To mark International Women?s Day (8 March) this year, the Committee for a Workers’ International is publishing a collection of nine articles contributed by members of our sections across the globe.
By Clare Doyle, CWI

Alexandra Kollantai is probably the best-known woman among Russian revolutionaries, the first woman elected as a full member of the Bolshevik central committee and the first female commissar (minister) elected after the October 1917 revolution.
By Christine Thomas, 2003

Will Thorne of the Gasworkers’ Union, writing in 1925 about Eleanor Marx’s suicide on 31 March 1898 said: “But for this tragedy, I believe Eleanor would have still been living and would have been a greater women’s leader than the greatest of contemporary women.”

Rosa Luxemburg was born in Poland, 1871 - the year of the Paris Commune. In her short lifetime she experienced three major revolutions and participated in the most important debates amongst socialists internationally.

As socialists we argue that it is always the right of a woman to make decisions about her own fertility. This includes the right to choose to terminate her pregnancy and to have access to a safe accessible public health system.
By Samantha Ashby, SP Newcastle, NSW (from latest issue of The Socialist)

In 2005, socialists celebrate the revolutionary events that swept Russia one hundred years ago. Russia, in 1905, saw mass political general strikes and the creation of the first soviets or elected councils of workers? deputies - the most democratic, fighting organisations in the life and death struggle against autocracy and against the exploiting classes.

By Jessica Johnston
There’s nothing wrong with me the way I am. However, when I look in the mirror I see a FAT girl named Jennifer. Not ever good enough or right enough or pretty enough.? (www.eating.ucdavis.edu) That’s how one anorexia victim described herself.

Will the banning of headscarves contribute to the emancipation of women?
French President Jacques Chirac?s plans to ban all “ostentatious” religious symbols, including Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses, from public schools, has triggered widespread anger, especially amongst Muslims and Arabic countries.

Women against war and capitalism
The day of international working women’s solidarity – 8 March – is celebrated this year just days before the first anniversary of imperialism’s attack on Iraq.
Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) Statement. CWI is the international organisation that the Socialist Party is affiliated to.

THE EQUAL Opportunities Commission in Britain recently published an ‘equality’ survey to coincide with the 75th anniversary of all women over 21 securing the vote. The publicity this attracted prompted two readers of The Socialist (CWI UK paper) to give their opinions of the survey and its conclusions.