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We think that women cannot be liberated in a society such as this where class divisions distort all relationships between people. So by the liberation of women we do not mean the equality of women with men in the present set-up, as this could only mean "an equal chance to be unequal" (for some to be wealthy and some to be poor, for some to be managing directors and some to be workers).
The only way to change this society for a better one is through a working class revolution, and this must involve women and men. A socialist revolution would end the exploitation of men and women workers for the profit of the employing class, and would create the possibility of ending all oppression such as that experienced by women. The ending of this present system of production for profit could release the necessary resources to provide the full range of educational, social and medical services which will be needed to support the liberation of women. But for this possibility to be realised women must play a full part in the development of a socialist society.
In present society all women are to some extent oppressed, but working class women are one of the most oppressed sections of society, oppressed because of their class and because of their sex. At the same time, because of their position of dependence and isolation in the family, women are often the upholders of traditional values and behave in a reactionary. way. To break out of this situation women need to organise themselves, to discuss and clarify their understanding of the subordination of women, and to begin to act to change things. The need for this is made greater both by the lack of understanding among male trade unionists who do not see that the subordination of women (which seems to give them some immediate advantages) is used to make divisions within the working class, setting male workers against female workers, housewives against trade unionists. And also within most socialist groups the question of women's liberation has been neglected, ignored or dismissed as irrelevant.
We see Socialist Woman Groups as a way of organising against the oppression of women at the present time. We give priority to the struggles of working class women, both as the most oppressed and as those in potentially the strongest position to organise against the central economic basis of women's oppression in this society.
Conditions of membership Membership of a Socialist Woman Group involves:
1. General agreement with the political basis of the Socialist Woman Groups as expressed in the Manifesto. 2. Acceptance of responsibility for sharing in the work of the Group, both discussions and activities. To begin to challenge the present situation we raise the following demands:
EQUAL ECONOMIC RIGHTS END DISCRIMINATION IN JOBS, SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE LAW Equal pay and equal work: an end to low pay -Work or full maintenance, regardless of marital status No discrimination against women in social services and and benefits-no strings.
EQUAL CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS Social provision for children-free 24-nour childcare facilities controlled by the community -Equal education and training END TO SEXUAL REPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION, The right to choose whether or not to have children:free contraception and abortion on demand The right to a standard of living to make this a real choice adequate housing, income (wage or social security), childcare facilities (schools, playgrounds) -An end to the presentation of women as passive sexual objects -Recognition of the rights of gay people And above all we are working for:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS AND SOLIDARITY-AN END TO ALL DIVISIONS IN THE WORKING CLASS Working class support for women's rights -Full unionisation of women and their full participation in unions; democratisation of the unions An end to discrimination on grounds of sex, race or religion - No redundancies or unemployment: we must be clear this includes women Support for women involved in working class struggles-for better pay and conditions, greater control over conditions of work including job evaluation; and to widen these:
women on strike, wives of strikers, community struggles, The development of class consciousness and a revolutionary socialist perspective in the women's movement. 3. Regular attendance at meetings (difficulties should be discussed with the Group). 4. Financial contributions to maintain the Group's activities (amount to be decided by the Group). 5. Agreement to support, sell and if possible write for, the paper Socialist Woman.
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BIRMINGHAM: Sandra Cooper, 72 Cambridge Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham 14.
BRISTOL: Viv Prior, 7 Ravenswood Road, Redland, Bristol 6. *BOLTON: Joy Leman, 6 Mornington Road, Bolton. CANTERBURY: Liz Lawrence, Darwin College, University *CARDIFF: Sue Lukes, 92 Llandaff Road, Canton, CF1 9NN. *CHORLEY: Cath Young, c/o Chorley College, Chorley, Larics. *COLCHESTER: Celia Pugh, c/o 16 Church Hill, Rowhedge,Essex. "COVENTRY: Maureen Draper, c/o 27 Paynes Lane, Hillfields, Coventry. CV1 4BH.
GLASGOW: Shelley Charlesworth, 61 Fergus Drive, GlasgowN.W. *KEELE: Nicola Charles, Students Union, Keele University.
Keele, Staffs. ST5 5BG. *KINGSTON: Jane Cullen, 61 Kings Road, Kingston, Surrey. LANCASTER: Margaret Coulson, 35 West Road, Lancaster. *LEEDS: Val Jones, 69 Bagby Road, Leeds 2. LEICESTER: Jean Holman, 7 College Street, Leicester. LONDON (North & Centrall: Pat Masters, 182 Pentonville Road, London N.1 (340 7031).
WHAT IS SOCIALIST WOMAN?
The paper Socialist Woman was established in early 1969 in Nottingham on the initiative of the IMG (International Marxist Group) with the aim of establishing Socialist Woman Groups around it. Members and sympathisers of the IMG in Nottingham and other parts of the country distributed, wrote for and supported the paper, and have taken the initiative in setting up Socialist Woman Groups in many different areas. At the first national conference of the Socialist Woman Groups held in January 1972, the Groups agreed on a national manifesto stating their political position and aims, and voted to make their central activity for the next period a campaign for equal pay and equal work against low pay. Overall responsibility for coordination between the Groups between conferences is taken by the editorial board, which was elected at Conference.
EDITORIAL BOARD: Margaret Coulson, Jacky Freeman, Leonora Lloyd, Roberta Manners, Wanda Mariuszko, Pat Masters, Vicky Robinson, Linda Smith, Felicity Trodd.
DESIGNER:Ruth Prentince Signed articles do not necessarily represent editorial opinion.
Please send me SOCIALIST WOMAN for the next year. I enclose 50p which includes postage & packing (for overseas rates see below).
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Sub. Rates: Britain 50p; overseas 60p ($1.60); per year (6 issues). Single copies: Britain 8p; overseas 10p (26c). Write for airmail rates.
Whalley Range, Manchester 16.
Oxford.
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contact the address given.
March/April 1971 May/Jume 197/ July/August 1971 October/November 1971 January/February 1971 including postage. LONDON (West): Leonora Lloyd, 40 Inverness Road.
Southall, Middlesex. (574 7407)
MANCHESTER: Sheila Cohen, 43 Brantingham Road, NORWICH: Rhona Ball, 140 Earlham Road, Norwich. *OXFORD: Hilary Wainwright, St. Anthony's College, PRESTON: Kath Ryde, 246 Leyland Road, Penwortham, READING: Carolyn Rice, c/o 50 Basingstoke Road, Reading. SHEFFIELD: Catherine Cirket, 7 Bannan Street, Sheffield *STAFFORD: Hilary Wykes, 3 Slessor Road, Beaconside, WATFORD: Leslie Richardson, 111 Frankland Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Herts.
WELWYN GARDEN CITY: Val Peterson, 76 High Street, YORK: Julia Baldasara, 1 Longfield Terrace (off Bootham), "If you are interested in forming a group in this area: please BACK ISSUES OF SOCIALIST WOMAN AVAILABLE Includes articles on the Politics of Women's Liberation, Helen Keller, Socialist: review of Sexual Politics: women telephonists, night cleaners, etc.
International issue: articles on Italian factory women the Irish struggle; Peruvian liberation movement; Puris Commune; American third world women: British strikers.
Articles include: the Famity; Part-time work; cleaners; 19 century agricultural workers' struggles, etc.
WIM in Britain and America: women in Ireland, women in Eastern Europe; Brannon strikers, etc.
Low Pay, review of Woman's Estate; women in Soviet Union; women's unions.
SPECIAL OFFER: ALL ABOVE ISSUES FOR 20p, SOCIALIST WOMAN PUBLICATIONS Socialist Woman is produced bi-monthly-48p for six issues. Women Workers in Britain:A Handbook-28p International Women's Day by Alexandra Kollontai-8p This publication is on file at the International Women's History Archive, 2325 Oak Street, Berkeley, Calif. 94708, and is available on microfilm through Bell & Howard, Wooster, Ohio.