international womens' day 2007
8 March is an important date in the calendar of the international working class movement.
To celebrate the struggles of women world-wide and to commemorate 90 years of the February revolution in Russia, started by the women workers of Petrograd, the CWI is carrying on its web-site a number of different articles written by women members of its groups and parties in different countries.
The first two are from Sweden. One deals with the way the new, right wing Swedish government is giving tax incentives for a return to the archaic and super-exploitative maid system and the need for a socialist campaign against it. The second deals with a Europe-wide report on violence against women. The statistics are gruesome and the fight to change the situation also demands a fight against capitalism and its values.
The second two articles deal with the horrors of violence against women - in Brazil and in India. They show that politicians talk hypocritically about the problems of women. Under the conditions of capitalism, totally inadequate provision is made to protect the millions of women who suffer violent attacks against them. As well as violent oppression, harassment, sexism and discrimination – at work and in society – are endemic in class society.
The article from Pakistan shows how new laws put a very thin gloss on the age-old feudal habits and right-wing political Islam which still determine the brutal treatment of women in that country. The next one from Australia, shows how international solidarity on 8 March arose from working women’s struggles in America. It shows how important the struggle for equal pay still is. In spite of legislation, bosses get away with paying low wages to women and young workers and this in turn undermines the wages of others.
The position of women in Nigeria is graphically spelt out in the next article and, in one from a Kurdish asylum-seeker in Cyprus, the problems of women in minority communities comes across clearly. The final articles in this series are from Britain on low pay, maternity services and trade union struggles.
These articles show the vital importance of women struggling to change their conditions but also of struggling to change society along socialist lines. It is as essential for working and poor women to fight against the capitalist system as it is for the struggle for socialism to fully involve working and poor women. In fact there will be no victory without them.
Forward to the emancipation of the working class and of women from the double oppression of class society! Socialism opens a vista of a new society where equal opportunities exist for all - regardless of sex, race or nationality - to develop their talents and abilities to the full. Only through public ownership, democratic planning and mutual cooperation – across all national and social boundaries - can a new, socialist world be built.
Britain - Marking International Women's Day
Commemorating the struggles of women workers worldwide against low pay and exploitation
The Socialist, Saturday 10 March 2007
Syria - Kurdish women have a hard fight
Kurdish women, who are oppressed inside their community in Syria, are facing two kinds of oppression.
Guleperi Biro, Kurdish asylum-seeker in Cyprus Friday 9 March 2007
Nigeria - Women’s burdens demand socialist action
Agitate for equal opportunities, free health care, education and provision of useful employment.
Titi Salaam- Ogunniran, Democratic Socialist Movement (CWI, Nigeria), Thursday 8 March 2007
Australia - The fight for equal pay continues!
In the 1920s women workers were only paid about half of what male workers earned.
Kylie McGregor, UNITE President and Socialist Party (CWI, Australia)
Pakistan - Women suffer untold misery and new law gives no protection
Fighting programme of socialist change vital
Rukhsana Manzoor, Socialist Movement Pakistan, Lahore, Tuesday 6 March 2007
India - Women bear brunt of widening wealth gap
The fundamental emancipation of women lies in the achievement of a classless society.
Nirmala Shetty, New Socialist Alternative (CWI, India), Monday 5 March 2007
Brazil - Violence towards women - a public issue at last!
Vigorous campaign for refuges needed.
Jane Barros, Socialismo Revolucionario (CWI), Friday 2 March 2007
Europe - Men’s violence against women
Almost one in every two women in Europe will be subjected to some form of violence.
Katja Raetz, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI, Sweden), Thursday 1 March 2007
Sweden - No to the right wing government’s maid system
For improved provision of childcare and care of the elderly
Karin Wallmark, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden), Thursday 1 March 2007
PO Box 3688, London, Britain, E11 1YE
Tel: ++ 44 20 8988 8760
Fax: ++ 44 20 8988 8793
cwi@worldsoc.co.uk