The second Feminist Fightback conference took place on Saturday 20 October at the University of East London. Almost 300 people attended and there was a real buzz at this year’s event. It was organised by a group of socialist feminists including those from the Education Not for Sale network. Fightback was a chance for rarely seen debate on the left about socialist feminism, with sessions on women and low pay, eco-feminism, women workers’ struggles in Latin America, sexual liberation and feminism, imperialism and women in the Muslim-majority world.
The conference featured speakers from RAG Irish pro-choice activists who reminded us that abortion is still not an option for some of our closest neighbours living in Northern and the Republic of Ireland. They highlighted the fact that a reduction in the time limit for abortions in Britain would have a disastrous effect on Irish women who have to travel to Britain if they want to have an abortion. Florence from the “Florence and Michael must stay” campaign also spoke of her battle against a racist and sexist immigration system. She is fighting to remain in this country and not to be returned to Sierra Leone, where being gay is illegal.
But Feminist Fightback was not only a chance for debate but also an opportunity for activists and women and men interested in fighting women’s exploitation and oppression to organise direct action. Plans were made for action against the new criminal justice and immigration bill that targets asylum seekers and sex workers. Further plans were made for action to fight for abortion rights following on from the torch-lit march held earlier this year.
A set of demands also came out of the “gender pay gap”, low pay and the class struggle session, and people were urged to take part in the action organised by the Fremantle care workers currently fighting against their employer – a privatised trust which has made massive cuts in their pay and conditions.
The demands included access to free childcare, a significant rise in the minimum wage, rights for agency workers and parity of working conditions between full and part time workers.
There is currently something of a revival of feminism, especially on university campuses and around the issues of the pay gap. Feminist Fightback and the actions that will follow on from it play a vital role in this revival because what is needed is not just a feminist wave that will push for equal pay between male and female executives or that will argue to censor “sexist” publications because they are offensive, but a socialist feminism that fights for an end to low pay for all women. A socialist feminism that fights for women to have a real choice of whether to have an abortion or not, and stands in solidarity with women no matter where they are in the world or what religion they live under.
• If you would like to join the Feminist Fightback email list please contact feminist.fightback@gmail.com
• www.feministfightback.org.uk
• Fremantle care workers demonstration, Saturday 10 November, 12pm, Burnt Oak, London.
