INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2018 GRASSROOTS GLOBAL JUSTICE
“I AM NOT FREE WHILE ANY WOMAN IS UNFREE, EVEN WHEN HER SHACKLES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MY OWN.” - AUDRE LORDE
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 1909 - International Women’s Day (IWD) first celebrated by the Socialist Party of America, forcing the recognition that women’s rights are worker’s rights. 1910 The International Socialist Party voted to celebrate IWD and over a million people mobilized around the world the following year.
1911 - Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in NYC killed over 140 workers, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrant women. The commission that investigated forced a change in the state's labor legislation. The incident made the connection between women’s rights and labor rights all the more clear.
1912 - Textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts went on strike for two months to protest pay cuts and call for “bread and roses.� Strikers were majority immigrant women supposedly from over 40 different countries. Conservative unions were surprised at their ability to unite. Mill owners settled and raised wages 20 percent. 1914-1916 - Women across Europe used IWD to campaign against the war. 1917 - Thousands of Russian women took to the streets on March 8 to protest deteriorating living conditions, the shortage of goods and lack of basic food supplies. Many believe this sparked an uprising that grew into the Russian Revolution.
• There has been a global
tradition around IWD of shared action amongst women of color. • IWD is now celebrated
in over 100 countries. • The World March of Women
(WMW) held its first international meeting in 1998, and officially launched an international campaign in 2000, starting on IWD (March 8th) and ending on October 17th (International Day for the Eradication of Poverty)
• The WMW has been organizing
international actions every 5 years, since 2000, always starting on International Women’s Day.
• These global mobilizations, of
the WMW take place in hundreds of countries and highlight the intersections of social movements, while centering the root causes of gender based violence
• More recently, international
feminists have called for a women’s strike on March 8th, where women are urged not to go to work, not to buy anything, and not to do any care-taking of others, or domestic work.
Around the world and throughout history, women and LGBTQ people have often stood at the frontlines of resistance to social injustice. We have fought against all that hurts our communities, from environmental degradation to the criminalization of black bodies to the lack of fair wages. We have insisted on a a sustainable, just and peaceful future and pushed back against capitalism, white supremacy and PATRIARCHY.
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
T H E D E V A L U AT I O N O F “ W O M E N ’ S W O R K ” : C E R TA I N T Y P E S O F D O M E S T I C L A B O R ( H O U S E W O R K , C H I L D REARING, ETC) ARE OFTEN EXPECTED OF WOMEN AND SEEN A S A N AT U R A L D U T Y. T H I S L A B O R , T H O U G H C R U C I A L T O T H E E C O N O M Y, I S N O T R E C O G N I Z E D A S W O R K A N D R E M A I N S U N PA I D .
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
T H E C O M M O D I F I C AT I O N O F W O M E N ’ S B O D I E S : WOMEN’S BODIES ARE OFTEN HYPER SEXUALIZED, OBJECTIFIED A N D U S E D I N T H E S E R V I C E O F C A P I TA L I S M T O S E L L E N D L E S S CONSUMER PRODUCTS.
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE THE CONTROL OVER WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE’S BODIES: I N A PAT R I A R C H A L S O C I E T Y, W O M E N A N D L G B T Q P E O P L E A R E T O L D W H AT T H E Y C A N A N D C A N N O T D O W I T H T H E I R B O D I E S . T H I S I N C L U D E S T H E C U LT U R E O F R A P E , S E X U A L A S S A U LT A N D D O M E S T I C V I O L E N C E ; T H E AT TA C K O N R E P R O D U C T I V E R I G H T S ; T H E E X P E C TAT I O N O F H E T E R O S E X U A L M O N O G A M Y A N D M O R E .
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
PATRIARCHY LOOKS LIKE
AND SO MUCH MORE…
While many of us experience PATRIARCHY as individuals, it is important to recognize that it is a SYSTEM of oppression that shapes our entire society.
PATRIARCHY is a SYSTEM that - Gives men more power than women, and power over women
PATRIARCHY is a SYSTEM that - Gives men more power than women, and power over women - Structures human relationships as familial, through which the head of the “family,� designated as father, owns his wife, their children, property, livestock, servants, serfs, and slaves (female and male).
PATRIARCHY is a SYSTEM that - Gives men more power than women, and power over women - Structures human relationships as familial, through which the head of the “family,� designated as father, owns his wife, their children, property, livestock, servants, serfs, and slaves (female and male). - Is entwined with the systems of capitalism and white supremacy to shape society as a whole.
PATRIARCHY is a SYSTEM that - Gives men more power than women, and power over women - Structures human relationships as familial, through which the head of the “family,� designated as father, owns his wife, their children, property, livestock, servants, serfs, and slaves (female and male). - Is entwined with the systems of capitalism and white supremacy to shape society as a whole. - Is the framework for the domination and oppression of LGBTQ people and the stunted development of men.
“Simply put, FEMINISM is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression….[it] implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem, whether those who perpetuate it are female or male, child or adult.” -bell hooks
But there is a diversity of FEMINISM(S). Over time it has come to mean different things to different people.
Ecofeminism. Transfeminism. Indigenous Feminism. Black Feminism. Post-colonial Feminism. Marxist Feminism. Chicanx Feminism. Womanism‌ to name just a few.
We will fight for GRASSROOTS FEMINISM: This feminism is distinct and necessary because it is led by women of color, LGBTQ, poor, and working class people; all of whom understand that their oppression is rooted in patriarchy and its connections to capitalism, colonization, white supremacy, transphobia and homophobia. The liberation of women is bound to the liberation of all oppressed peoples.
GRASSROOTS FEMINISM
GRASSROOTS FEMINISM 1. F o l l o w s t h e g r a s s r o o t s leadership of women of c o l o r, a n d L G B T Q p e o p l e . 2. I n s i s t s o n i n t e r s e c t i o n s a n d overlaps between systems of oppression, because racism, capitalism and patriarchy need one another to survive. 3. P u s h e s b e y o n d representation, because its not enough to elect a woman to office or push her u p a c o r p o r a t e l a d d e r.
GRASSROOTS FEMINISM 1. F o l l o w s t h e g r a s s r o o t s leadership of women of c o l o r, a n d L G B T Q p e o p l e . 2. I n s i s t s o n i n t e r s e c t i o n s a n d overlaps between systems of oppression, because racism, capitalism and patriarchy need one another to survive. 3. P u s h e s b e y o n d representation, because its not enough to elect a woman to office or push her u p a c o r p o r a t e l a d d e r.
4. C e l e b r a t e a n d h o n o r transgender and gender non-conforming people and reject the construct of a g e n d e r b i n a r y. 5. E m p h a s i z e s t h a t p a t r i a r c h y is a system that needs to be dismantled, because just locking up perpetrators doesn't address root causes. 6. B u i l d s s o l i d a r i t y w i t h global resistance, because “ n o b o d y ’s f r e e t i l l e v e r y b o d y ’s f r e e ” a n d together we will win.
IN THIS MOMENT
IN THIS MOMENT W H E N T H E R I S E O F A G L O B A L R I G H T W I N G I S F I N D I N G N E W W AY S TO POLICE THE BODIES AND HEARTS OF WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE.
IN THIS MOMENT W H E N T H E R I S E O F A G L O B A L R I G H T W I N G I S F I N D I N G N E W W AY S TO POLICE THE BODIES AND HEARTS OF WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE. WHEN A “PUSSY GRABBING” MISOGYNIST AND HIS FOLLOWERS BLEED OUR PEOPLE DRY AND LEAD US TO THE BRINK OF MANY WARS.
IN THIS MOMENT W H E N T H E R I S E O F A G L O B A L R I G H T W I N G I S F I N D I N G N E W W AY S TO POLICE THE BODIES AND HEARTS OF WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE. WHEN A “PUSSY GRABBING” MISOGYNIST AND HIS FOLLOWERS BLEED OUR PEOPLE DRY AND LEAD US TO THE BRINK OF MANY WARS. W H E N S E X U A L A S S A U LT B E C O M E S E X P E C T E D B A C K G R O U N D N O I S E O F A D A I LY N E W S C Y C L E .
IN THIS MOMENT W H E N T H E R I S E O F A G L O B A L R I G H T W I N G I S F I N D I N G N E W W AY S TO POLICE THE BODIES AND HEARTS OF WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE. WHEN A “PUSSY GRABBING” MISOGYNIST AND HIS FOLLOWERS BLEED OUR PEOPLE DRY AND LEAD US TO THE BRINK OF MANY WARS. W H E N S E X U A L A S S A U LT B E C O M E S E X P E C T E D B A C K G R O U N D N O I S E O F A D A I LY N E W S C Y C L E . W H E N O U R B O D I E S A N D O U R N AT U R A L W O R L D A R E B E I N G C O M M O D I F I E D A N D E X P L O I T E D F O R P R O F I T.
IN THIS MOMENT W H E N T H E R I S E O F A G L O B A L R I G H T W I N G I S F I N D I N G N E W W AY S TO POLICE THE BODIES AND HEARTS OF WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE. WHEN A “PUSSY GRABBING” MISOGYNIST AND HIS FOLLOWERS BLEED OUR PEOPLE DRY AND LEAD US TO THE BRINK OF MANY WARS. W H E N S E X U A L A S S A U LT B E C O M E S E X P E C T E D B A C K G R O U N D N O I S E O F A D A I LY N E W S C Y C L E . W H E N O U R B O D I E S A N D O U R N AT U R A L W O R L D A R E B E I N G C O M M O D I F I E D A N D E X P L O I T E D F O R P R O F I T.
WE MUST JOIN THOSE RESISTING PATRIARCHY, AND WE MUST PUSH THEM FURTHER! WE MUST RECLAIM FEMINISM FOR THE GRASSROOTS.
THROW DOWN WITH GGJ RECLAIM FEMINISM FOR THE GRASSROOTS 1 . TA K E PA R T I N T H E S O C I A L M E D I A C A M PA I G N T O R E C L A I M FEMINISM FOR THE GRASSROOTS
2 . S P R E A D T H E W O R D ! H AV E AT L E A S T 1 C O N V E R S AT I O N A B O U T W H AT Y O U L E A R N E D T O D AY
3 . PA R T I C I PAT E I N T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S S T R I K E / WORLD MARCH OF WOMEN
Works Cited Content 1. “International Women's Day History.” International Women's Day, University of Chicago, iwd.uchicago.edu/page/ international-womens-day-history.
2. Feminist Organizing School Facilitator’s Guide. 2017. Grassroots Global Justice.
Images 1. Bazant, Micah. https://www.micahbazant.com/marsha-p-johnson/
2. Ishisaka, Naomi. “ Women of Color for Systemic Change leads the way for Seattle protestors”. The Seattle Globalist. 19 Jan 2015. http://www.seattleglobalist.com/2015/01/19/women-of-color-for-systemic-change-seattle-protestors/ 32381
3. Templeton, Rini. https://riniart.com/gallery.html
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5. https://understandrussia.com/gender-stereotypes/
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7. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jaimee-a-swift/5-things-you-can-do-to-en_b_9488386.html
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