'Women wait to be asked' Labour's Ivana Bacik tells INSPIRE she only went into politics when asked by a man

A familiar face in Dáil Éireann, Labour leader Ivana Bacik is one of the few women who have helped shape our nation for the last number of decades.

From her days in the Trinity Students’ Union going right back to being taught by nuns in her primary school Ivana tells this week’s INSPIRE, in association with Her Money, all about the little things that made her into something of a shapeshifter.

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However, Ivana tells host Sarah-Jayne Tobin that her career was sort of on hold, until she felt validated by a man… Something she now admits should never have been the case, and is something she is passionate about changing for the good of Irish women- and men.

Pic: Supplied

Deputy Bacik acted as chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality that advised on the forthcoming referendum on Article 41 of the consitiution, which refers to women having duties in the home without making reference to men or fathers.

She told INSPIRE that women need to see their potential fully, without needing the permission to dream big. ‘Women typically need much more encouragement,’ she said. ‘I know I had to wait. I waited to be asked. I didn’t run for politics until a man asked me to but it was such a different time.’

This is surprising to hear, as Ivana opened up about her younger years, and how the sense of inequality was always at the forefront of her mind.

‘I remember the girls had to sit in and sew while the boys went out in the yard to play football. And I just remember feeling that sense of injustice. I must have been nine or 10’ she explained.

Labour Party politician Ivana Bacik election poster seen in Dublin’s city center. A by-election will be held in the Dáil Éireann constituency of Dublin Bay South in Ireland. Pic: Getty Images

Ivana said that watching strong female role models as she grew up, helped her to keenly identify inequalities. She speaks with pride about her mother, who used to hand out condoms in Cork when contraception was illegal in Ireland.

As the daughter of an immigrant here, she was also aware of the injustices her family was subjected to. For this reason, Ivana found herself almost compelled to help others, and this brought her to the attention of her political mentors- as well as the European Courts of Justice when she gave out abortion information to women in crisis pregnancy as a student in Trinity.

Ivana’s story is one of determination and staying the pace, despite strong opposition. She wholeheartedly believes in her convictions, something that is essential to stay the pace and forge a successful political career, staying true to your core principles.

Speaking to INSPIRE, Ivana opens up about how exactly she went from Trinity law professor to political leader. She speaks with passion and conviction about every incident in her life that has shaped her into the person she is today.

‘If you feel passionately about issues, it’s really important to step up and step out there.’ she said.

A new episode of INSPIRE is out every Thursday on all podcast platforms.

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