From Public to Private: The Shifting Roles of Irish Women Pre and Post Irish Potato Famine — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
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Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

From Public to Private: The Shifting Roles of Irish Women Pre and Post Irish Potato Famine

Name: Samantha Meszaros
Major: History and Political Science
Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
Faculty Sponsor: John Leazer
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the effects that the Irish Potato Famine 1845-1852 had on the roles of women. The goal is to exhibit that the Famine was a watershed for women’s roles. Before the Famine, women were active in the public sphere; however, post Famine women were strongly involved in the private sphere. The research method used was the examination of women’s lives and roles pre, during, and post Irish Potato Famine. This research led to the conclusion that the Famine was a watershed for women. While women were active in the family pre-Famine, they were also active in the economic sphere and the public sphere through charity. During the Famine, women were active in food riots and workhouses. Post-Famine, women, while working along with Catholic Priests, were very active in the private sphere. This research demonstrates that through their role in the family women actively shaped post-Famine Irish culture and society.

Poster file