Reviving the fight against sexism
I FULLY support the protesters against sexism and victim-blaming (SlutWalks) across the country. Reading the report of their struggle ("Walking to say we've had enough") brought back memories.
In the late 1970s, I worked as a secretary at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I was a member of the working-women's union "9 to 5" and a women's collective. We formed our collective instead of joining the National Organization of Women (NOW), since our goals differed from those of the mainstream women's movement.
For us, freedom meant ridding ourselves of our oppressive bosses once and for all, not attaining our piece of the corporate pie by hoping to become a professional.
UPenn had a busy main walkway which connects key parts of the campus. It was lined along one side with frat houses. One tradition the frat boys enjoyed was sitting on the roofs and holding cards with numbers to rate the women as they walked by. As if this was not sexist enough, they would call out obscenities.
My sisters in 9 to 5 and our collective were young, defining our liberation. As part of that liberation, we fought to feel comfortable with our bodies and our sexuality. Yet despite that, or maybe because of it, we were assaulted by those frat boys.
I organized, along with my fellow co-workers, a campaign to formally complain and protest to the campus administration. We won, and the frat boys' well-loved tradition was shut down.
At first, I hesitated to write this response. Part of me felt, yes, we won back then, but we also must have failed since our sisters today still have to endure this sexism and victim-blaming for simply walking down the street dressed as we please. Part of me also felt it was a small victory and, after all, so long ago. What relationship to today's struggle could it possibly have?
But, then, that momentary despair I felt remembering my struggle was turned to pride and joy as I learned of these protesters who are still fighting capitalism and all its oppressive "isms."
Yes, they are fighting it still. But the struggle is still there not because we haven't learned any lessons or have forgotten the struggles of the past, but because the capitalist oppressors are still in power.
Reading SocialistWorker.org, I learn that people haven't given up, and we won't give up until we've won. And I fully believe that we will win one day.
Christine Pisaro, from the Internet
