Feminism, feeling and form in women's short stories from Ireland

Chapter One situates the selected writers within their historical and literary contexts, tracing the short story’s feminist genealogy across Ireland. Chapter Two explores representations of lesbianism, focusing on the stigma and silencing that frame same-sex relationships as transient “bubbles of joy” (Caldwell, 2016: 114).

Chapter Three analyses depictions of “unapologetic” abortions (Cullen and Korolczuk, 2019: 15), arguing that empathetic dialogue is vital to bridging divides between ostracised women and their communities while provoking reflection among readers. Chapter Four investigates portrayals of gendered violence, suggesting that testimony functions as a crucial mode of healing for individual victim-survivors. The final chapter turns to depictions of the female migrant, addressing issues of communication, isolation, and racism, and revealing how expectations of assimilation persist.