Irish women and Irish migration - Patrick O'Sullivan

The Irish have emigrated in vast numbers for centuries. More than any other Europeans they have been obliged to transplant, maintain and develop a national culture in novel, indifferent or hostile surroundings. This series of six books is an account of their various experiences all over the world. It is a comprehensive synthesis - drawing on history, geography, social science, and studies of literature, music and the arts to provide a detailed picture of the experience of migration and assimiliation over the centuries to the present day. Thus the series represents a major contribution both to migration studies and to the history of Ireland and the many countries in which the Irish have settled.;This fourth volume of the series focuses on the the experiences of Irish women migrants, who often formed the majority of migrating groups. It covers both mass and individual migrations from the 16th to the 20th century. Strong stress is placed upon the economic decision-making of female-headed households, and persistent motives for migration, eg incest, throughout the period. Advanced and subtle methods have had to be devised and implemented in order to study this "hidden majority"; therfore, the book has much of particular interest to women's history groups and women's studies courses.