Feminist analysis

Banúlacht’s work is grounded in a feminist analysis

Banúlacht is a feminist organisation committed to political action. We therefore ground our analysis and practice in clear principles which enable us to identify and critique systems which disempower women, and to develop and highlight alternatives. These principles will inform the ongoing development of policy and practice in all areas of our work.

We recognise and value the diversity of women's experiences, perspectives and priorities. Gender is experienced and constructed in complex, changing and sometimes contradictory ways. Banúlacht recognises that the political and economic obstacles faced by women in Ireland and globally are entrenched within and mediated through particular social and cultural contexts which promote ideologies of male superiority and dominance.

Our analysis recognises the links between gender oppression and other forms of oppression. It challenges norms and structures which privilege experiences and interests based on being male, white, settled, middle-class, heterosexual, able-bodied, western etc. In particular, it includes challenging global structural inequalities. It is therefore crucial to address specific forms of gender inequalities, and their complex intersection with other forms of gender discrimination, such as racism.

Feminism is complex and dynamic, characterised by multiple perspectives and shaped by specific social and historical circumstances locally, nationally, regionally and globally. This statement of feminist principles is therefore framed in the acknowledgement that it represents a particular feminist perspective, but one which has multiple meanings and possibilities. The ongoing development of Banúlacht’s policy and practice will allow for critical reflection on and elaboration of these principles in ways which respect different women and different contexts.

Women in Ireland and worldwide challenge gender injustices

In no country of the world do women enjoy human rights equally with men. Women suffer systematic discrimination resulting in deep patterns of inequality. Barriers faced by women include a disproportionate burden of care-giving work, discriminatory cultural laws and practices, widespread violence and lack of information and services related to family planning and reproductive health. Such barriers are inextricably linked to women’s lack of economic independence, low social status and under-representation in or exclusion from decision-making. Southern women face particular barriers linked to global inequalities.

At all levels however, local, national, regional and international, women have been organising to challenge gender injustices. Women in Ireland have a strong history of collective organisation at local and national levels, and also increasingly at international level as part of a global women’s movement. Women North and South have been creating alliances and deepening connections of solidarity with each other through recognition of how our situations are linked. As a feminist organisation of women in Ireland and as part of this global women’s movement, Banúlacht is committed to the struggle for a transformed world of social justice for all.

Principles of Political, Economic and Social Analysis

The personal is political
The personal is political and the political is personal: women’s personal experiences are shaped by wider social and political decisions and circumstances. Our political, economic and social analysis is based on a critique of patriarchal structures, systems and ideologies of male values, interests and supremacy that have systematically and disproportionately denied women the conditions and possibilities for reaching their human potential.

Women are active agents of change
We see women as active agents for change: women have a key role to play in shaping the social and political contexts of their lives, and have a right to have and to make choices that impact upon them. Banúlacht rejects and seeks to challenge representations of women as victims. These representations play on stereotypes of a passive femininity and do not acknowledge women's power and agency in different contexts, often despite various structures of injustice. They marginalise women's diverse perspectives, voices and interests and involve processes of 'othering'.

Women are not a homogenous group: there is great diversity among women
We recognise women’s diversity: women have different experiences, perspectives and priorities. We welcome this diversity, while also recognising that many differences are based on and/or experienced through relationships of inequality that must be challenged.

Gender is socially constructed
The concept of ‘gender’ is used in recognition of how femininities and masculinities are socially constructed rather than fixed and ‘natural’. This analysis allows for the possibility of transforming gendered power relationships. Our understanding of the concept of gender recognises that being a woman or man is experienced and constructed in complex, fluid and sometimes contradictory ways, intersecting with other socially constructed categories such as ‘race’, sexual orientation and class.

Gender oppression is linked to other forms of oppression
Our analysis recognises the links between gender oppression and other forms of oppression. It challenges norms and structures which privilege experiences and interests based on being male, white, settled, middle-class, heterosexual, able-bodied, western etc. In particular, it includes challenging global structural inequalities between North and South.

Women’s lives in Ireland and the South are interconnected
We believe that a comprehensive understanding of the conditions and possibilities of women’s lives requires an engagement with the interconnections between the local, national, regional and global levels. Banúlacht is particularly concerned with exploring interconnections between the situations of women in Ireland and those of women in the global South.

An equal opportunities approach is not sufficient to achieve equality
While our critical structural perspective recognises the limitations of the ‘equal opportunities’ approach in challenging systems of oppression, we also recognise that this approach can be an important strategic option for promoting changes and choices for women.

Human rights include reproductive rights
Banúlacht considers the recognition, protection and promotion of women’s reproductive rights to be a fundamental condition for the achievement of social justice. We support every woman’s right to determine whether, when, how often, with whom and under which circumstances she wishes to have children. We recognise every woman’s right to autonomy over the management of her own pregnancy, and also the right not to have children. This includes the right to choose abortion.

We are committed to promoting an international human rights perspective

We are committed to a critical holistic human rights perspective as a framework for analysis and action. This is a global vision of interconnectedness which recognizes the indivisibility of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. It includes a critical engagement with the development of human rights frameworks which attempt to recognise, protect and promote women’s rights as human rights.

Principles of Practice

The feminist principles of analysis outlined above have implications for our practice. Turning our analysis into reality for us entails certain commitments to how we organise and how we engage in dialogue. This includes special attention to processes and to language leading to the following principles informing our practice:

Banúlacht is a women-only organisation
Banúlacht recognises women-only spaces as key to women-centred practice, and an important basis for sharing experiences and perspectives as women.

• We commit ourselves to women-only spaces of dialogue within the organisation, and to the facilitation of women-only spaces of learning in our education and training practice.
   
• We also commit ourselves to processes which are inclusive, consensual, participative and consultative. This includes developing awareness of diversity.
   
• We recognise the importance of developing strategic alliances of solidarity with other women-only, as well as non women-only, groups and organisations.

The language we use will reflect feminist principles As a feminist organisation, we recognise the role of language in maintaining values and supporting systems that deny women equality with men.

• We will therefore challenge language that normalises unequal power relations, reinforces patriarchy or reflects gender stereotypes.
   
• We will promote women as active agents, avoiding the portrayal of negative images and images of women as victims in our campaigning and lobbying work. We will continue to actively promote positive role models working towards equality.
   
• We will, where possible, use language that reflects a feminist approach.
   
• When we use contested terms we will explain the concepts underlying our choice of language.