world, and that’s especially true in Ireland! Mum has just been officially recognised as not just family, but also as the main source of advice, knowledge, and, of course, all the love and care within the home. The interesting thing is that it was always implied in the constitution, but now Ireland has substantiated their appreciation for woman’s role as mother and homemaker by voting not to change the constitution.

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. 

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 is in the home.”

The constitution’s clause, which dates back to 1937

So what led to this change of thinking? The leaders of Ireland wanted to update the clauses above in the 1937 constitution to be more in alignment with today’s ideologies. The Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, was not happy with the old-fashioned and sexist language about women. They planned to make the language gender-neutral and remove references to women’s special status as mothers. However, on International Women’s Day, 67% of Irish voters said no to the proposal. They wanted to keep the recognition of the family as the most important unit in society, and the mothers’ role in the home. The majority also voted to protect mothers from having to work outside the home. This means that most Irish voters want the state to keep acknowledging the support that women give by taking care of their homes and families, and voted to keep this recognition in the constitution.

However, the government clearly didn’t understand how the public felt about this change. In 2015, Ireland made history by allowing same-sex marriage through a public vote. This decision promoted equality and acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2018, 68% of the population voted to legalise abortion, showing changing attitudes and sparking debates on reproductive rights and laws. Surprisingly, despite all these big changes, the traditional role of “mum” is still very important. Even though there’s been progress in other areas, most people still honour and listen to the matriarch. This complex situation shows that societal progress is multi-sided. While some things change quickly, others remain traditional.

Moreover, things are changing in Ireland, especially when it comes to how people see women. Some may not be happy with everything, but if we look closer, women have had some big wins. One of the best things is that there’s less judgment now for women who decide to stay at home with their kids. This is a major win because it means women don’t have to live up to other people’s ideas about how they should live their lives. It’s a step forward that changes how people think about what women can do and be, right? If Ireland decided to take away recognition for motherhood and the role of women in the family, that would be a huge step back for women. It wouldn’t be fair because it would be like saying that all the things women have done don’t matter. We just have to look back to women’s movements and in times of war to see how important their actions have been in making things better for everyone.

To erase ‘woman’ for the benefit of a gender-neutral language aimed at promoting inclusivity and equality prompts one to ask is that fair? Some of us want to embrace traditional roles as mothers and homemakers, while others want to focus on their careers, or do both. That’s a woman’s choice. Isn’t that what real liberation means? The freedom to choose without being criticised for our choices. It’s clear that feminism has played a crucial role in advancing women’s rights and opportunities, so, some may view what has happened in Ireland as a backward step, regressive, and potentially limiting. Is it? Maybe what the world needs now is to recognise and value an empowered woman in her role as a mother and homemaker, considering it as an esteemed position in society.

Regardless, in this situation, the meanings of empowerment and liberation are very important. When we embrace and respect the role of a mother and homemaker as valuable, it shows the different hopes and contributions of women. It also shows the complexity and depth of personal choices, and the ongoing changes in gender roles. Recognising and valuing these different paths to happiness is crucial for creating a more inclusive and empowering environment for everyone, covering a wide range of hopes and roles, don’t you think?