Periodicals

Selected from the Linen Hall Library’s extensive Periodical Collection for the extraORDINARYwomen project, this online archive encompasses periodicals and published material produced by a diverse range of women-centred groups, charities, and movements dating from the 1970s – 2010s. In addition to periodicals, the selection features reports, bulletins, newsletters and zines printed and distributed by organisations, women’s centres, and political parties including the Women's Resource and Development Agency (WRDA), the Women’s Information Group, Women’s Education Project, Training for Women Network (TWN), Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform, Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA), Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Belfast Women’s Aid, Cara-Friend, the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition, and more.

Cumulatively, the material charts some of the key social, cultural, economic, and political changes and challenges faced by women in Northern Ireland since the 1970s and documents responses to, and experiences of, such change and challenges. Amongst the collection are articles, essays and reports that reflect and illustrate the battles, debates, campaigns, and activism relating to issues on equal rights, reproductive rights, strip-searching, education, welfare, sexual and domestic violence, and gender discrimination. Other publications highlight women’s involvement in, and perspectives on societal concerns affecting the wider community more generally, including peacebuilding, poverty, racism, civil rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.