Women Fight Back is a pamphlet which specifically aims to explain to 'ordinary women' why women suffer a whole range of inequalities in British society today, to explain what changes are needed, and how the battle for such changes should be developed. It is written in straightforward language, clearly organised into sections on different aspects of women's lives: women and work, the family, women in struggle, the trade unions, women and socialism. It is interspersed with quotations from women militants and working class housewives. It attempts to provide an analysis of women's position in society and a strategy for changing this in a way which will be meaningful to large numbers of working class women. In themselves these aims are worthwhile, if understood to be one part of a strategy to explain and challenge capitalist society and its oppression of women. It is unfortunate then, that the pamphlet approaches 'ordinary women' in a rather patronising way, achieves simplicity at the expense of a narrow economist analysis of the position of women in society, and includes an assessment of the women's liberation movement which is both confused and factually inaccurate.
For example the analysis of the family is not so much wrong as incomplete. The woman's work in the family is (correctly) described as providing a valuable service for the employing class - the production of the intelligent and healthy workers so necessary to keep the wheels of industry turning. Because it does not directly produce profits the woman's work is constantly undervalued, and is of course unpaid; the needs of women as wives and mothers (for contraception, nurseries, etc.) have very low priority. But the whole thrust of the analysis is concerned with the economic significance of the family and its effects on the woman within it. So, important questions like the ideological importance of the family within capitalism are ignored. SIMPLE TERMS The political weakness and isolation of housewives is recognised, and although the organtsation of housewives to resist rent and price rises, to demand nurseries, etc., appears to be "a good thing', it is not at all clear why this is so. For, we are told, "Most important of all we must get together and organise to fight for our rights at work - the place where it's easiest for us to produce results" (p. 20). The fight against capitalism is seen in rather simple Hear ALAIN KRIVINE of the Ligue Communiste (French section of the Fourth International)
-candidate in the French elections -former Presidential candidate speak on: 'THE FRENCH ELECTIONS AND THE TASKS OF THE LEFT' Wednesday, 7th March at 7.30 p.m.
Old Town Hall, Hampstead, N.W.3.
(nearest tube: Belsize Park)
Meeting organised by London IMG IRELAND: National Liberation and Socialist Revolution. Public Debate between the IMG and 'Militant'. IMG speakers: Bob Purdie (National Organiser, AIL), Gery Lawless. "Militant' speakers: Peter Taffe (Editor, "Militant'), Peter Haddon (Belfast Y.S.). Friday, 2nd March, 8 p.m., Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London W.C.1.
IMG/SOCIALIST WOMAN FORUMS-New series of meetings on issues relating to the oppression of women. First will take place on Monday, 26 Feb, at the Duke of York pub, York Way, nr Kings Cross, at 7.45 p.m.
Subject: "The Role of the Family'. Speaker:
Linda Smith. All welcome. - REVIEWS— RE ECONOMICS