{"id":1123,"date":"2020-03-08T10:23:06","date_gmt":"2020-03-08T08:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marxistworkersparty.org.za\/?p=1123"},"modified":"2020-03-29T15:37:22","modified_gmt":"2020-03-29T13:37:22","slug":"international-womens-day-and-the-struggle-against-oppression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/?p=1123","title":{"rendered":"International Women’s Day and the Struggle Against Oppression"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Clare Doyle, CWI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women’s oppression is not new. It is as old as history and the division of\nsociety into classes. It takes many forms and so does the fight against it. It\nis significant that women who feel the urgent need for change have been to the\nfore in all the recent uprisings against dictatorial rule and for genuine\ndemocracy – be they in Algeria, Hong Kong, Chile or Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For socialists, women’s fight for justice and emancipation cannot be\nseparated from the struggle to eliminate all forms of class oppression and war.\nIt means fighting against the remnants of feudal domination in some countries\nand the universal exploitation of human labour for private profit under\ncapitalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Origins<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The origin of a special day to celebrate and strengthen the struggles of\nworking women internationally goes back to the days of heroic strikes and\ndemonstrations by women garment workers in New York in the late 19th<\/sup>\ncentury. They demanded an end to horrific working conditions, poverty pay and\nchild labour. In spite of police attacks, they heroically continued their\nstruggle and organised trade unions. As Socialist Party Scotland relates in its\nspecial paper: “Women took to the streets of New York on March 8th 1908,\ndemanding better pay, shorter hours and the right to vote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was in 1910 that an international socialist conference in\nCopenhagen, attended by over 100 women from 17 countries, unanimously passed a\nmotion that established International Women\u2019s Day as an annual event. Indeed,\nthe mighty Russian Revolution in February 1917 was ignited by a strike and\ndemonstrations of tens of thousands of women textile workers in Petrograd\ncelebrating International Women\u2019s Day and demanding \u2018Bread and Peace\u2019 and \u2018Down\nwith the Tsar!\u2019”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the victorious overthrow of capitalism on October 25th of the same\nyear, decrees were passed by the Congress of Soviets promising to transform the lives of\nworking women. Equal pay for equal work was established, civil marriage and\ndivorce, free abortion on demand. (They also decreed an end to the suppression\nof homosexuality). The door was opened onto a new life for working women and,\nas a poster of the time described it: “An end to kitchen slavery”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As workers’ democracy in the Soviet Union faded with the rise of Stalin and\nthe isolation of the revolution, the door slammed shut on women’s liberation from\ndomestic slavery. Double and even treble oppression of women was renewed, even\nencouraged. In modern day Russia, President Putin has recently even annulled\nlaws protecting women from domestic abuse. On 8 March he will utter platitudes\nabout how much women deserve the traditional gifts of flowers and chocolates\nand go back to business as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neo-colonial World<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is no accident that there is more of a tradition of celebrating\nInternational Working Women’s Day in Asia and in Latin America. It was seen as\nan important day in the calendar of workers’ struggles against colonialism and\noppression. But even across the globe, it has lost some of its meaning and is\nnot tightly linked with the struggle of all workers against the system and for\na socialist society. It has become non-political and commercialised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It used to be traditional on the 8th March to honour the memory of the\ngreat socialist fighters of the past, prominent amongst them Eleanor Marx, Rosa\nLuxembourg and Klara Zetkin. In Africa and Asia great pioneer fighters for\noppressed women’s rights are also neglected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early 1920s Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in Nigeria founded a number of\norganisations and mobilised local market women for ‘picnics’ and festivals,\ncoordinating resistance, not only against British colonialism but also against\nlocal traditional figureheads who enforced their rule and oppression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Tanganyika in the 1950s, Bibi Titi Mohammad was a courageous leader of\nwomen in the fight against colonial rule. She adopted the methods of the\nBolshevik women in Central Asia, using women’s cultural and economic networks\nto exchange information, organise rallies, sell party membership cards and\nraise funds for TANU’s fight for freedom. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Pakistan, another country with proud traditions of struggle, supporters\nof the CWI have always celebrated the 8th<\/sup> March, often with\ncolourful and lively demonstrations. This year, with the hope of attracting\nyoung women to the struggle for socialism, they are holding a series of special\nseminars on the significance of International Women\u2019s Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of thousands of women have been at the core of the mass movement\nin India against the hated Civic Amendment Act since the end of last year – not\nbudging even when faced with thuggery and violence from the police and\nreactionary goons. But the most recent events in Delhi have been followed by\nthe breaking up of protests country-wide and leave little or no chance this 8\nMarch of celebrating women’s proud fighting traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The political atmosphere in Sri Lanka also makes any sizeable public\ncelebrations for IWD impossible. But, as members of the United Socialist Party\nhave pointed out, there is no lack of reasons to fight against the\nsuper-exploitation of women’s labour – in the tea plantations, in the garment factories\nof the Free Trade Zones and abroad as slave labour in the houses of rich Middle\nEastern families. Women’s labour brings in the bulk of the country’s export\nearnings and yet they have less than a couple of dollars a day to survive on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Not one less\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Latin America, March the\n8th is seen as the day to commemorate all those women who have lost their lives\nat the hands of partners as well as the state. In Chile, there have been\nhorrific murders of women activists like Daniela Carrasco and Macarena Vald\u00e9s. But the class fighters of Socialismo\nRevolucionario (CWI in Chile) report that some feminist groups are raising the\nidea that demonstrations on International Women\u2019s Day should not include men.\nThis illustrates the danger of identity politics \u2013 dividing women fighters from\ntheir comrades-in-arms in recent battles to oust the Pinera regime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Argentina, reflecting the horrors of past dictatorships, women have\nplayed a big role in opposing the military. When they hold protests under the\naegis of ‘Ni una menos\u2019 (Not one less) they are thinking not only of the\ninaction of the authorities in tackling murders of women in the home but also\nof the numerous victims of army and police violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Non Una di Meno\u2019 web-site speaks of plans in Italy for demonstrations\non 8th of March (a Sunday) and strike action on Monday, 9th March. But the\nauthorities have told them that holding demonstrations on the street is\nprohibited because of the Coronavirus. They say they will not be cowed just as\nworkers in France do as their strike struggles continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Women’s Fight in Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gauche revolutionnaire, the CWI’s French section, is fully involved in that\nmass movement against pension ‘reform’. In their paper – Egalite – they explain\njust why women are angry and fully involved in the protests. Among other\nattacks, Macron’s scheme would penalise women for breaks in their career to\nhave children. Women are also widely involved in the Gilets Jaunes movement\nthat have continued for more than a year – camped out at round-abouts and\nmarching on the regular Saturday demonstrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Germany and in Austria a number of strike struggles involving women have\ntaken place recently, in health and social services. One in Austria is a\nstruggle for a 35 hour week. \u201cIt includes\ncare workers of all kinds\u201d writes a CWI member in Vienna, \u201cThose looking after\nkids in schools, those in elderly care, care for the disabled, social workers\nworking with asylum seekers. It is a predominantly female work force but men\nand women strike together, of course\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Scotland, in Birmingham, in Belfast and elsewhere – successful struggles\non equal pay in public services have been conducted. Everywhere, socialist\nwomen are involved in campaigns for housing and against austerity budgets at a\nlocal level.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Socialist Party members in England and Wales have been involved in\ncampaigns against discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender and\nidentity where the issues have been taken up sensitively and energetically.\nThey have begun to earn support in trade unions on these issues, as the\ncampaign on making domestic violence a trade union issue was able to do in the\n1990s. They have been energetically involved in a campaign called ‘Women’s\nLives Matter’ which fights domestic violence and abuse, linking this to a struggle\nagainst cuts in public services and welfare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In South Africa, CWI comrades have been at the forefront of a public sector workers\u2019 movement\ndemanding permanent jobs and a R12,500 minimum wage, where the majority of the\nworkforce are women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CWI members across the globe combine the struggles against women’s\noppression with the fight of all workers against austerity and cut-backs and in\nmass campaigns for the building of new homes and new schools to relieve the\ndaily pressures on their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has long been\nclear that women as heads of government in any part of the capitalist world are\nno more likely than men to push through policies to alleviate the special\nproblems of women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Finland all the main parties are led\nby women but, as a CWI member in Helsinki writes: \u201cNone of them, in government or in opposition, has ever taken a strong\nstand against neoliberal economic policies that so damage the lives of working\nclass women\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Latin America,\npro-capitalist heads of state like Dilma Roussef in Brazil, Cristina de\nKirchner in Argentina and now Jeanine Anez in Bolivia have all presided over\nthe implementation of viciously anti-working class policies which make women\u2019s\nlife harder rather than easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Trump <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the US, of course, a notorious mysoginist is still in power. But if\nDonald Trump is defeated in the presidential election this year, it will be\ncelebrated by many millions world-wide. Victory for the Democrats may,\npossibly, safeguard the country’s abortion rights and see an improvement in\nhealth insurance and provision. But the party remains committed to carrying out\nthe dictates of Wall Street and big capital and a Democrat president will\nfrustrate the aspirations of the men and women who vote for change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the prospect of a deeper economic crisis unfolding in the course of\nthis year in the US, in Europe and internationally, the massive increases in\npublic spending on welfare, health services and education that are needed\nworld-wide are not going to happen on the basis of capitalism. All this means\nthat socialists who are concerned for the welfare of women across the globe\nhave to build the forces of socialist change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every reform and step forward in terms of women\u2019s and LGBTQ rights without\ndiscrimination is welcome. But where there is capitalism there is exploitation,\noppression and suffering. Our capitalist world sees literally millions of men,\nwomen and children fleeing from their homes – most recently crowding at the\nborder between Syria and Turkey and being cruelly turned away by Greek\nauthorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women and children constitute the vast majority of refugees and are so\noften the victims of rape by soldiers and police. They are fleeing poverty and\nwar. One person every two seconds is forcibly displaced by conflict or\npersecution. 70 million are forced out of their homes in a year, half of them\nbecoming refugees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Weinstein in Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ‘MeToo’ phenomenon has exposed just how widespread sexual harassment\nand rape are at every level in society – within the home and in the workplace.\nFor many women who have literally suffered in silence, it has given them\nconfidence to seek justice. But sexual harassment and abuse are endemic in\nclass society, based on inequalities of power and wealth. Only a joint struggle\nof women and men together will eliminate it, along with the elimination of\ncapitalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The imprisonment at last of a rich and predatory film producer, Harvey\nWeinstein, has been welcomed as setting a precedent and proved that even the\nrich and powerful can be brought down. However, globally only a tiny percentage\nof rapists are prosecuted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrast this with the suffering of the millions of women who toil in the\ntextile factories and the fields around the world, forced to accept daily\nharassment and actual rape at work to retain their meagre income. There have\nbeen strike struggles in a number of countries against sexual harassment at\nwork – hitting back where it hurts…in the pockets of the bosses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year,\nmineworkers at the LanXess chrome mine in Rustenburg \u2013 members of the NUMSA\nunion – organised a strike and occupation in protest against the\nsexual harassment of a woman mineworker. Her manager was demanding sexual\nfavours in exchange for a permanent job. This was a shining example of how\nworkers can take up the issue of harassment and violence against women. It\nshowed that workers have the power to force the removal of perpetrators from\nthe workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McDonalds workers in the US went on strike across ten\ncities of America on the same day. Google workers around the globe – from Tokyo\nto California via Haifa, Zurich and London – walked out on November 1st<\/sup>\n2018 in protest at sexual harassment, gender inequality and racism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fighting harassment as an individual is next to\nimpossible for working women; organising in a union and taking collective\naction is key. Trade union campaigns are also vital for protecting the rights\nof gay, bisexual and trans people in the workplace and in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equal pay for work of equal value is a basic demand for all trade unionists\nand socialist fighters, not just for women workers. Through strikes and\ncampaigns, big advances have been made and, in many countries, the wage gap has\nbeen considerably narrowed. There have also been big improvements in maternity\nand paternity rights for those who need them. But in some countries of Africa\nand Asia, women who toil ceaselessly in the fields, the factories and their\nhomes can expect little or no extra help before, during or after giving birth\nto their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A World to Win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right of women to freely choose when and whether to have children is\ndenied them in every part of the world. It means fighting not only for abortion\nrights, as recently in Poland, Ireland and Argentina, but also for free\nfertility treatment when and if necessary. It also depends on having the means\navailable to house, feed, clothe and educate children \u2013 literally from the\ncradle to the grave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achieving all these advances demands resources far in excess of what a\ndiseased capitalist system can provide. It demands a struggle for socialism.\nThe fight to end the division of society into classes \u2013 oppressed and\noppressors – can never be seen as something separate and apart from the\nstruggle to end women’s oppression. It cannot be cross-class and it must be of\nworking women and men together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you agree with most of the ideas set out here, send us your comments and\nquestions and join us in the struggle for socialism world-wide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Women’s oppression is not new. It is as old as history and the division of society into classes. It takes many forms and so does the fight against it. It is significant that women who feel the urgent need for change have been to the fore in all the recent uprisings against dictatorial rule and for genuine democracy – be they in Algeria, Hong Kong, Chile or Lebanon.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-1123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-womens-struggle","tag-womens-struggle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"acf":[],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1123"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1183,"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123\/revisions\/1183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marxistworkersparty.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}