Reclaiming International Women's Day

"International Women's Day arose out of struggles by women factory workers and was first proclaimed as IWD by the Marxist Third International" said Anti-Capitalist Alliance spokeswoman Willa Bermingham.

In recent years, however, the struggles and problems of working class women have been sidelined, and the origins of IWD have been airbrished out of history, as the day has been taken over by business and professional women celebrating their own personal achievements.

"In Christchurch in a public meeting, by contrast, will be looking at the position of working class women in this country and how our standard of living, along with that of working class men, has been cut, while more wealth and power than ever is concentrated in the hands of an upper class elite, which consists now of women as well as men," said Willa.

Willa will be speaking along with Kathy Himiona; a founder of the Housewives Boycott Movement in the late 70's, Anna Sutton; former President of Te Akatoki, the Maori students association at Canterbury University and Lynda Boyd; a volunteer organiser for the Unite! Union.

The meeting will be held at 7.30pm, Monday, March 8, Workers Educational Association (WEA) Hall, 59 Gloucester St, Christchurch and is open to everyone.

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