Sydney International Women's Day march for equality

I’m still riding a high from the IWD march now more than a week ago in my life. Marching along with a few thousand like minded people and being smiled at by pedestrians brings much joy. From the outset the energy was high, the celebration was just as important as the struggle for what we still confront to achieve Equality and Fairness for Women in this world we live in. I love the diversity of those who come to IWD, I love the different groups of women – our Indigenous sisters, those from other Nations, unionists, Lesbians, community groups, our elders of the feminist movement. We can all come together and celebrate our progress but still be so aware of the work that is still to be done. We can have fun as well as be serious about the continuing task of addressing the inequality for women. None of us can achieve for ourselves without acknowledging the support from others – those links we have between us that have been created in our history are our strength. Most of all I celebrate this aspect of IWD, that we struggle together no matter the differences.

The 100th anniversary of IWD was a brilliant turnout – Sydney’s warm weather certainly helped as did the efforts of all those of the IWD collective who worked to make the day meaningful and fun. My lasting memory, will be that this day was special because my young daughter asked if she could come with me and my heart was so joyful to be able to share this day with her.

What IWD is about and has always been about is still very relevant to us today. We continue to struggle for equality and justice. We can celebrate the gains certainly but even after 100 years of struggle there is so much work to be done. We still live in a world where women are not regarded as equals of men. Even in our Nation, there are struggles for comparative pay justice, for equality in promotion, for acceptance of the social inputs of women in relation to elder, child and partner care and for permanency and security in employment. So many of the jobs that are labelled unskilled (mostly I prefer unvalued) that now include men in their ranks continue to be remunerated lower than male dominated jobs. Discrimination in employment may not be so easy to see in a one to one basis but it still exists in feminised industries and occupations.

I don’t get excited about whether or not women are appearing on Boards and CEO positions – I am more excited by changing the experience of ordinary women who slug away at their low paid jobs without the “help” that the wealthy can afford. Yes I still believe in class distinctions and I still think it matters. I don’t believe that changing things at the top will mean that the situation will improve at the bottom. I still love that line from Bread and Roses “The rising of the women means a rising of the race”. No matter if we compare women and men at work, in terms of social inputs, parenting, whether we are here because our ancestors are traditional owners, or arrived on a boat, whether we are able bodied, or not, whether we have been educated or not, whatever our sexual preference, women still form the lowest level of all strata. The fact that we are women remains the most distinguishing reason why we are not treated as equal. The job list is long – the struggle continues. Even as women we are not all equal. Indigenous women do not have the same rights and share of wealth as other women. It is our most fundamental struggle to ensure that we struggle to “raise all women” especially focussing on the poorest, most disadvantaged and maligned people of this nation – the women of the traditional owners.

IWD brings all women together. I loved marching with our Indigenous Sisters and those who have come from other Nations. We can celebrate our diversity but still walk and work together for our continued struggle for Equality and Justice.

The theme of May Day 2011 is Celebrating Women as Workers, I guess you know where I will be.
Story and images by Jill Biddington