London Student Feminist network activist day. Is this a return to Feminism?

It's interesting how many more young women, and men, are becoming once again interested in what has classically been called Feminism. But what does feminism mean today? Are we still fighting for the right to work, for equal pay, for equal position in society? Well, yes, it seems so. Women, although we are now encouraged out of the home, to work for a boss, to be free to wear what we like in reality this is by no means equal. What sort of work are we allowed to do? Who do we want to be equal to? Who are we trying to emulate? Certainly we are not really equal. The media is littered with sexist images and propaganda which encourage women to behave in certainn ways. Fro example, I was astounded by this article on the launch of the new Pole Dancing doll. 

I don't want to here go over the well argued positions in the many feminist strains but to draw your attention to the fact that feminism the word is back on the agenda and is attracting a new layer of activists.


Although as a Marxist I do not see the struggle for womens rights as seperate from the struggle for equality for all I welcome any moves which encourage people to join in the fight. It is through these campaigns that many people become full blown revolutionaries.

In 1909 Alexandra Kollontai, a leading revolutionary, wrote a fabulous pamphlet entitled  'The Social Basis of the Woman Question'


Here is a quote which encaputlates the opposition to feminism as seperate from class struggle:

The feminists see men as the main enemy, for men have unjustly seized all rights and privileges for themselves, leaving women only chains and duties. For them a victory is won when a prerogative previously enjoyed exclusively by the male sex is conceded to the “fair sex”. Proletarian women have a different attitude. They do not see men as the enemy and the oppressor; on the contrary, they think of men as their comrades, who share with them the drudgery of the daily round and fight with them for a better future

 and further:

For the majority of women of the proletariat, equal rights with men would mean only an equal share in inequality, but for the “chosen few”, for the bourgeois women, it would indeed open doors to new and unprecedented rights and privileges that until now have been enjoyed by men of the bourgeois class alone.

 It is on this basis that '[a] woman can possess equal rights and be truly free only in a world of socialised labour, of harmony and justice.'  We can only have equality once the conditions from which oppression are founded have been removed. And this means we must continue our struggle, our fight and our campaigns against an unjust system which places profit before people, which places competition at the heart of all movtivations and which justifies class inequality. You should read her whole article; she puts it much better than me!

Anyway, a suuprising development has arisen surrounding the iminent Feminist Activist Day to be hosted at SOAS: MEN are allowed to attend. And a welcome addition this is. The day will be guided by women; all votes and decisions will be made by women but men can come as observers. Great.

I am providing a short introduction to the political uses of the internet and demonstrating some of the tools of internet activism. I welcome any comments and advice on this.

The day will be kicked off by JUDITH ORR- author of Sexism and the System, former editor of the Socialist Review and veteran speaker at SOAS feminist events and rallys. She will be giving the opening speech on the challenges for feminism today and the backlash against feminism.

The full timetable can be found at the London Student Feminists Network blog

Whilst this is a dayschool for student activists, I'm sure non-students can attend as observers. Please email them to request a space.

Also, if you wish to have a stall there feel free to also contact Elly.

I look forward to seing you all.