International Women's Day

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Its origins lay in the socialist and feminist movements led by working class women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women's Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action - whatever that looks like globally at a local level.

Born out of socialist struggles for the rights of working-class women for better pay and conditions, voting rights and improved standards of living, the story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.

In the USA, demands for women’s suffrage coincided with demands of the anti-slavery movement when campaigners for white women’s rights were using racist language to promote their campaign arguing that the enfranchisement of women would ensure immediate and durable white supremacy. It was meant as a way of safeguarding white women positions in society at the expense of Black men and women.

In Britain the demands were about class struggles, as no woman had the right to vote, nor could poor men, who were not property owners in a capitalist society. Again, the challenge came from the socialist movement.

The question of Black women’s position in society today, remains one to be challenged. Soul Purpose 360 acknowledges our role. So, as we celebrate today, take a moment to observe how big business, many of whom continue to pay women less than men, use the day as a marketing ploy to encourage more spending on material goods, let us remember that many Black women and men have lost their lives in the struggles so that generations later we can say ‘Happy International Women’s Day’.

If you want to learn more about the history and significance of this day for Black women, I recommend reading this article https://www.counterfire.org/articles/analysis/20951-why-the-working-class-socialist-history-of-international-women-s-day-matters-today