"You march in Paris, yet uphold laws any religious fundamentalist would envy"

India: Rage against rape

"This system’s mind-set perpetuates hatred against women and disregards the fundamental right of women for freedom"

By New Socialist Alternative (CWI India)

Protests have broken out across India following the gang rape of a young women on a bus in Delhi which are now likely to continue following the victim’s tragic death. These protests, and the initial brutal attacks on protestors in Delhi, have brought to the fore the questions not just of women’s safety and rights but also of police and political corruption and oppression rooted in both India’s feudal legacy and modern capitalist development. Following this link you will find a statement which New Socialist Alternative, CWI supporters in India, has produced.

Rape is no joke!

http://rapeisnojoke.com

One brave woman in the audience of a Daniel Tosh comedy gig heckled “rape jokes are never funny” after he had told several in a row. He responded by asking the audience: “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by, like, five guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her?”

We’re not laughing. And neither are the 80,000 women who are raped every year in the UK alone. Rape jokes seem to be becoming more and more prevalent – led by high profile comedians like Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr, and taking over at open mic nights all over the country.

This ‘comedy’ is lazy and un-intelligent. But it also, combined with prolific violent pornography on the internet, ‘lads mags’ in every corner shop and aggressive sexual imagery in advertising, adds to a culture that accepts, and even glorifies rape and sexual assault.

This is in the context of increasing attacks on women by politicians. Tory justice minister Ken Clarke suggested some types of rape are “less serious” than others. George Galloway claimed that even if the allegations against Julian Assange were true they wouldn’t constitute rape but merely “bad sexual etiquette” because if a woman “goes to bed” with a man they are “already in the sex game”. And its not just a matter of words either – services that support victims of sexual violence are being cut to the bone.

It is estimated that only 15% of rapes are reported to the police. This is partly because of the mixture of emotions many women feel after being attacked. But it also because, given the fact that only 7% of reported rapes result in conviction, women fear not being take seriously. Rape jokes only add to this.

We’ve had enough. Instead of having to make a stand individually, like the brave woman at the Tosh gig, we should challenge this sexism together.

That’s why Socialist Students has set up Rape Is No Joke – a campaign for comedy without misogyny. We want comedians to sign our pledge that they won’t tell rape jokes. We want venues and organisers to agree not to host anyone who does. And we want to educate to begin to tackle the attitude that rape is something to be laughed at. Get involved with the campaign to make rape jokes a thing of the past.

Bristol Socialist Party meeting: Women and the Cuts - Tuesday 24th May

Bristol Socialist Party: Women and Cuts

Tuesday 24th May 2011

7.30pm

Cheltenham Road Library, Bristol, BS6 5QX

Public sector cuts run the risking of turning the clock back for women’s equality. Women make up two-thirds of the public sector workforce and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development estimates that 725,000 public sector jobs will be lost due to cuts. Our guest speak from Socialist Party Wales will look at how the cuts could devastate the lives of millions of working class women. Please come along and share your views.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150012665067874

BBC: Witness Rosa Luxemburg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00f32rc/Witness_Rosa_Luxemburg


A short radio piece to celebrate International Women's Day - in the words of Lenin, 'The Eagle of the Revolution'. Find a selection of her many excellent Marxist writings here: http://www.marxists.org/archive/luxemburg/index.htm

Bristol Socialist Party meeting: Women and the struggle for socialism TODAY 8th March 7.30pm

Bristol Socialist Party: Women and the struggle for socialism

Tuesday 8th March 2011

7.30pm

Cheltenham Road Library, Bristol, BS6 5QX

This International Women's Day meeting will discuss the consequences of the economic crisis and its aftermath for women. Will the important changes for women that have taken place unwind? Are inequality, discrimination and oppression inevitable in our lives? At this meeting Frankie Langeland will discuss the issues explored in a new book published by the Socialist Party. To order a copy visit http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/Resourcesframe.htm or ring Martyn on 07961095348

Bristol Socialist Party - Women and the Struggle For Socialism 6/12/10

Women and the Struggle for Socialism - a talk by Jean Walker

Cheltenham Road Library, Cheltenham Rd, Bristol, BS6 5QX - Tuesday 23/11/10 7.30pm

What consequences will the economic crisis and its aftermath have for women? Will the important changes for women that have taken place unwind? Are inequality, discrimination and oppression inevitable in our lives? At this meeting Jean Walker  will discuss the issues explored in a new book published by the socialist party, to order a copy visit http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/Resourcesframe.htm.

The Socialist Party is dedicated to struggling against all forms of oppression and exploitation - and with the quickly unfolding fight-back against the ConDem cuts, there has never been a better - or more important - time to get involved. Please come along - contact Matt Gordon ma_gordon@hotmail.co.uk or call 07936712962

Find us here - we are on bus routes: 70, 71, 72, 73, 73A, 73B, 75, 76, 309, 310, U1 and U2.

New book - Women and the Struggle for Socialism

Women and the Struggle for Socialism
It doesn't have to be like this
Christine Thomas

What consequences will the economic crisis and its aftermath have for women? Will the important changes for women that have taken place unwind? Are inequality, discrimination and oppression inevitable in our lives?

Price £5.99 - Available from Bristol Socialist Party