speech from international women's day
by T. C.
"Oppression. Patriarchy. What do these terms mean? Oppression is prolonged cruel or unjust
treatment or control. Patriarchy is control by men of a disproportionately large share of power. How
does this relate to today? It relates because we stand here where in history, oppressed immigrant
women rose up against oppression, yet suffered a cruel death of entrapment and were burned alive.
The shirtwaist factory was run by two men, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris. When there was
suspected talk of union, it became the employers biggest fear. They were worried about unions because
it would diminish their authority over the workplace. Blank and Harris relied on economic survival and
so they invested in the latest technology. Along with new technology came high expectations of the
workers. Workers were not allowed to make mistakes and if they did they were charged by pay
deductions from their paychecks. This meant for many families that they were going hungry that week.
The workers were locked up like cattle. They were not allowed to break not even for water and
when workers were finally allowed to leave, they had to go through a final inspection. This inspection
included checking the purses of the workers, preventing theft. After these inspections they left through
the only exit that wasn't kept locked at the end of the day.
For the conditions and mal treatment these women had to endure to survive, there were no
minimum wage or maximum hour laws. Naturally, those who are oppressed are faced with the
challenge and necessity to rise up against their oppressor and that’s what these women did. They
organized and went on strike in 1909, leaving the only place that separated them from survival and
starvation. The strikers were faced with physical abuse and constant arrest, yet despite this and public
indifference, they continued to strike and fight back with the hard line “WE WANT A UNION!”
I want to fast forward to current day and briefly discuss patriarchy in some of its many forms.
I recently read Bell Hook's book “All About Love”. In this book she touches upon her own life and
discusses abuse and relationships of different types. Something stood out to me that hasn't really
crossed my mind and that is that patriarchy is encouraged not only by men for men but also by women
themselves. I have to admit I had to stop and think about this for a while until I understood; society
breeds this despite its attempt to be progressive. Women are encouraged to do the housework like
cook, clean and raise the kids while men do the “tougher” work such as mowing the lawn, fixing up
the house, going to work etc. We as women are still placed in boxes. We are supposed to be dainty,
quiet and do what we are told. Hooks also brings up that growing up she was the outgoing and assertive
while her brother was quiet and passive and her parents found this to be unacceptable.
After reading the book, I would listen to songs on the radio, watch movies and television shows
with a different perspective and understanding. I noticed these “tools” prime focus is to encourage
the dating scene, isolating women who wanted to work and be single, focus on themselves and be
independent. Society encourages relationships, making us feel like we need someone, that we have to
rely on someone else to survive and our culture thrives on that.
Even on the “left” here in America, sexism and patriarchy exist in the hearts of progressives;
it’s just harder to notice by the words they preach of revolution, justice, and liberation that are spoken
to us to ease our mind, words that are just words until put into action.
Just like the women workers that fought back, we need to continue to fight back against the
stereotypes and society's expectation of us. We need to unite with oppressed women around world,
like in Saudi Arabia where they are still seen as object without rights, enslaved to their husbands and
society.
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Che “Liberators do not exist. The people
liberate themselves”
Throughout history, many historical women come to mind such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and more.
I do admire the women who rose up against capitalism to fight for justice, but one figure in modern times has been brought to my attention that I feel needs recognition and her name is Aleka Papariga, the General Secretary of Communist Party of Greece.
Papariga was born in 1945 to the parents of National Resistance fighters and KKE members. She started off as activist in the peace movement in 1961 which lead her to the youth section of United Democratic Left.
In 1968, Papariga joined the KKE even though it was illegal during the Greek Military junta and was involved in the prisoners' families movement. As soon as the Military junta ended, she became a member of the Bureau of the City of the Athens Party Organization.
Being the founding member of the Women's Federation of Greece, she was part of the organization of national events for International Women's Day and contributed to the women's movement by participating international congresses of the Women's International Democratic Federation, the United Nations and more.
Papariga has been a member of the Central Committee of KKE since May 1978.
On February 27, 1991 she was elected as
Secretary-General of the KKE. and was unanimously re-elected as
Secretary-General on May 26, 1996. In February 2009,she a was re-elected as Secretary-General which made her the longest serving
General Secretary of the KKE.
As a young activist I wish to have more courage to stand up and fight back like Papariga, especially against patriarchy.
I have realized recently I am a lot more compliant than I should be. Yes I get angry and feel hurt while either witnessing an injustice or if I am part of the injustice, yet I do nothing. How could I allow someone to sit there and laugh at me, put down my ideas and disregard my feelings? One explanation is how society reinforces pacifism, but without sounding redundant, I shouldn't ask why, but what?
What can I do to overcome this internal struggle? What can I do to stand up and fight back? One idea is unlearning because isn't that what this struggle as whole is about? Unlearning everything we are taught/brainwashed to form our own ideas and proper understanding? To break free of the chains that hold us back?
I may not have an answer right now, but what I do know is that I look up to those who do fight back. Women who don't take any nonsense from ANYONE. Women who fight for others because they can fight for themselves. Us women need these figures in our lives especially for those (like myself) who are being held back. We need to study their actions, listen to what they say, feel empowered and nourish the strength that has been inside of us, perhaps this whole time.
