The realities faced by women in Ireland, especially those born here, reveal difficult questions about how inequality is lived and who is most affected by it. Women born here, who have lived in Ireland for generations and have full constitutional rights, still struggle with poverty, housing insecurity, unequal job access, and a persistent gender pay gap. If women with strong legal protections and a recognized place in the State, are not well supported, what does that mean for migrant women? What, then, are migrant women left with when they face additional barriers such as race, immigration status, and insecurity? These questions reveal the reality that migrant women are often seen as a separate group, expected to contribute, adapt, and stay strong, yet denied the same sense of belonging, security, and protection. In a system where inequality exists, it is hard not to wonder whether migrant women are ever really meant to feel at home. Every year, International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women’s achievements and reflect on progress toward gender equality. But these talks and celebrations often leave out migrant women. While equality is a common goal, migrant women’s lives show that justice is not felt equally and that structural barriers still affect their daily lives. Ireland’s migrant population has grown significantly over the past twenty years, with women making up a large part of it. In 2020, nearly 89,000 non-EU migrant women lived in Ireland, about 3.5% of the female population. These women are active members of Irish society. They work, care for others, study, raise families, and contribute in many ways. Still, their efforts often go unnoticed, and the challenges they face rarely receive sufficient attention.
Work, Housing, and “double disadvantage”
Migrant women play an important role in Ireland’s labour market, especially in sectors that keep daily life going. They are overrepresented in healthcare, care work, cleaning, hospitality, and domestic work, jobs that are essential but often undervalued and underpaid. Research shows that many migrant women are well educated and bring valuable skills and experience. But their qualifications are often not recognized, leading to lower-status jobs and economic exploitation. The Economic and Social Research Institute states that migrant women in Ireland face a “double disadvantage” in entering the labour market. They have higher unemployment and lower participation rates compared not only to Irish women but also to migrant men. This disadvantage comes from overlapping factors like gender, race, migration status, language barriers, and strict job rules tied to visas. For non-EU women especially, immigration controls can greatly limit job options and increase insecurity. The housing crisis in Ireland has deepened inequalities across society, but migrant women have been hit especially hard. They are more likely than Irish women to live in overcrowded homes, which increases stress, insecurity, and vulnerability. Housing instability affects women with children and those who depend on partners, employers, or institutional housing the most. Women living in Direct Provision face extra challenges such as long stays, little control over their lives, and serious mental health issues. For many migrant women, especially those who fled conflict or violence, arriving in Ireland does not necessarily mean safety but instead brings a new kind of trauma. Sex-for-rent arrangements are a form of sexual exploitation rooted in housing insecurity and gendered power imbalances, with migrant women facing heightened vulnerability because of precarious residency status and limited access to secure housing. Furthermore, migrant women in Ireland face a higher risk of gender-based and domestic violence, but they often encounter major barriers when seeking help. Fear of immigration consequences, dependence on partners for residency or family reunification, lack of information, and language difficulties prevent many women from reporting abuse or leaving violent situations. While Ireland has made important progress on reproductive rights, migrant women do not always benefit equally. Research shows that women from minority ethnic groups have been consistently overrepresented in perinatal mortality data in Ireland, highlighting major inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes. Pregnant migrant women often feel isolated and unsure, especially when visa rules limit their access to services. This highlights the gap between having legal rights and actually being able to use them.
Equality that ignores migration status and race, risks being more symbolic than real.
Recognition, justice, and the future we claim to want
Ireland’s Constitution once described women’s role as being “within the home,” linking the “common good” to women’s domestic work. Although these ideas have been challenged, they still affect how society and policies view gender. For migrant women, this contradiction is clear. They are expected to work because of visa and survival needs, yet judged by traditional gender roles that undervalue both paid and unpaid work. This tension reflects how migrant women are positioned differently from both Irish women and migrant men, navigating patriarchy and immigration control at the same time. What is most troubling is not just that inequality continues, but that it has become normal. Migrant women are often expected to endure more, with fewer rights, less security, and limited ways to get justice, while being told that integration is their personal responsibility rather than a shared one. In this situation, belonging feels conditional, and equality seems far away, if not impossible. This is not meant to diminish the struggles of Irish-born women, but to highlight a deeper structural truth: when inequality is embedded at the centre, those at the margins bear its sharpest edges. Against this backdrop, the recent rise in racist incidents and hostile public discourse in Ireland has hit migrant women especially hard. For many migrant women, racism is not an abstract political debate but a daily emotional and psychological burden that affects how safe they feel in public spaces, workplaces, and even their own communities. International Women’s Day invites celebration of women’s achievements and renewed commitment to equality and justice. But these moments also call for honesty. The question is not only how far women have come, but which women are still being left behind, and at what cost. For migrant women in Ireland, gender inequality is not isolated. It overlaps with migration status, race, class, and structural exclusion, creating a reality often missing from mainstream discussions of women’s rights and empowerment. Migrant women are part of Ireland’s present and future and dignity must be central to any real vision of equality and justice.
Fahmeda Naheed is a community activist, radio presenter, writer, and poet working in the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging sector. Her work is rooted in community engagement, advocacy, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. She has received wide recognition for her impact, including the Cork Civic Award 2024, the Community and Volunteer Award 2023, and the Social Impact Winner Award 2025.
