Thousands took to the streets this last Saturday in protests called by Women’s March UK – a campaign highlighting the rising tide of misogyny, gender violence, femicide and the rising sexist anti-trans right wing.
We publish below a speech by Socialist Alternative member Ellie Costain at the Liverpool Women’s March, about next steps and the socialist feminist movement we need.
“Why are we here today? We’re here today because every week last year, three women were killed by a man. One in six murders last year were linked to domestic violence in England and Wales. Hate crimes towards trans people have risen year on year. Gender-based violence has been declared a “national emergency”. Meanwhile in Gaza the genocidal onslaught by the Israeli state has killed thousands of women, men and children.
We’re all united in saying this must end now. But how can we bring all oppression to an end? How do we truly stamp out misogyny, sexism, transphobia, war, racism and all oppression? Let’s get to the root of it.
If our feminism doesn’t also reject capitalism, our feminism will be meaningless. After all, capitalism is a system based around the super-rich 1%, which exploits billions of women globally for their unpaid labour each year for profit. The capitalist system relies on rigid gender roles to create myths around our role in society, keeping women in low paid and precarious work. This is all to justify underfunding the health care system and public services. These same sexist ideas punish LGBTQ+ people and trans people for expressing themselves and living authentically.”
“That is why more women on the boards of corporations, or in capitalist governments won’t bring about our liberation or guarantee our rights. Rachel Reeves is not a gain for working-class women; she threatens to cut vital support for disabled people, which would be a disaster for women everywhere.
Nor will the state keep us safe. In 2021 when we marched for justice for Sarah Everard and other murdered women, our movement was viciously repressed by the police. The police and the courts routinely act as a barrier for people to get justice after experiencing gender-based violence. Without breaking with this sexist system, this won’t change.
Revolutionary socialist feminism means fighting back. It means fighting against transphobia and misogyny in all its forms, on the streets, in the schools and campuses and in the workplace. One that fights for reproductive rights, childcare, women’s rights at work, and against femicide, gender violence and harassment. It means build a working-class struggle to fully-fund healthcare, education, bringing them and the energy companies into public ownership. No longer should our services be run for the profits of the super-rich.”
“Our trade unions who represent millions of women workers, many on them front line of our public services need to demand pay rises that reflect the real cost of living and working conditions that protect, not damage, workers’ mental and physical health.
We also crucially need to continue building an anti-war movement – one that stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine – and that opposes imperialism and capitalism in all its forms.”
“Let’s now prepare for bigger and bolder action on 8 March. Socialist Alternative is calling for coalitions of resistance to prepare mass protests, school and college walkouts against Trump, Farage, Andrew Tate and this sexist system. If you want to get involved, talk to us today.”
