Irish Republican politics: A film and gender analysis of the 1980's hunger strikes

The history of Ireland is complex and confusing. Moreover, it is a vivid example of how colonization can still affect a population. Tension exists today within Northern Ireland, based on polarized ideology of either independence from British rule, or remaining loyal to British rule. These colonization tensions culminated into active conflict, known as the Troubles, a modern example of civil war within Western society. By using two films about the 1980 hunger strikes (Hunger and I, Dolours) this paper analyzes the differences of gender roles in political resistance. Bobby Sands and Dolours Price are the focus of this argument, comparing each story will help ground the historical exploration of hunger strikes and gender issues. Through these films, we can understand the current working mechanisms of patriarchal expectations and more broadly the mechanisms of historiography. We explore how history is written, and what stories are indicative of the cultural norms and values that exist today. Essay submission was sponsored by RIO (Research and Innovation Office), and was presented at the Coquitlam campus on April 8, 2025, for Student Research Days 2025.