The marriage bar was a widespread rule requiring women to give up their jobs upon marriage. It is generally familiar to many as a peculiarity of Ireland’s past. However, the precise details and history of its operation are frequently misunderstood and incorrectly attributed. The bar applied culturally to most aspects of employment for many years and was not exclusive to the civil service, which was governed by legislation reinforcing the bar. After introducing the intricacies of this topic, this article takes a closer look at the cultural aspects of the bar across family, archival and oral history sources. In doing so, I frame the research as a deeply personal encounter with history. Combining oral history with manuscript sources and bookended by a personal history of the marriage bar, this article considers its impact across generations. The marriage bar is also discussed in terms of Irish culture, social class, and marital status. Finally, the adjustments and ongoing limitations experienced by Irish women in the labour market after the marriage bar was gradually eradicated are discussed. I argue that the marriage bar has had a profound socio-cultural impact on Irish society across generations; its effect has never been limited to married women. While the policy caused an incalculable loss of personal fulfilment and remuneration to generations of married women, it simultaneously stymied the promotion prospects of many single women.
Deirdre Foley (Wed,) studied this question.