International Women’s Day: Reclaim the Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) took place on 8 March.

Christine Lagarde, head of the bosses’ International Monetary Fund (IMF), spoke on a ‘Women of the World’ platform. Women of the World has the Duchess of Cornwall as its president, and is based on women who represent the super-rich 1%. Not quite the world you and I know!

Lagarde talked about making the workplace fairer for women. But her focus was how this can boost national economies, rather than how it could improve the lives of women and their families.

Not surprising really. As president of the IMF, her role is to defend capitalism and big business by making the poorest in society pay for the economic crisis.

IWD began as a socialist political event to promote equal rights and suffrage for women. It was founded to commemorate a strike of women textile workers.

In 2015, women in the UK and around the world still earn less than men and suffer from discrimination and sexual harassment.

But many are now reclaiming the day, and celebrating the true meaning of IWD. Women will be at the forefront of the struggle to overthrow capitalism and build a socialist future.