Speeches made by women for women cutting across the community and class struggle of Malaysia rang out loud. But it wasn’t long before criticisms against the rally for being radical and “kecoh” (troublemaking) descended. It was then that it struck me!

As a society, we seem to have forgotten the radical roots of IWD as it becomes more accepted, mainstream and dare I say, commercialised? By all means, please keep the flowers and gifts coming but also join us on the streets to amplify the class struggles unique to women.

The IWD’s origin story is not one that can be fixated on a specific incident or date. However, the spirit of it remains constant - IWD is rooted in socialism and the conditions of working women at the turn of the last century when women were not only labouring within their homes but began to become a force in the industry.

Far before the United Nations formally acknowledged March 8 as the IWD, records attribute several incidents between the months of February and March from the mid-1800’s until the early 1900’s in America and Europe as the starting point for women’s rallies and protests for solidarity and improved working conditions.

Let’s not forget this was an era when women in most ’developed’ societies were denied the right to vote.

Notable events include the strike of women workers in a New York garment and textile company in 1908, leading to a commemoration by the Socialist Party of America on Feb 28 the next year.

Clara Zetkin, the editor of the German Socialist Democratic party’s women’s newspaper, then formulated a day to commemorate solidarity for the liberation of women inspired by Bastille Day rallies in Paris.

In 1911, IWD was marked for the first time (March 19) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies.

In 1917, women in Russia protested against the war for “Peace, Land and Bread” and helped sparked the Russian Revolution. After women gained the right to vote in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there.

The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until its adoption by the feminist movement in the late 1960s.

The socialist view that all workers are equal, and hence, women are part of the working class and will be united within the class struggle, is insufficient. This is because women face additional oppression that is unique to their gender.

Hence, even the hypothetical overthrow of capitalism will not remove the systemic oppression of women. Recognising the struggles of women as an equal part of the class struggle is important to move towards a more inclusive society.

Now, annually and across the globe – be it Poland, India, South Korea or Spain - women’s day marches are clarion calls of solidarity in the struggles against discrimination and violence towards women. However, and once again, this is contrary to a popular notion - that the culture of protests and radical movements for the struggles of women are only Euro-centric - they are actually also very much rooted in our anti-colonial past.

The first nationalist women organisation in Malaya was the Angkatan Wanita Sedar (Awas), the women wing of Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya, which was led by Shamsiah Fakeh.

The women of Awas were involved in anti-colonial struggles which also included participating in strikes such as the All-Malaya Hartal of 1947, protests and proposals in the People’s Constitution, among other activities. Shamsiah went on to participate in the anti-colonial armed struggle, spending many years in exile.

The IWD, having been rooted in class struggle and solidarity of women, reflected the differing needs and conditions of women. In Malaysia, an intersectional approach is what fits best given our colonial history, diversity and status of being a developing country. The class struggle of women in Malaysia cuts across the economic divide as much as it does the societal divide.

The participation and speeches of the IWD march in Malaysia in both 2018 and 2019 reflected this.

We had women representing indigenous tribes highlighting their struggle to protect their livelihoods and the impact of government policies on their way of life.

There were also women advocating for women’s safety at their workplace and eradicating domestic violence.

There were calls for acknowledging unwaged domestic labour demands, better sex education and other forms of gender equality including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.

These calls, thus far – have been heard, but that is just the first step.

So, this IWD, here’s to moving towards a more radical and bold mobilisation against the struggles faced by women across this country and around the world.

And again, Wanita bangkit!

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Nivetha Sri Shanker

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