International Women's Day, 8 March 
SACP Statement Globalisation is Harsh on Women
 

The 8th of March is celebrated internationally as International Women’s Day. On this day, the South African Communist Party (SACP) wishes to salute the millions of women throughout the world who refuse to submit to gender oppression and are engaged in various struggles for their emancipation.

In fighting for gender equality, the SACP is concerned about the effects of globalisation on women across the world. The impact of globalisation on women has been harsh. Globalisation has exploited gender inequalities and deepened and reinforced them in several ways. Globally, over the last two and half decades governments have slashed budgets for health care, education
and pensions. These measures have thrown millions of women back into the invisible realm of “private”, unpaid reproductive labour.

The “Poverty Hearings” conducted by SANGOCO in 1998 revealed the following:

• Poor women are trapped in abusive relationships because of their economic dependence
• The reproductive roles given to women limit their ability to conduct sustainable economic activity
• Women get employed in the most exploitative areas of labour because of their low level of education and skills
• Women have more difficulties in accessing land
• And because of their subservient status women are more likely to contract HIVAIDS than men
• Women, especially unemployed women in rural areas, townships and informal settlements experience the worst effects of poverty.

Therefore the focus and starting point for defining and analysing poverty and gender  equality will have to be poor women themselves.

South Africa also faces an increasing scourge of violence against women with limited access to justice and support. The SACP opposes violence against women and understands it as part of the oppression of women in society. The SACP programme for the year 2000 includes a strong campaign on violence against women. It is important that all of us act against violence against
women. The SACP calls on South African men to take steps to stop violence against women.

The SACP argues that the struggle for gender equality must be linked to the struggle for a new society based on equality, democracy, freedom and socio-economic justice. For the SACP, such a society is a socialist society, which requires the meeting of our people’s basic needs.

CONTACT:

Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel: 011 339-3621/2
Fax: 011 339-4244
Cell: 083 651 0271
Email: sacp1@wn.apc.org