Sir, – Orla O’Connor’s welcome opinion piece “Women have come a long way since Nollaig na mBan of 50 years ago” (Opinion & Analysis, January 6th) rightly describes the extensive changes in legislation, social policy and cultural attitudes that have improved women’s lives over the past 50 years.
Ms O’Connor correctly describes society’s cold and oppressive practices towards single women who became pregnant before 1973. However, readers may be interested to know that, under Labour leadership, the Unmarried Mother’s Allowance was introduced in 1973, the same year referenced by Ms O’Connor, 50 years ago. The allowance was small, and did not change the situation overnight. It did, however, contribute, along with other factors, to the decline in the percentage of children, born to single mothers, who were adopted, from 71 per cent in 1971, to 37 per cent in 1980 and to 9 per cent in 1990.
The Social History (Section 5) of the Mother and Baby Home Commission’s report provides very interesting insights, decade by decade, into the social changes in Ireland impacting on single mothers. In particular, chapter 12 outlines the forces for change from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. It is essential reading to understand not only the complexities of the past but also their evolution over time. – Yours, etc,
MICHELE CLARKE,
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Dublin 6W.