Notions of diaspora are central to contemporary debates about 'race', ethnicity, identity and nationalism. Yet the Irish diaspora, one of the oldest and largest, is often excluded on the grounds of 'whiteness'. Outsiders Inside explores the themes of displacement and the meanings of home for these women and their descendants. Juxtaposing the visibility of Irish women in the United States with their marginalization in Britain, Bronwen Walter challenges linear notions of migration and assimilation by demonstrating that two forms of identification can be held simultaneously. In an age...

There are over one million Irish women currently living in Britain, a greater number than from any other ex-colonial origin, yet they still represent the hidden part of an almost invisible ethnic group. What is the impact of the intrinsic gendering of notions of Irishness from outsiders? What implications does this have for second generation Irish women? The book explores the intersections between gender, racism and ethnicity. Its focus on place facilitates an examination of the specific aspects of the colonial experience by counterpoising the very different outcomes of Irish women's...