Why women should protest at the CBF and CHOGM
BY MICHELLE BREAR
Since the emergence of the anti-corporate movement in Seattle in 1999, women have played an integral role in organising and leading protests against the agendas of imperialist governments and multinational corporations. In doing so, they have broken through many stereotypes and highlighted their specific exploitation as women.
It is no coincidence that women are struggling for their rights as part of the broader movement against corporate globalisation — the effects of corporate globalisation are more devastating for women.
Women are 70% of the 1.2 billion people in the world living in extreme poverty. Women are 90% of the millions of workers slaving in the factories of multinational corporations in the third world. Stories of vilification, sexual abuse and harassment, draconian tactics and poor working conditions are common in these factories.
For most of these women, factory work means leaving their villages and heading to the city. Most who leave do not return to their traditional way of life. They are soon alienated from the culture they grew up with — gathering food, producing their own products and supporting each other in a community atmosphere.
The women working in factories are the lucky ones. Those who are not able to find such work are often forced into the sex industry in dangerous, degrading and exploitative conditions. They cannot simply return to the villages as their traditional income sources, such as weaving textiles and producing toys, have been made redundant by the cheaper, often lesser quality products made in factories.
The women of the developed countries have not escaped the effects of corporate globalistion. The drive for profits has meant the creation of unnecessary markets — for anti-aging creams, for cellulite-reducing tonics and so on.
The images marketed at women tell them that a woman's role is to look good, be passive and wear a size six. This leads to diets, insecurity and death from diseases such as anorexia and bulimia.
Many women (particularly migrant women) work producing textiles in their garages or lounge rooms with no job security, entitlements or compensation for pitiful wages. Even those in "better" jobs face all kinds of discrimination because of their gender.
In all countries of the world, women still face traditional forms of exploitation. They bear the burden of 90% of unpaid domestic work (equivalent to $11 trillion per year). Women are paid two-thirds the average wage of a man. They do not have control over their fertility.
Women have faced discrimination since the inception of capitalism and now, more than ever, it is necessary they unite to fight for their liberation.
The Commonwealth Business Forum, in Melbourne from October 3-5, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), in Brisbane from October 6-8, provide an opportunity for women to step forward and demand that the injustices end.
These two forms will bring together an array of powerful figures who perpetuate the exploitation of women. While this form of exploitation is based on gender, it is impossible to separate it from the wider struggles for a world where human beings are treated as equals and not discriminated against on any basis, be that race, class, gender or any other characteristic.
By uniting with the masses of protesters who will be outside these conferences of the rich and powerful, women will increase their strength and link their struggle for liberation to the struggles of oppressed people throughout Australia and the world.
[Michelle Brear is the organiser of the Sydney West branch of Resistance.]