Beyond The Fringe

Born out of a strike by women textile workers in the US, in 1908, for better pay and working conditions, International Women’s Day has a long tradition of protest and political activism. The first IWD was held in 1911 in Germany, Austria and Denmark, and called for the vote and political and economic rights for women. In Australia, the first IWD was held in the Sydney Domain in 1928. Equal pay for equal work, an eight-hour day, no piecework and the basic wage for the unemployed were among the key demands.

Today IWD is a celebration of what we’ve achieved – and continues to be an important part of raising the issues that face women today. On average, women receive only two-thirds of the wages of men. Indigenous women still suffer systemic racism and denial of their basic rights. Accessible child-care is still not publicly provided. Women still suffer violence in their homes and on the streets. Migrant women, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds still face racism and super-exploitation. Women still do not have control of their reproduction: abortion is still illegal and expensive. Lesbian women still face entrenched homophobia and discrimination. Women still do the majority of the unpaid work in the home. Women are still stereotyped and objectified in the mainstream media – a primary factor in the increasing rates of eating disorders amongst young women.

For all these reasons, and so many more, International Women’s Day remains an important opportunity to raise our demands for equality and justice. John Howard says that “young women are in a post-feminist period” – but until we are in a post-sexist period, feminism will be as necessary and as relevant as ever. So prove John Howard wrong this International Women’s Day – join the protest and raise your voice for justice!

International Women’s Day 2007

RALLY AND MARCH

Women Uniting for Justice
* Repay the stolen wages * Stop family violence *
* No more deaths in custody * End the occupation of Iraq *
* Repeal workchoices *

This Saturday (March 10) - 10am
Queens Park (cnr George & Elizabeth Sts, city)

Speakers include:
* Reverend Alex Gator – Aboriginal elder and activist
* Professor Boni Robertson – Professor of Indigenous Policy, Griffith University
* Salam El-merebi – Al-Nisa Youth Group
* Candace Wright – Amnesty Stop Violence Against Women Action Group
* Valda Graham – Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
* Coral Wynter – Australia Venezuelan Solidarity Network
* Katrina Barben – International Women’s Day Collective and long-time abortion rights campaigner

Followed by a march through the city to join the Numberlie Dadjin (“All the Sisters”) Festival at the Jagera Arts Hall, Musgrave Park. The march route will be:
Queens Park > George St > Adelaide St > Edward St > Charlotte St > George St > Brisbane Square > Victoria Bridge > Melbourne St > Manning St > Musgrave Park

There will be a mini-bus accompanying the march (talk to organisers on the day if you would like a seat)

Don’t forget to bring your whistles, drums and any other noisemakers!

For more information:
Phone: 0400 720 757 (Kathy), 0407 63 117 (Katrina).

Since the creation of Islam and until the feminist victories of the 20th century in western society, Islamic women enjoyed more expansive personal privileges than their Christian sisters. Not only were they able to seek divorce, they could inherit property, albeit a lesser proportion than their brothers, and pursue professions. Restrictive Shariah law and culture-specific traditions, invented and administered by males for the primary benefit of males, were a later addition to the teachings of the Koran. In parallel with cultural mores and interference with women’s rights and bodies entrenched in some Christian sects, well illustrated for example by those engendered by the male-dominated Catholic Church, these arbitrary additions have hindered the ability of many Muslim women to achieve their full and desired potentials within the framework of their faith.

“Islam is not a patriarchal religion, and we cannot accept that patriarchy continues to govern social relations in the framework of Islam.”

The Conclusions of the Second International Conference of Islamic Feminism held in November 06 in Spain defined areas where positive change within patriarchal Islamic cultures can be initiated for the benefit of women:

“We denounce the discriminatory family laws that are enforced in many countries with a Muslim majority.

We voice our commitment to continue the gender jihad for the recovery of the equalitarian message of Islam, the freedom of interpretation and conscience.

Islamic Feminism is an integral part of the Global Feminist Movement. We denounce all forms of violence against women that are justified in the name of Islam, such as honor crimes, domestic violence, mutilation of female genitalia, stoning and other forms of corporal punishment.

We call for the participation of women in all areas of society. Therefore, we are against all those cultural practices which are not truly Islamic and which inhibit this participation.

We announce the creation of the “Observatory of Islam and Gender” in Spain to be headquartered in Barcelona. This Observatory attempts to consolidate the work of the two International Conferences of Islamic Feminism, to serve as a common ground between intellectuals and Feminist organizations in the Islamic world, and to promote Islamic Feminism in Spain. The Observatory will serve the task of giving continuity to the International Conference of Islamic Feminism.”

Whilst we do not adher to any religious faith, we support all women in their peaceful quest for enlightenment and equality of opportunity and express our solidarity with feminists of all nations and creeds against that most oppressive and pervasive phenomenon affecting women - rightwing fundamentalism.

Fundamentalist movements are political movements with religious, ethnic, and/or nationalist imperatives. They construct a single version of a collective identity as the only true, authentic and valid one, and use it to impose their power and authority. They usually claim to be the representatives of authentic tradition, and they speak against the corrupting influence of modernity and ‘the West’. However, fundamentalists are far from pre-modern. To promote their project, they use all modern technological means available, from the media to weaponry. Furthermore, the vision they conjure up is a constructed and selective vision, rather than a revival of something in the past. Since 2000 the popular appeal of fundamentalisms has been growing across the world and different communities.

Feminists have particular concerns when it comes to fundamentalist movements. Although many women take part in fundamentalist movements, overall fundamentalist politics tend to constitute a threat to women’s freedom and autonomy and often their lives. Gender relations in general, and women in particular, are often used to symbolize the collectivity, its ‘culture and tradition’, its boundaries and its future reproduction.

My response to a person who shall remain nameless on reading this blog, albeit that he now claims he was in a drunken state.

> stocks ? this is not informed speculation. this is not speculation.
>this is propaganda.

Perhaps you might attempt to point out specific logical fallacies and errors of fact rather than drawing such a long bow and diminishing at the outset your potential for successful argument.

> when i read drivel like this then i know how easy it is
> to make a hamas.

As you may know, Hamas is considered by some to be the by product of the first Israhelli invasion of Lebanon. The goddess forbid you should be so effective.

Yet Hamas became the democratically elected government of the Palestinian people … now if the US govt is so keen on creating democracy, why aren’t they assisting Hamas? and why are the best mates and confidants of the Bush crime family, the tyrannical Sauds?

Rhetorical questions with obvious answers.

Hamas is now a convenience for Israhell which can be used and scapegoated in the same way Arafat was used … to justify putting off a peace settlement whilst their hideous illegal ghetto wall is completed around their illegal settlements and more land is grabbed.

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