Mardy Sanders Ireland is an American author and psychoanalyst, who practices in Raleigh, North Carolina. Previously, she practiced and taught in Berkeley, California.
Born in North Carolina, Ireland is a founding member of the Lacanian School of Psychoanalysis, and was a member of the faculty at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California.
In 1993, Ireland wrote "Reconceiving Women: Separating Motherhood From Female Identity", which focuses on three types of women: mothers, child-less, and child-free. Acknowledging the distinction child-free became critical as a legitimate choice for women. The work was the subsequent subject of a doctoral thesis. The New York Times reviewed this book. The "academic book" had struck a chord and found broad appeal.
In North Carolina, she became involved with and was interviewed about the Peaceful Schools Project regarding school bullying.