Occasion of Sin

Occasion of Sin

Diarmaid Ferriter was born in Dublin 1972, and is one of Ireland’s prominent historians. Ferriter is a ‘professor of modern Irish history at University City Dublin’[1] and a “broadcaster with RTÉ radio and television.”[2] The book ‘Occasions of Sin’ covers a range of subjects including: abortion, pregnancy, celibacy, contraception, censorship, infanticide, homosexuality, prostitution, marriage, popular culture, and social life. He also explores various ‘hidden Ireland’s’[3] associated with sexual abuse, all in the context of a ‘conservative official morality’[4] backed by the Catholic Church and by legislation during mid 19th and 20th century Ireland.

Ferriter consults numerous sources for the publication of this book for instance the National Archives of Ireland, Bureau of Military History, Film Censor’s Office, the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, Department of Local Government and Public Health, state books at Central Criminal Court, Public Record Office in Northern Ireland, official publications, newspapers including; the Examiner, Guardian and Irish Times in addition to periodicals, magazines and academic journals. References have also been made from books, academic and newspaper articles, chapters and theses all of which have been compiled by other historians. It is evident that the book is well sourced and researched making it a reliable informative source for the reader. All the relevant chapters are easily accessible and apparent in the context of the book.

The book explores changes of sexuality throughout history, a detailed analysis of sexual relationships, local formations and discontinuities. Sex is a pertinent issue that is explored in Ferriter’s book focuses and highlights the complexity in interpreting different definitions of sex and the ability to understand sex. Sexual intercourse involves two individuals having sex with no boundaries or restrictions, whether it is forced or optional. To have a sexual secure relationship with two individuals, can be a symbol of a love that is compassionate, patient and kind. This book discusses the history of sex in Ireland; it deals with the way in which society did discriminate against other sexualities (gays, lesbians, single mothers and co-habiting outside marriage). The government forced legislation against these categories of people, thus were put into jail for two years. Ferriter explains on further and uses Oscar Wilde as a pertinent example of this is. His punishment was a jail sentence for up two years of hard labour. This was prohibited by the Church of Ireland and more so it was viewed as social suicide to become pregnant outside wedlock in the late 1900s and early twentieth century. The author uses reliable sources to explain and support his argument with examples of court cases or news articles published at that period. He includes more cases which have not proceeded in court due to the fear of the stigma that come with such cases or to be labelled as a “filthy whore”[5] or prostitution.

This book was undoubtedly a compelling read and the style of language set out by the author was easy to understand for his intended audience. It is written in a very coherent manner. He is explicit with the ordeal treatment of the Magdalene Asylum (laundries) and laborers of the workhouse which has come into light by a remorse Irish government. People working in the Laundries were suppressed at that time however; the church and state portrayed a different image of society at the time, depicting a harmonious image for life in Ireland. Marriage was morally right and therefore the only acceptable option for women. This period experienced a policing of pleasure on behalf of the government in fear of catastrophic spread of infection of sexually transmitted diseases thus were forced ‘The Contagious Diseases Act’[6] which affected “women more than ever as men did not face the same opprobrium as women were deemed to be already so degraded that further indignities did not matter.”[7] The author discusses politicians and their involvement in affairs with women from workhouse. However, other politicians have been involved in a nobler love affair, a romance that was concealed from public eye.

The book depicts a history of child abuse, moral corruption, immorality, tampering white slavery, juvenile prostitutions and infanticide in the years 1845-1922. Victims were made to be the instigator of such attacks. Some women also hold that view. The Church hold the view that women wearing short attire or make-up can be portrayed as more susceptible to rape and attack, however this does not take into consideration the rape of innocent children as young as five years young by the attackers own aggression. In most cases the offender was given light sentences hence re-offending was frequent after release. Female victims of rape have often been disowned by their family thus turning to prostitution to earn a living. Ultimately the reader can visualize an Ireland of ‘Sin’ as ‘the filthy whore’ live on the street, more reluctant to an unwanted pregnancy that adds further hardship on women. In most cases men are not willing to accept the consequences of their actions. Hence, the illegitimate child signifies sinful parents. The author contrasts this with Britain whereby the enforcement of law alleviated the burden carried by single mothers enabling the mother of the illegitimate child to get an affiliation order from the court to support the child until the age of sixteen. Women suffered from hardship after incidents of rape and working was a difficult task. They often hide their pregnancy from everyone and in some cases resulting in infanticide.

The author writes about how homosexuality was illegal in Ireland. He explains this by referring to Oscar Wilde as an example. He received a two years imprisonment after being convicted guilty. Lesbian relationships were also outlawed in Ireland. According to Maria Luddy “the redemption of chaste reproductive sexuality is prescribed as the antidote to moral bankruptcy and women must return to the home to the domestic sphere.”[8] She puts forward the idea that a woman’s place is at the home. Restricted individuals deemed films and literature to be the cause of igniting sexual activity. They also restricted people from public dance in the belief that it provoked rape and outlawed contraception. The Church felt the responsibility to restore an orderly society. In the 1950s Ireland had the highest rate of postponed marriages and permanent celibacy of any western state that kept such records. As result men married at a later stage as most farmers waited to inherit their share of farm land before raising a family of their own.

In 1922-1940 Dr Gilmartin the Archbishop of Tuam refers to the immodest attire of women as “the future of the country is bound up with the dignity and purity of the women of Ireland.”[9] Living conditions contributed a greatly to the amount of sexual activity and abuse endured by many women. Women had to abort their unborn in unregistered clinics despite the dangerous of these procedures. One such example is Mamie Cadden who was jailed for performing abortion with a misfortune of causing the deaths of two women. The Church established that Ireland was a Catholic country for Catholic people with a Eucharistic congress of 20 000 priests enabling feelings of exclusion for non-Catholic members of the public.

The author continues to explain how at this point the different Ireland’s prevented the encouragement of reading and learning about sex and facts of life, enabling it to be difficult on the Irish people to understand and to deal with their emotions in an appropriate manner. The majority of gay/ lesbians were secretive about their sexuality and felt oppressed in society. The Church and state worked in collaboration to restrict and control people by placing censorship on film. They introduced a film censorship which allowed what could be viewed and what was forbidden. Public concerns on topics such as contraception, single parent, illegitimacy, divorce, homosexuality, prostitution, venereal diseases or usury were not topical for discussion. They adapted to silence and refused the press cover on detailed abuse crimes. People still valued their religion and had faith in an almighty God. They believed in the Church and that God still may punish them for sin.

Ferriter’s book is a very useful source in terms of learning about the sexual activity carried out throughout the history of Ireland. It is useful to historians when examining gender roles in society and the oppression of women. It was once told that Ireland was a pure Catholic country however the author proves otherwise. He gives an open, honest, account of the immoral conduct of life in Ireland over the late 19th and early 20th century providing the reader with a pivotal insight of a true Ireland. It has made mistakes yet a redeeming Ireland is en route of heeling the past.

Bibliography:

Craig, Patricia, Occasions of Sin (2009), Available at: The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/occasions-of-sin-by-diarmaid-ferriter-1796026.html (accessed 27 February 2013).

Dwan, David, An examination of Irish society is finely judged (2009), Available at: The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/12/occasions-of-sin-review (accessed 27 February 2013).

Ferriter, Diarmaid, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009).

Fuller, Roslyn, Occasion of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland (2013), Available at: Irish Writers Exchange, http://www.irishwritersexchange.com/files/OccasionsOfSin_Review.pdf (accessed 27 February 2013).

University College Dublin, Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland (2013), Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013).
-----------------------
[1]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland. Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013).

[2]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland. Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013).

[3]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland. Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013).

[4]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland. Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013).

[5] Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 32-50.

[6]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 50-109.
[7]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 335-50.

[8]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 70-90.

[9]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009). P. 100.

References: Bibliography: Craig, Patricia, Occasions of Sin (2009), Available at: The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/occasions-of-sin-by-diarmaid-ferriter-1796026.html (accessed 27 February 2013). Dwan, David, An examination of Irish society is finely judged (2009), Available at: The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/12/occasions-of-sin-review (accessed 27 February 2013). Ferriter, Diarmaid, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009). Fuller, Roslyn, Occasion of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland (2013), Available at: Irish Writers Exchange, http://www.irishwritersexchange.com/files/OccasionsOfSin_Review.pdf (accessed 27 February 2013). University College Dublin, Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland (2013), Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013). ----------------------- [1]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland [2]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland. Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013). [3]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland. Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013). [4]University College Dublin (2013) Scholarcast 14: Occasions of Sin: Sex and Society in Modern Ireland. Available at: http://www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast14.html (accessed 27 February 2013). [5] Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 32-50. [6]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 50-109. [7]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 335-50. [8]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009) pp 70-90. [9]Diarmaid, Ferriter, Occasions of sin: sex and society in modern Ireland (Dublin, 2009). P. 100.