Gender and Social Movements in the Republic of Ireland

Study in Ireland will take place March 16-23, 2025.*

Please note that this program includes a spring semester course that will meet on campus.

*All travel dates are tentative and subject to international travel restrictions.

Course Title: HON-H251: Gender and Social Movements in the Republic of Ireland

Academic Director & Instructor: Kate Hunt

Syllabus Description:

Ireland has a fascinating relationship with gender that is made complex by the central place of the Catholic Church in society, the shadow of British Colonialism, and the contemporary relationship with the international community. This course focuses on analyzing and applying core social movement theories to the case of gender movements in the Republic of Ireland over (roughly) the past fifty years. During nine weeks in Bloomington, we will engage in scholarly discussions centering on two core questions: First, how do movements form and deploy a collective identity, and what types of tactics help them succeed? Second, what is the role of media and government in movement strategies?

The course will culminate in a week-long trip to Dublin over Spring Break during the week of International Women’s Day. Activists working on gender hold events surrounding this international day to draw attention to issues at home. Students will have the opportunity to see activism in action, consider the link between international activism and domestic activism, and listen to the voices of those we have been studying. More permanent sites will also enhance student understanding of the context within which movements take place. The National Museum of Ireland is opening (2023) an exhibition on 20^th Century History of Ireland. The exhibition will include archival materials and items representing the events we will be discussing in class. This includes the mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries, the Contraception Train, the Marriage Ban, and the many referenda over the years on issues such as divorce, abortion, and marriage equality. Evening outings may include the legendary PantiBar, owned and run by Ireland’s famous Drag Queen and political activist Panti Bliss. These opportunities will allow students to feel the texture of the issues we have been discussing, contextualizing them in a way that is simply not possible through scholarly study alone.

• Daily excursions, including:
  • Meetings with NGOs and activists
  • Visits to museums and historical sites
  • Overnight group visit outside of Dublin
  • Attend events for International Women’s Day

Program participants will stay in centrally located hotels during their stay in Ireland. The hotels were selected for their central location, so that students will have easy access to various dining options in the evening, as well as public transportation.

Program Fee - $1550*

The program fee includes airport transfers in country, accommodations in Ireland, some meals, transportation to and from all excursion sites, entry fees to all museums and historical sites, student travel insurance, and administrative fees

*Program fee information is from spring 2024. Information for spring 2025 will be available later in the semester.

IUB Tuition

If you are enrolled as a full-time student during the spring semester and enroll in HON-H251 as part of your block credits, there is no additional tuition cost to participate in Gender and Social Movements in the Republic of Ireland.

Additional Variable Costs

Variable costs are paid before and after you arrive in Ireland as you pay for roundtrip international airfare, meals not covered by the program, snacks, souvenirs, and other personal expenses.

Note: The program fee will appear on your bursar bill and is paid directly to IU. See the program fee sheet for more details.

Scholarships

All admitted program participants are awarded an automatic HIEP Hutton Honors Study Abroad Scholarship of $500 applied directly to the program fee. No separate application is required.

Additionally, applicants to Hutton Honors Study Abroad programs may be considered for additional merit and need-based scholarships. If finances will be a barrier to participating in your study abroad experience, we invite you to apply for these awards. Please submit your application no later than your program's final application deadline.

Note: Program participants are not eligible to apply for the HIEP Grant.

Please see the IU Education Abroad Office website for more information on other available scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

IU OVST Getting Started Handbook

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