We need to address the epidemic of violence that is unleashed against women around the world, and the urgent need to take action to stop it. Because of their position in society, women are leaders of many of the movements for economic and social justice that are appearing everywhere. Women are poorer than men in all racial and ethnic groups. The attacks on women’s standard of living as a result of cutbacks in federal and state aid programs is leaving millions homeless and in abject poverty. Women led the teachers’ strike in Chicago, and are leading water struggles in Detroit, and the fight against foreclosures in the U.S. In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, they’re fighting against the killings of young girls and women. In the Middle East they led rallies and marches during the Arab Spring. There are countless more examples.
The ruling class aims to disarm women leaders and make them examples to hold back these struggles. This new trend of governmental violence against women is part of their strategy to disrupt movements for social change. These perpetrators of State violence manhandle, beat, and even rape and kill women protestors in demonstrations, rallies and marches. It is part of the developing culture of fascism, and like the other forms of that culture, it rises from historical roots.
The attack on women is justified by male supremacy — a centuries-old cluster of ideas about women — that upholds and perpetuates a society in which women are not allowed to be equal to men. There is a long history of violence used to control women. In the U.S. today, there is a reported rape every 6.2 minutes. A woman is beaten every nine seconds in this country. It’s the number-one cause of injury to American women. Two million women are injured annually, with more than half a million requiring medical attention. Last year over 1000 women were murdered by their spouses and ex-spouses. Many of these crimes go unreported because women are afraid that their attackers will hurt them worse if they do, and because they know the courts are often prejudiced against them. Therefore, many violent crimes against women go unpunished.
This is a perfect seed-bed in which fascism can flourish. Human life no longer has the value it once had. This has its roots in an economy which no longer needs very many workers, now that robots and computers are replacing them by the millions. We are calling on our readers to begin to develop a culture to oppose this deadly fascist culture that is killing our people. When we are confronted with attacks on women we all must speak up – and step up – to stop them. We must all make sure that we are not holding on to ideas or attitudes that women are inferior to men, because this will prevent our movement from forming the unbreakable bond of unity that we need. We must fight for women’s equality now, so we can win a society that provides for all, where that equality can be won and secured.
