The Irish Times published an article on 6 August 2026, by Ellen Coyne, titled “New public information campaign warns of the terms “tradwife” and “manosphere.”
“Tradwife“ influencer/s and other online trends seen as pressuring women into “particular care roles” are to be challenged as part of a Government-funded awareness campaign.” Ms Coyne writes.
Judith Murphy, Retired Social Worker and The Countess Child Safeguarding Lead, responds as follows:
This article by Ellen Coyne represents the strand of feminism that pretends that motherhood is problematic, and that for women to be equal to men means they should live as if they were men.
The reality is that motherhood and the mother-baby-dyad exists. Human babies need their mothers and need to form an attachment with them. All children need to spend much time with their parents when they are young, where possible.
Tulsa cannot recruit enough foster carers – not because there is a lack of interest within the Irish population, rather it’s because one parent needs to be available at all times. This is no longer an option for most parents. Two incomes are necessary to provide for a family.
Mothers and fathers no longer have the choice of being a stay-at-home parent or going out to work. It would be preferable for the socio/emotional mental health of their children to have a parent available in the home.
This is not only true for children who have many challenges in their lives and who are separated from their families of origin. It is true for all children.
Newstalk on 20 February 2024 reported that the Amárach poll found that more than two-thirds of mothers (69%) with children under the age of 18 would prefer to stay at home with their children than go out to work if they could afford it.
The team at The Countess are all mothers and we understand the tug-of-love that happens when mothers return to work for the first time. We acknowledge that parents, working or not, love their children and want the very best for them.
But to force mothers and fathers out of the home in order to be able to afford to live, is cruel. There is a large cohort of mothers who have to return to work directly after maternity leave, although neither mother nor baby are ready for separation.
Motherhood is extremely important for society. Parents should have the option available for one parent to stay at home with their child, if that is what they choose to do.
The Constitution wisely supports mother’s right not to be forced to work away from the home because of economic necessity. This is not a catholic or a right-wing position. It is not even a conservative position. It is based on children’s needs and is one that acknowledges that women are different to men when it comes to their role in raising children.
To achieve real emancipation and equality for women this difference between men and women must be acknowledged and considered. It is not dangerous or wrong when women wish to stay home to care for their children; it is natural for them.
Babies today need what they always have needed. Society should be organised so that families can meet the basic needs of their children, instead of organising children’s care around the needs of an economic system.
Let’s put the children first.