Subverting 'For Men and Ulster'?: de-essentialising women's agency and identity in post-agreement loyalism

However, there is no consensus over whether this means that women have no agency or whether it is invisible with many types of agency within the plurality of the loyalist identity. This research looks to examine how women utilize their stereotypical and non-stereotypical roles with these identities.

The research also looks to investigate the correlation between dominant and important patriarchal structures that co-exist between Loyalism and Unionism. There is also a focus within the research on the non-violent or what this thesis terms agonistic, elements of the loyalist identity rather than the violent, antagonistic elements, which has previously had most of the academic study. Finally, the research looks to formulate initiatives and recommendations that address the imbalances that exist within wider loyalist politics and culture both internally and externally.