The word “woman” isn’t sexist and shouldn’t be removed in a referendum, a conservative commentator has argued. 

Ireland will vote to change the definition of the definition of the family and women’s role in the home in two referendums on March 8th. 

One referendum will vote to delete Article 41.2 to remove the reference to the role of women in the home and insert a new Article 42B to recognise care “by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them”. 

Former barrister Laura Perrins said she would support the referendum if it offered a “gender neutral care provision”. 

“But that’s not what’s on offer,” she told The Anton Savage Show. “What’s on offer is another attack on women. 

“[Article 41.2] is a recognition that all of the unpaid work by women that often goes unrecognised is very important, not just in a private context but in a public context. 

“Women’s live have changed so much over the years, but women do still take on the huge amount of unpaid work. 

“There’s nothing sexist with the word ‘woman’, and we shouldn’t be erasing it from legal documents.” 

'Stereotypical'

One Family CEO Karen Kiernan said the proposed amendment includes more people rather than excludes women. 

“The insertion is really important because there is recognition of care within families,” she said. 

“[Article 41.2] is very stereotypical out-of-date language about women’s duties in the home. 

“Women's place is where she wants it to be.” 

Family referendum

Ms Kiernan also said changing Article 41 to say a family is “founded on marriage or on other durable relationships” is also important. 

“This is something so many people have wanted for so long,” she said. 

“For those families and the 40% of children born to parents not married to each other, it’s going to bring them in from the cold. 

“Many people don’t actually know their family isn’t recognised.” 

Ms Perrins said the amendment actually “undermines marriage”. 

“It undermines marriage, which is bad for children,” she said. 

“Marriage is still the best way to serve the interest of children... children raised in a two-parent married family are still better for children in unmarried families.” 

Ms Kiernan argued once again, however, that the referendums only seek to include more families, rather than exclude the existing ones. 

An independent information campaign about the referendums was launched on January 25th to explain the issues being voted on and promote people's participation. 

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