The Care Referendum was held on International Women’s Day in 2024.
The Irish Constitution (Article 41, 1937) recognises the Family as the fundamental unit of society and acknowledges care within the home as essential to the common good.
In 2024, the proposed Care Referendum — intended to introduce more gender-neutral language — was rejected by 73.93% of voters, the largest “No” vote in Irish referendum history.
This outcome suggests something deeper than resistance to change.
It reflects a truth many people still recognise:
Care sustains society.
But recognition alone is not enough.
For decades, care has been acknowledged in principle — while families continue to experience economic pressure, unequal expectations, and limited practical support.
If care is essential to the welfare of society, then it must be supported in real, everyday ways — not only recognised in language.
At Affective Equality, our work focuses on what recognition should lead to:
- Economic security for primary caregivers
• Shared responsibility across genders
• Policies that properly support care
• Representation of caregivers in decision-making
The future of care in Ireland is not about returning to old roles.
It is about building a future that honours the value of care while addressing the inequalities that remain.
Care sustains us.
Now it must be supported accordingly.
On International Women’s Day, we pause to recognise the care that holds families, communities, and society together — and the people who carry it, often quietly, every day.