Maternal Situations: Sectarianism and Civility in a Divided City
McKnight, Martina and Lisa Smyth. 2013. The Sociological Review 61, no. 2: 304-320.
This article introduces the concept of “everyday peace”, small-scale individual level interactions and coping mechanisms that serve to bridge gaps in divided communities. The case study examined is that of maternal interactions in Northern Ireland where Protestant and Catholic mothers interact across sectarian divisions in integrated playgroups for children. Thus, this source highlights both the potential for reconciliation inherent in everyday peace as well as the prominent role played by actors who are traditionally excluded from community discussions of peace in Northern Ireland – namely, women and children.