You often hear about certain disturbing practices and institutions run by nuns but what where their motivations for being there in the first place? Simple piety? Escaping rural poverty? Being "sent to a nunnery" for being nonconformist? Not finding a husband at a "reasonable age"?
This is quite a good question and not something that I had considered before. There is a few reasons why women became nuns.
Up until the 1970’s (and later), the dominant role of women in Ireland was that of the wife or Mother. This is recognised and protected in the constitution. However, marriage levels actually declined great in the early-mid 20th century due to immigration, lack of work, urbanisation, etc. Events such as the Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival highlight the real struggle there was for men, mostly of farming background, to meet women, who had been groomed for motherhood. If you were a woman prepared for motherhood, but you could not find a man to marry, it made sense to become a nun. It also gave you respect in the community rather than any shame that might be associated with being a ‘spinster’ or single woman.
Additionally, women who could not have children (and therefore be shamed), or women who didn’t wish to marry could also find a comfortable home in religious life without any questions as to why they didn’t marry.
This brings us on to another point that as far as I know hasn’t really been studied. Homosexuality wasn’t legalised in Ireland until 1993. If you were a homosexual man or woman, joining religious life was a good way to avoid having to marry. I personally know both a former priest and former nun who left religious life (and Ireland) to be openly homosexual abroad.
Another thing that is often forgotten is that religious life could actually be exciting for some women, especially with missions. Being a nun allowed you the opportunity to travel with the Catholic Church to all sorts of exotic places around the world for free and with the sense that you were doing some good. It’s similar to NGO or volunteer holidays prevalent now.
Finally, you do also have sacrifice and religious calling, which in catholic Ireland was seen as incredibly respectful and a good thing to do. Catholicism is deeply rooted in Ireland, and many women would aspire to serve god in this role.
Source: Entering Religious Life, Claiming Subjectivity: Irish nuns, 1930s–1960s - Yvonne McKenna