Women's rights and Feminism

Women’s lot under capitalism is, for most, that of low-paid wage slavery, with the double burden of the bulk of the responsibility for childrearing, housework and caring being placed firmly on our shoulders; then there’s the enormous pressures of how we should look, behave and act. The chances of achieving any real freedoms or reaching our individual and collective potential is impossible under capitalism.
The lot of working class women is made even worse at times like these when capitalism is in crisis. It’s working class women who are hit hardest when jobs are cut and services slashed.
The case for class struggle feminism is the case for a distinct feminism based on smashing the oppression of the majority of women - working class women. The liberation of working class women is the liberation of humanity.

Class struggle feminists care little about glass ceilings that stop middle class women from becoming bosses and exploiting working class women and men. It's the class ceiling we’re out to smash!

All are welcome as we discuss how working class people can organise against sexual, gender and class oppression.

Facebook event here.

After the "Is this as good as it gets?" socialist feminist conference on 26 November (see here) women participants in the conference will form a contingent on the Reclaim the Night march, marching together from UCL to the starting point in Whitehall.

We will be marching in solidarity with all women resisting violence - the fight against gender-based violence should be a central part of any feminist movement.

Our slogans for the march will be:
● For anti-capitalist class struggle feminism
● No cuts: tax the rich to fund jobs, a living wage and services for everyone
● For LGBT liberation: trans women welcome
● Solidarity with sex workers' struggles

If you want to take part in Reclaim the Night but on a clear anti-capitalist, trans liberation, pro-sex worker basis, come and join us.

Meet 6pm at University College London, Gower Street WC1 and come with us to join RTN.

More info: 07883 520 852 or women@workersliberty.org

We are investigating marching with anti-capitalist, class struggle feminists from many different places and groups as part of a Red Umbrella contingent - please get in touch if you're planning a contingent so we can link up.

After the march we will be heading to an evening of feminist entertainment and socialising: the Revolting Women's Caberet to raise money for the Women's Fightback newspaper. We will be meeting at 8pm at Charing Cross station (the march passes through Trafalgar Sq) to travel down together. Call us if you can't find us and want to come.

Details below. There will be an National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts Women's contingent on the protest, which is appealing for other anti-cuts activists to come together on the march. Details here on Facebook or email j.baker3@wmin.ac.uk or ring 07595 738 396.

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SEE YOU ALL ON THE 11TH!
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Slutwalk London: The radical notion that nobody deserves to be raped.

On 24th January 2011, a Toronto policeman told a group of law students that in order to avoid being raped 'women should avoid dressing like sluts'.
...
This sparked outrage around the globe, with people from Chicago to Amsterdam standing up and saying that we have had ENOUGH of being victimised and labelled, with men and women speaking out for freedom, equality and fun.

Not only was this a ridiculous and inaccurate statement (women wearing trousers get raped. So do women wearing tracksuits, t-shirts, jeans, jumpers, skiing jackets and burqas. So do men), it was incredibly damaging to sexual assault survivors around the world, painting them as perpetrators - rather than victims - of a disgusting, violent crime. In addition, it completely erased the experiences of the millions of brave, strong people who have survived rape and sexual assault - painting them as human beings unworthy of respect.

Sadly, this is not a single, isolated incident. All over the world, people are told they can only express themselves in a way that fits into arbitrary, narrow minded boundaries. Men must be controlling, insensitive, promiscuous. Women are made to feel like victims, told they should not look a certain way, should not go out at night, should not go into certain areas, should not get drunk, should not wear high heels or make up, should not be alone with someone they don't know. Not only does this divert attention away from the real cause of sexual assault - the perpetrator - but it creates a culture where rape is OK, where it's allowed to happen... after all, she must have been asking for it, right?

NO. Let's raise our voices and tell the world that rape is never, ever OK. Not if she was wearing a miniskirt. Not if he was naked. Not if she was your wife, girlfriend or friend. Not if she was a prostitute. Not if he was drunk. Not if you thought she wanted to.

Let's end a culture of fear and victimisation. No means No - but rather than saying no, let's say YES. Yes to wearing what you want, going where you want with who you want and being able to express your personal sexuality in whichever way you please. Yes to having a great time without being scared that every man you meet is going to assault you. Yes to love, fun and respect.

So let's turn up, give the world a message and have some fun! Meet at the Top of Piccadilly near the Hard Rock Cafe on Saturday 11th June at 1pm. Everyone is welcome - all genders, races, ages and sexualities. Bring friends and family, banners, food and instruments, and come along feeling beautiful, ready to show the world that WE ARE PROUD!

This is our website: http://slutwalklondon.tumblr.com/
Check us out on twitter: http://twitter.com/slutwalklondon
Share a poster! http://bit.ly/jyuZAw
We are allied with http://www.slutwalktoronto.com/

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PLEASE NOTE: This will be a 100% PEACEFUL protest. While so-called 'violent' and 'non-violent' tactics both have their relative pros and cons, SlutWalk London aims to be open to everyone - families, young children, older people, differently abled people, and others who may not feel comfortable with certain tactics. Please respect this :)