Sydney IWD debates men's participation

By Cassandra Pomroy and Mel Bull

SYDNEY — The Sydney International Women's Day collective is busy organising this year's march and rally, to be held on March 6 from 10.30am at Sydney's Town Hall.

The theme for the day is "Generations of feminist action — looking back, moving forward". With 1999 declared the UN's year of the older person and many women's services in Sydney celebrating their 20th or 25th anniversaries, this theme was chosen to highlight the past struggles of the women's liberation movement and the need for feminist action, now more than ever.

Collective member Jen Crothers explained: "Many of the basic aims of the women's liberation movement have not been achieved, or they are being wound back. Only when women take action collectively can demands such as those chosen for this year's IWD march be won — abolish all anti-abortion laws, for free child-care, increased funding to women's services and equal pay."

Over the last month, the collective has been discussing men's participation in IWD. After much debate, a motion to include supportive men in the march was lost eight votes to nine. The arguments against men's participation that were presented included:

• that IWD is primarily a day for women to feel empowered by marching together;

lthat the demands are there only for publicity's sake, and could not be won through IWD;

• that men should be included in the broader struggle for women's liberation but not IWD;

• that it is a stronger statement to have a women-only march; and

lthat women shouldn't feel that men have to come along to "hold their hands".

Collective members in favour of men's participation include Resistance and Democratic Socialist Party activists. One member, Marina Carman, told Green Left Weekly: "At a time when the business-backed Sydney Women's Festival is threatening to become the major IWD event in Sydney, it is worrying that the collective chose to narrow its support.

"Viewing IWD's only significance as 'women getting together as women' is a narrow, apolitical and defeatist approach. At the moment, IWD is the most significant political mobilisation for women's rights every year and it does make a difference — to all who attend, to those who get involved as a result, and to all who know that it still happens every year and who hear about the demands its is raising."

Carman argues that IWD should be seen as a springboard to rebuild the women's liberation movement. This means organising collectives should be very clear about the message they send out. "Excluding men from the march promotes the separatist idea that men shouldn't see women's rights as something they also need to be campaigning for, that men shouldn't and can't play any role.

"Women have to lead the movement for our own liberation. That's why Resistance and the Democratic Socialists support a women-only organising collective. But to be able to win our liberation, we need a movement that has the strength to change public opinion and force massive changes in laws and government policy. This sort of movement will require drawing support from other movements — anti-racism, gay and lesbian, environment, trade union and other movements — all of which involve men."

There is nothing empowering or radical about excluding a potential base of support, Carman argues. It would be political suicide, for instance, for the anti-racism movement in Australia to exclude the active support of white people.

"A large, inclusive IWD march with clear demands is much more threatening to the sexist status quo than a smaller women-only march of people who don't even think it will help to win their demands.

"Some women may feel like bringing their partners. Many brothers, friends, partners and comrades have marched with women for decades on IWD. This is not a negative thing. Having the biggest, strongest movement possible is what will give women the most confidence to fight for their liberation and to assert themselves in their daily lives."

Despite an in-principle decision against men's participation, the collective decided against "policing" this strenuously. At the beginning of the march the collective will announce that the march is women- and children-only, but that men can show their support on the footpath along the route.

Resistance and the Democratic Socialists are planning to initiate a public meeting after IWD to discuss this important issue further.

The IWD collective meets at the Green Iguana Café, 6 King St Newtown, 6:30 pm every Thursday.