Bread and Roses — International Women’s Day 2012

One hundred years ago women organised a textile strike in the American city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. On this day, International Women’s Day 2012.

Workers BushTelegraph pays respect to those workers who stood up.

The slogan “Bread and Roses” originated in a poem of that name by James Oppenheim, published in The American Magazine in December 1911, which attributed it to “the women in the West.”

It is commonly associated with a textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts during January–March 1912, now often known as the “Bread and Roses strike” — wikipedia

The slogan appeals for both fair wages and dignified conditions.

Feminism in general (heidi at women’s house interviewed by eliza)

International Women’s Day 2012
No woman is free until all women are free
safety, equality, public services

Rally and march
Saturday March 10, 1pm
Queens Park (George St, behind Casino)
March to Kurilpa Hall for festival
(174 Boundary St, West End)

* End the NT Intervention
* Equal pay now: increase funding to public services
* Repeal all anti-abortion laws
* No mandatory “income management”
* Refugee rights now: end mandatory detention

For over a century, International Women’s Day has been marked by protests organised to highlight and build the campaigns for women’s rights. These days, the history of IWD is too often hidden behind the dazzle of corporate funded luncheons and government sponsored talk-fests. But that was never what the women’s liberation movement was about. The movement that founded International Women’s Day was one that set out to liberate all women. As long as sexism, misogyny, racism, queerphobia, transphobia, ableism and exploitation continue to oppress women here and around the world, then we need a women’s liberation movement. Because no woman is free until all women are free.

History of Women’s House (heidi interviewed by eliza)

This year’s IWD rally will highlight some of the many issues and campaigns that are being waged by women for justice and equality. It will demand an end to the NT Intervention; equal pay and an increase in funding to public services; a repeal of all anti-abortion laws; an end to “income management” and an end to mandatory detention. There will also be speakers to address issues faced by women prisoners; the campaign for the rights of transgender and transsexual women and the campaigns against sexual assault.

Some things change, others stay the same ((heidi at women’s house interviewed by eliza continued)

Interview with Pamela Curr about choices for women in the 1960s

for more info see Pro Choice Action Collective @ International Women’s Day 2012

[Thanks Pam and Heidi, Eliza and Cybele for interviews]

Ian Curr
9 Mar 2012