Women in Belfast: How Violence Shapes Identity

(Hardback)

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Description

In this study, a group of working-class women narrate their own stories, lives, and place in Belfast, showing how the geography, community, andperhaps most of allconflict becomes deeply intertwined with identity. These women, who have been socially excluded and economically disadvantaged, describe their lives during war and a now precarious peace. Challenging traditional methods of conducting research in the social sciences, McIntyre enlists Participatory action research to understand how these women see themselves, their world and their place in it. Participatory action research includes creative and interactive projectscollages, painting, poetry, and photographyto enable free expression. We see in this volume how the Belfast women negotiate and struggle with the intersections of violence, politics, gender, parenting, community work, religion, fear, humor, friendship, and their deeply held views of what it means to be an Irish woman.

Author Bio

ALICE MCINTYRE is a psychologist, Associate Professor and Director of the Elementary Education Program at Hellenic College. She is also the author of Inner-City Kids: Adolescents Confront Life and Violence in an Urban Community.