A Woman’s Part
The Community Arts Forum,
Belfast, has developed a new
programme called a Woman’s Part.
Fifteen students, from a range of
backgrounds and two tutors, Ruth
Carr and Orla McKeagney, will use a
combination of creative writing and
drama to explore the role women
played in the Northern Irish Conflict.
This woman-centred process
will recognise the many varying
roles played by women in the
local conflict and in other global
conflicts, reassessing the models,
which have been used to describe
and explain women’s experiences.
Women in Northern Ireland were
often portrayed as more moderate
than men in their views and as
possible or actual peacemakers,
though research from conflict zones
across the world suggest that these
portrayals of women are both over-
simplified and over-generalised.
This programme will analyse and
critically challenge these portrayals
and perceptions and redefine the
role women played in the conflict
here and is likely to produce a
drama and/or a piece of writing,
which will reflect participants’
experiences.