International Women’s Day – Socialist and Revolutionary Roots
JVL Introduction
Solidarity with the socialist women of the world, campaigning for equality and for freedom from oppression on the basis of sex or any other reason! Solidarity with the men solidly with women in the struggle! As International Women’s Day becomes more and more commercialised, it is important to remember and celebrate its solidly socialist roots. IWD was born of the struggles of working class women in many countries to improve their conditions and their lives.
On this day we remember the 1888 Match Girls Strike, predating and inspiring the London Dockers who were their fathers, boyfriends, husbands and comrades to strike just one year later.
We are pleased to publish this overview of those socialist origins from Tribune and we are also angry that more than a century after International Women’s Day was declared, women are still denied equality in so many spheres – perhaps above all – for the right to safety from male violence in the streets and in the home.
And we know that it is far from enough to just have women in positions at high levels in politics, administration and business; if Corporations continue to exploit the planet and the people, it does not matter how many women sit on their Boards! (see eg Lean Out by Dawn Foster. If women are denied abortions, childcare, equal pay and proper education, if boys and men are not supported to be supportive and not feel pressured into misogyny and machismo and be allowed to be gentle and even needy, then violence and inequality will continue.
Let it not take another 100 years to make the difference we all – men and women – need. Women can – and often do – lead the way!
This article was originally published by Tribune on Tue 8 Mar 2022. Read the original here.
The Socialist Roots of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day was developed as a celebration of working-class women and their contribution to the struggle against capitalism.
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Social Justice is not a gender issue & the roots of the Suffragette Movement demands close analysis as only Sylvia Pankhurst has any involvement with Socialism & refused to talk to her mother & elder sister; I wonder why, so let me give you a clue!
I was shocked to find during a period of research, to find that the Suffragette Movement was not as caring nor Socialist as establishment history tells us. Emmeline Pankhurst stood as a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservative Party with the slogan ‘For King, Country & Empire’. The Suffragettes campaigned to support Britain’s entry into World War One advocating support of a government policy to conscript children into the army & munitions factories. The school leaving age was 12 years & the Suffragette proviso was that only working class children should be conscripted. Many young boys joined the army & the girls were sent to munitions factories. Suffragettes did not support Keir Hardy nor the class struggle. neither did they ever advocate Universal Suffrage. The Suffragettes did not want ‘votes for the working classes’, they wanted parity with the men of their own class, the Bourgeoisie. Emmeline Pankhurst had nothing but contempt for the Labour Movement & Keir Hardy (whom she tried to unsuccessfully befriend). Only Sylvia was a true Socialist. Beware the history that is taught in our schools.
Thank you so much for this inspiring and informative article. My ignorance on the origins of this day was abysmal leading me to reject what I thought was just another commercial ‘happy’ day.
This being a JVL forum, some readers may be interested to know how the International Women’s Day has been devoid of all social, political, let alone socialist significance in Israel. First and foremost, the Hebrew term for this day:
“International Woman’s Day”. The use of the singular form “woman” is no innocent mistranslation, rather a drive to redefine the meaning of the day, from issues of social justice and social welfare, to one of individual “well-being”. Thus, for example, many Israeli workplaces would offer their female employees small gifts (e.g. cosmetics!) or a “well-being” workshop session.
There are nowadays feminist voices in Israel (not all socialists) contesting the gross perversion of everything this day represents, starting by restoring it’s original, universal name – Women’s Day!
Solidarity with the sisters in Israel.
Thank you for this – but the commercialisation and depoliticisation of International Women’s Day is widespread. It is good to see articles like this reclaiming the Day for socialism and feminism.