Women’s Strikes: Past, Present, and Future

On the weekend before the March 8 International Women's Strike// Paro Internacional de Mujeres #8M—“A Day Without a Woman”— Free University - NYC invites people to Mayday Space to reflect upon past histories of women’s strikes in order to learn from their breakthroughs and challenges as we prepare for our own. In advance, please check out some brief readings below. During the event, we will feature three short presentations on international examples of women’s strikes, followed by group dialogues, and ample time to make signs afterwards. With this interactive event, we’ll get ready for the March 8 strike, as we prepare for what comes next for NYC and global women's liberation work.

Everyone please bring snacks, posterboard, and markers to share.

**********
Speakers:
Magally A. Miranda Alcazar will discuss how 2016 women's strikes in Poland and Argentina against bans on abortions and femicide set into motion an international women’s movement with a call to strike on March 8, International Working Women’s Day. Many in the U.S. will join this strike not only to protest the misogynist president, but also to address wider grievances such as violence against women - especially trans women of color - and other issues related to feminized labor.

Tatiana Cozzarelli will discuss the 2015 student strike at the State University of Rio de Janiero, which occupied the university for nearly a month. Students struck against government cuts to education, late scholarship payments to low-income students, and the lack of salary payment to subcontracted workers who are overwhelmingly Black women.

Ximena Goldman will discuss the struggle of Mexican women maquiladora workers against femicide and for labor rights on the border with the United States, most of whom work for large U.S. companies.

***********
Suggested readings:
"Beyond Lean-In: For a Feminism of the 99% and a Militant International Strike on March 8": https://viewpointmag.com/2017/02/03/beyond-lean-in-for-a-feminism-of-the-99-and-a-militant-international-strike-on-march-8/

"Striking on International Women’s Day Is Not a Privilege":
https://www.thenation.com/article/striking-on-international-womens-day-is-not-a-privilege/

“Towards an Internationalist Feminism Rooted in the Working Class”: http://www.leftvoice.org/Towards-an-Internationalist-Feminism-Rooted-in-the-Working-Class

"The Iceland women’s strike, 1975": https://libcom.org/history/iceland-women%E2%80%99s-strike-1975

"Liberian women act to end civil war, 2003": http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/liberian-women-act-end-civil-war-2003

(Further compiled readings: goo.gl/lU390U)

**********
Facilitation guide and group dialogue questions: goo.gl/TNwqq6

**********
Inclusivity/accessibility/care notes:
This event will be on the 3rd floor. The building does not have an elevator. Gender neutral restrooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floor.
We can provide any of our documentation in larger print upon request. Please email if you have questions or want to let us know how to make our event more inclusive.

Note: Childcare will be provided for this event! If you are in need of childcare, please send an email to FreeUniversityNYC@gmail.com and include the age(s) of the child(ren).
**********
Graffiti by Mujeres Creando: https://www.mujerescreando.org/