- Opening rally Townhall Square: international fights
- Interim rally St. Ulrich: anti-sexist fights
- Interim rally City Galerie: anti-capitalistic fights
- Closing rally Townhall Square: labour struggle
Opening rally Townhall Square
Fstrk Aux
The crises are rooted in the system – feminist strikes worldwide!
From the evacuation of a geriatric home in Augsburg to the closure of the obstetrics clinic in Bobingen – the crisis in the health system is real. Conflicts in the already sparse
accommodation for refugees are coming to a head, and not just because of the war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, the energy crisis is hitting Augsburg’s low-income earners the hardest, especially single parents. We know: The
crises are rooted in the system! We know: Capitalism and patriarchy are responsible for it! We do not want to accept this! We are on strike!
Who lives in geriatric and nursing homes with often inhumane conditions? 61.6 percent are women. Who works in the care sector with intolerable working conditions? Slightly more than
three-fourth of paid care workers are women. Who belongs to those who live at the subsistence level? 17.5 percent of German women were affected by income poverty in 2021, in contrast to 15.7 percent of men. Among those in
marginal employment, the proportion of women is also greater than that of men. And in old age, the so-called “interrupted employment biographies” of women take their revenge: 20 percent of single women over 65 are
considered poor and this is due to more frequent part-time employment and loss of earnings due to responsibilities of children and relatives.
We speak of women because the data only covers women. Yet it is clear that other people not perceived as male – FLINTAs – are also the disadvantaged in this system. FLINTAs means women, lesbian, inter, non-binary, trans, agender persons and anyone who does not fit into the binary logic of the cis-male dominated world. This includes Black people, people from the BIPoc community. Also people who cannot or do not want to submit to the logic of exploitation of the capitalist world. Most affected are those who belong to more than one of the above
categories. BIPoc stands for Black, indigenous people of colour, people who are read as non-white.
We say no to this male-dominated system!
All over the world, FLINTAs are rebelling against the oppression of patriarchal and capitalist systems: against the wars
that the rulers are fighting on the backs of the people; against the climate catastrophe that is still denied or ignored by too many decision-makers; against right-wing forces that are gaining more and more power with their
backward-looking ideologies.
The slogan “Jin Jiyan Azadi” (Women Life Freedom) of the revolutionary Kurdish movement is currently echoing throughout the world through the women-led revolution in Iran:
from Latin America to Rojava (North-East Syria) and Tehran to Europe! As a loud sign against the restriction and denial of human rights. Together we fight the feminist struggles for a society where a good life is possible
for all. Together we also fight against gender injustice, for sexual and bodily self-determination and for “a world where many worlds fit” – as the Zaptista movement puts it.
We, the Feminist Strike Committee Augsburg, stand in solidarity with the feminist struggles worldwide and with those on our doorstep. The crises are rooted in the systems! They are
home-made and we have it in our hands to end these injustices!
We demand:
- Paid care work, because system-relevant activities such as child care, caring for relatives, friends, but also self care must not become an overload or an existential disadvantage.
- No profits with health & care! The problems in the health sector are not least caused by the privatisation of health institutions, which have to make money with care work and put profits above the well-being of the patients.
- Protection from violence & safe shelter in case of danger. The places in the women’s shelters in the district are nowhere near the legal requirements. FLINTAs in refugee accommodation need special protection services. There is also a lack of shelters and counselling centres for queer and trans people.
- Right to stay for everyone, because no person is illegal. Reasons for fleeing must not be allowed to determine the right to stay and the value of a person. Especially as many people will lose their livelihoods due to climate change, which will drastically increase so-called economic flight movements.
- Safe medical care for pregnant women, women giving birth & people who decide to have an abortion. Staff shortages and clinic closures endanger this human right in the region as well as throughout Germany!
- Time & opportunity for political participation! Overwork due to wage or care work, language barriers or the feeling of political powerlessness must not prevent people from active participation.
- Political support for politically persecuted activists, FLINTA & LGBTQIA+ people in Iran, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Rojava beyond expressions of solidarity.
Jinjiyanazadi_aux
On the feminist strike day we want to celebrate FLINTA who are fighting for equal rights as well as for the realization of a democratic system. After five months of the Jina Revolution, we want to take a look at the endless struggles of FLINTA in Iran, even before 2022.
The women’s movement formed even before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and reacted to gender relations that were not equal. After 79, alliances were formed more frequently, causing the
movement to grow tremendously as FLINTA were more oppressed than ever. To shut down political activism, the regime imprisoned, tortured, and made forced confessions on national television.
In the 1980s, when God was the greatest for the regime, and when the mothers of Khavaran were gathered in waiting rooms to collect the belongings of their executed children, they united and began the eternal struggle against the rulers of the Islamic Republic, until their last breath. They denounced the Islamic Republic for imprisoning, torturing and executing political activists.
The student movement and the increase in FLINTA’s presence at universities in the 1990s and 2000s brought the movement into a new phase – criticizing the Constitution and anti-women laws.
The repressive apparatus and supporting extrimist groups are increasing Series of acid attacks in the city of Isfahan, knife attacks and mysterious murders on FLINTA, and the recent large-scale chemical gas attacks on girls’ schools are examples of unchecked terrorism by the regime’s allies aimed at instilling insecurity and fear in society and pushing women back into the position of “children, kitchen, religion,” in addition to the restrictions placed on FLINTA by the Constitution and the Islamic Penal Code.
The oppression does not stop and yet it no longer works, the social change that is no longer compatible with the current regime and its traditions and laws is visible: FLINTA sit in environmental NGOs, social works and LGBTQI and human rights NGOs
We want to make clear: Even before the revolution under the motto “Woman, Life, Freedom” there were many examples of rebellions by women against the system.
Here it is to be mentioned that the slogan of the revolution Jin Jiyan azadi, i.e. woman life freedom, is the basis, guiding idea and slogan of the Kurdish freedom movement. This has the approach that a society can only be as free as the women in this society are.
The death of Jina Mahsa Amini was the trigger for a new movement for the rights of FLINTA and the current attempts to silence the movement show again the deep hatred of the regime towards
FLINTA. This system can only survive through repression.
It is obvious that the protest and women’s movement in Iran, will no longer bow to the Islamic dictatorship, and sooner or later it will win and become a new model in the world for the
struggle for human rights.
ZAM e. V.
We ally ourselves with the Kurdish and Iranian FLINTA, who have opened a perspective of overthrowing the regime and changing the system in the first place.
We ally ourselves with the Kurdish freedom fighters and women in Rojava who see the struggle against sexism and patriarchy as the most important struggle and offer a perspective to all who strive for a world based on women’s liberation, ecological principles and socialist values.They want to offer a perspective on how a society without oppression and exploitation can organize itself.
We ally ourselves with the women in Afghanistan who are taking to the streets against the Taliban’s rules that prevent women and girls from exercising their basic rights to expression, freedom and education, despite fears of arrest, torture and murder.
We ally ourselves with the feminist struggles in Latin America, which, in addition to the classical struggles of feminism such as the right to abortion, against patriarchal violence and political participation, and who militantly demand a radical questioning of neoliberal capitalism, e.g. in Chile.
We ally ourselves with all feminist struggles worldwide that fight against oppression and for equality.
Yeni Kadin Plattform Augsburg
Hello dear women and dear comrades,
Merhaba, kizkardeslerimiz,
Hevale delal, Serseran Sercavan,
Today all over the world women are taking to the streets against the patriarchal capitalist system.
March 8 is a call for resistance.
March 8 is the struggle to reclaim our rights and freedoms that have been taken/stolen from
us.
March 8 is the struggle to rewrite history with a female gender consciousness.
March 8 is a resistance and struggle against patriarchal society.
A society that oppresses women, enslaves them, exploits their labour and makes them the second sex. With the current economic crisis and rising prices, impoverishment
has drastically increased. In this crisis, the potential for violence against women and children is also increasing, as is racism and sexism.
Violence against women has become a femicide. Every day, almost 150 women worldwide lose their lives to male violence. Male violence, because of which we have also
been turning our attention to Iran for weeks.
Jina Amini became a symbol of the struggle for freedom, and with Jina Amini, the slogan Jin Jiyan Azadi is now rising up around the world. In Iran, women continue
to make history with their struggle against patriarchy, risking death and torture.
Let’s take a look at Turkey.
Under the AKP regime, violence against women has increased by 1400%.
1400%. Let it sink in. The pressure on women is increasing. Women MPs, journalists, students are arrested, women are harassed in public. Rights and freedoms are
under attack. Rights that women have won at the cost of their lives. Women in Turkey know very well that a much darker time lies ahead if they do not fight the patriarchy. Despite all the oppression from the male and state
violence, they are taking to the streets.
The Women’s Movement gives hope, because it is the strongest resistance movement in Turkey. There, women of all nationalities (Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian
women) join together and defend their rights and fight for gender equality.
I would also like to say a few words about the Istanbul Convention.
The Istanbul Convention calls for the elimination of discrimination against women and the elimination of all inequalities. It has been signed by many European countries.
The document guarantees the fight against male dominance and calls for the empowerment of women. The Istanbul Convention is a very important step and great success in the prevention of violence against women, and yet its requirements
are not met.
We take a look into the wider world and see all the corruption and oppression. A reality that threatens our freedom and our lives. A reality that we need to change.
Men profit from the patriarchal capitalist system. They will not change this reality.
For a change we have to unite.
Because we women want a just world – a world free of violence.
We want a future without wars and crises and without a patriarchal capitalist system.
We will never walk alone, let’s strengthen women’s solidarity even more. JIN JIYAN AZADI Women Life Freedom
No means no
Interim rally St. Ulrich
Fstrk Aux
One arena of feminist struggle are the bodies of Flinta* persons. FLINTA* is an acronym that stands for female, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender persons.
We oppose all patriarchal categories into which our bodies are pressed: not beautiful enough, too beautiful, too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, too black, too Asian, too pale,
too many children, too few children, too young, too old, too sexy, too tomboy – the list is endless.
We are not objects, we are our own subjects – with all our strengths, weaknesses, qualities and characteristics. We have all internalised such patriarchal thought patterns and it
is up to all of us to actively unlearn them.
Particularly perfidious are the attacks by self-proclaimed feminists on the bodily self-determination of trans and inter people.
Patriarchal arguments are repeated here on the backs of trans people: so-called Trans Excluding Radical Feminists, TERFs for short, assign trans, agender and inter people their biological
sex in an alienated way or simply deny the existence of the categories trans and inter. They defend the binary gender structure. Not surprisingly, TERFs are increasingly joining forces with right-wing structures. TERFs or
right-wingers – both want to protect the binary category of “woman” and in doing so reinforce patriarchal thought patterns and gender categories. This is not feminist and solidary, but divisive and exclusionary.
Exclusion instead of solidarity – that is not our feminism! We stand in solidarity with the feminist struggles of trans, agender and inter people. For the right to bodily self-determination
for all!
The existing system uses stigma and hatred to limit the bodily and sexual self-determination of FLINTA*s.
- This includes constricting role stereotypes such as those addressed by Frau Tacheles serviert! in her speech.
- This includes the scandalous medical care situation that pregnant women face in Augsburg, as the Medical Students for Choice will address.
- It includes the bigotry regarding Flinta* bodies, as the Oben-Ohne-Kollektiv will speak about.
- This includes the discrimination and othering of queer people, that is , the attribution of being “different” or not “normal” in the sense of heteronormative
society. Miranda Ala will talk about this.
- Finally, the Queer-AG of the Open Antifa Meeting will say something about the situation of trans people, the experience of violence and TERFs. Once again, the awareness team is there for you if you feel uncomfortable with the content and if you want to talk.
Frau Tacheles serviert!
What I want
I want the obvious.
I want, the equality that is not up for negotiation,
that was promised to me on paper,
but does not arrive in reality and in our daily lives.
I want my worth NOT to be measured,
by the color of my skin,
my sexual orientation and
and certainly not by my genitals!
I want,
a life without the straitjacket of role clichés.
I want to decide about my body,
without having to justify myself to anyone.
My body my choice
I want the female orgasm to have the same value as the male one.
I don’t want your fear,
because your fear infiltrates my brain,
locks me up and sets limits where there should be none.
I want more shamelessness.
Because a free mind is followed by a free body that unhinges the world.
I want to move freely,
because my life is a presence event
by day and by night.
I want moral courage.
I want us to break through the glass ceiling, because we need a breath of fresh air.
I want, free development without the constant phrase in my head “what
will people think?”
I want a life away from the perfectionism mania.
No, I want to fall on my face and be able to get up again with momentum!
I want honesty,
that otherwise remains unspoken,
that opens eyes.
I want open conversations.
In which we put everything on the tray for everyone to see.
So that we recognize,
that reality has nothing to do with the clichés constantly
produced in the media,
but with you and with me
in the here and now.
I want that we also get rid of our prejudices
and that we stop criticizing each other.
I want us FLINTA*S to demand more participation from men.
Good parenting is not dependent on gender.
Trust fathers more,
don’t ignore them, but involve them.
and
teach them the knowledge that you have received since childhood.
Patriarchy does not die out on its own.
It must be carried to the grave.
Every day a little bit.
With every gesture that is rejected.
With every stupid saying that
is countered.
With every person who raises their voice against injustice.
With every demand until it becomes a matter of course.
With every protest that finds more and more supporters.
With every man who
recognizes that community is not at home in power imbalances and equality is a path we must walk together.
I want my courage to ignite yours.
Women unite!
Women in power!
Medical Student for Choice
Hello
everyone,
We are Katja and Greta, medical students in Augsburg and part of Medical students for choice which is a part of the group Critical Medicine Augsburg.
A safe, timely and affordable absorption is a human right. That’s not just our opinion but that of the World Health Organization as well as Amnesty. Abortion
is an essential part of bodily autonomy and as such fundamental for gender
equality, equal opportunities and a free life.
Why is it so hard, for a person carrying an unwanted pregnancy, to get an abortion?
It starts with finding a doctor. In Augsburg there is not a single one that officially performs an abortion after counseling — at 1000 people carrying an unwanted pregnancy and are thus forced to travel at least to Munich. That is an unacceptable gap in the provision of medical care. Augbsurg not the only and by far not the worst example. People all over Germany are affected by this tight supply situation.
On top of that, abortion is heavily stigmatized by the public. According to § 218 of the German penal code punishable by law. According to opponents murder and often harshly judged by friends and family. This stigmatization doesn’t only affect the person carrying the unwanted pregnancy but is also enforcing the inadequate provision of medical care as it is a lot harder for doctors to offer abortion.
Lastly, not only contraceptives are very expensive. Also abortion is and most of the time both are not covered by health insurance.
You
shouldn’t have to go to another city for a human right. You shouldn’t be
stigmatized for making use of a human right and you shouldn’t have to pay for a
human right.
That’s why we demand:
- A supply of abortion that is covering the needs!
- Free contraceptives and health insurance that covers abortion!
- No more stigmatization of abortion!
- No more §218!
- For a self-determined and free life!
My
body – my choice!
Oben-Ohne-Kollektiv
I wake up and I’m still hanging around a bit sluggish, but I know, today will be my day! So first shower, that’s gonna wake me up for sure. I cover myself briefly and
scurry into the bathroom. Uh, fresh the window was open during the night. So quickly under the warm shower and finally the sooting water runs over me. Oh yeah, freedom, fresh, wet.
Being out of the shower, I’m already fresher. A short question is sent to me: are my roommates here? Yes, the coffee machine is running. So I wrap myself in my towel, just
in case, and run back to my room. Off I go to get dressed for the feminist strike day. I look forward to this all year! First, the purple sweatpants get put on and then it’s my turn. And: I am bagged, until today it is
actually unclear to me why. Yes, why am I always bagged? Everywhere I am hidden, covered, and not discovered. Not even my contours are allowed to be seen, no. I am not allowed to be a part of this body. I am too visible without
a bra layer over me, I am offensive without a bikini over me, I am censored on the Internet, in the news they discuss about me.
I feel used because only trimmed I am needed. Yes, when it comes to sex, then they show me, then they put me on display. Only then I am needed. Then I have space. Yes, life as a
nipple on breasts is not so easy. If only everyone knew that.
Last summer, for example, I was swimming in the outdoor pool. Well, I wasn’t swimming. I was squeezed into tops and could only get a glimpse of the water. I wasn’t allowed
to ride the slide… And I wasn’t allowed to feel the sun on me and hang out like so many do. Many nipples hang freely in the summer, they bounce, and swing and jump. What do they have what I do not have? Isn’t the
question actually: what do I have that they don’t have? Exactly. I have sexualization. Because I am attached to breasts, I am sexualized and staged. In the open-air swimming pool I tried to defend myself, I just wanted
to be free, I peeked out for a moment, made room for myself and what did that get me? The pool attendant came and I was packed away again – so the statement of the green party apparently didn’t help.
But we did not want to stop and we remained uncomfortable. We complained and continued to fight – we established a connection with the green party. But they said we were too loud,
too much, too offensive, too complicated, too naked. Rewrite the bathing rules? That would be too controversial an act. “Theoretically it is not forbidden to swim with nipples, but to make a big fuss about it? What does
the CSU have to say about that?”
I didn’t care! Therefore we remained persistent- kept on asking, made suggestions: we need signs and education, so that everyone finally knows it and can feel free and safe!!!
“But no, that would be too risky!” Fighting for equality yes, but only quietly and within our means and only with broad social acceptance. And also only if it does not
disturb anyone, and if it is not so much effort, and if I can smile while doing it.
But that’s just no good, and that’s why we are here today, because today we say: NO!
I just want to chill, not justify myself, be free, hang out! Not ashamed of myself, but accept what I am. I want to have ease, be allowed to exist. I don’t want to have to stand
on a podium and discuss my justification for existence.
That’s why we’re doing it together today, being properly loud, taking the space and room we deserve. Literally letting off our anger and nipples! With many nipples, flags
and hanging breasts.
We will nipple the patriarchy away!!!
Miranda Ala
My name is Miranda Ala. I’m 30 years old, born in the Allgäu region of Germany, where I grew up.
I’m of Albanian descent and I was raised based on the traditions and rules of my family. How to be a proper woman, or how to be a proper man was a big part of that.
What I’ve learnt:
Cover your body if there are men around. Keep quiet and let men talk. Serve them, hide your feelings, suppress your needs, smile, be gentle and easy, step back and accept, that men always get away with their behaviour.
I’m a German Albanian woman. And I’m queer. But there is no queer in the world of my family. There is the determined life: man, woman, big wedding, at least two children. And of course look nice, so your man stays with you.
But that’s not who I am. I’m different. That’s what I’ve thought for so many years. I was ashamed, I hid, I got depressed and unhappy.
I had to follow my heart, but I didn’t know, that I could loose my family, my roots, everything. And I did it. I took my way. I burned down old bridges and built new one.
After ten years of being out in the open, finding myself and my voice, I’m able to stand here. I’m able to say, that I am a German-Albanian feminist – and have been ever since. I not only identify as German Albanian woman, because without that privilege of being born in Germany, my chances for an independent life as unmarried woman were bad.
I’m a part of that country and here’s my home. I’ve realized that I’m not that different and that I belong to a wonderful community. As a queer woman with migration background it’s all about: keep it up, trust and just do it. It’s worth it. There are solutions, perspectives, support and meaningful role models.
It took a long time for me to realize: the first feminist I’ve met was my own mother. My mother freed herself from an unhappy marriage while she was living in a foreign country with her two children. She wished for a better life for her children and herself – and made it happen. She was the first woman in our Albanian family who got divorced. “Scandalous!” said our relatives, but a blessing for us.
I’m very thankful for the experience because I learn so much. I’m thankful for the German system, even if there is some work to do. Here is room for more good:
- healthier thoughts and behaviour, which can save lives and open perspectives.
- organizations who work on accessibility and diversity.
- awareness for the necessity of feminism
Feminism is creative thinking.
Feminism means following your heart, being brave and authentic.
Feminism means taking new ways to prepare a good life for the next generations.
Queer-AG OAT
Since the speech came in on short notice we didn’t have the time to translate it. We’re sorry.
Interim rally City Galerie
Fstrk Aux
The crises are in the system – and the system is called capitalism!
Capitalism cements inequalities. Inequalities that are used to justify the exploitation of certain groups of people.
In the capitalist system, every human being has a value, which is based on the mostly random allocation of value to characteristics such as nationality, education, race, religion,
gender identity, sexual orientation, ability to work and others. All people experience different degrees of discrimination depending on these characteristics – be it racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, classism, ableism and
more.
The system plays privileged people against the less privileged: Man against woman, white against Black, rich against poor.
We reject this inhumane system!
Critique on capitalism needs feminism; needs anti-racism; needs anti-classism!
Only if we overcome devaluation and exclusion of certain groups of people is an end to capitalism possible! And only by ending capitalism is the end of devaluation and exclusion possible!
Fight with us for the anti-capitalist feminist utopia and an end to injustice!
Because we dream of a world in which neither reproduction nor production are subject to profit seeking of only a few people. Capitalist systems profit especially from the exploitation of reproductive activities, i.e. care work: this means tasks that keep people productive or alive: Cooking, washing, cleaning, childcare, care for the
elderly and sick. These activities are still mainly carried out by FLINTAs (women, lesbians, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people). Be it at home and unpaid or in low-paid care & education jobs. These activities
continue to be made invisible and devalued. But one thing is certain: these activities are crucial in order for the capitalist system to work. It is only through care work that people can do wage labour at all. Without care
work, the system would collapse! Hence our slogan: When we strike, the world stands still!
The crisis in the care sector also shows that the pursuit of profit is not compatible with humanity.
Globally, the labour power of FLINTA persons is thus exploited in two ways: as unpaid care work and in low-paid wage work. More frequent part-time employment and “baby breaks”
are also responsible for poor fincancial security at old-age and an ongoing financial dependency, which often also causes patriarchal violence.
We demand:
– Paid care work, because system-relevant activities such as childcare, caring for relatives and friends, but also caring for oneself, must not become an overload or an existential
disadvantage.
– No profits with health & care! The problems in the health system are not least due to the privatisation of health institutions, which have to make money with care work and put
profits above the well-being of the patients.
We also dream of a different way of working! A factory without bosses, like the collective VIO.ME in Thessaloniki. The workers occupied their company after it went bankrupt and have since been producing environmentally friendly soaps, which are also sold
by Die Seiferei in Augsburg. Production, sales, personnel management – the tasks in the factory rotate in a fixed rhythm, everyone pitches in and decisions
are made on a grassroots basis. This system has been working for 10 years. And it is threatened again and again from the outside – a fund company has bought the factory’s land and the workers fear for their utopia.
We support the struggle of VIO.ME & other lived utopias, of which there are many in the world.
We demand:
– meaningful economic perspectives instead of profit and growth at any price.
– a system that creates time & opportunity for political participation! Overwork due to wage or care work, language barriers or the feeling of political powerlessness must not
keep people from active participation.
But we also dream of a world where people have the freedom to pursue a profession regardless of financial, bureaucratic, moral or physical constraints. We demand political decisions that make it easier to enter care professions. We demand political decisions to adequately pay for and value
care work. Politics and society must create humane conditions for workers and patients.
We demand political framework conditions that on the one hand effectively combat human trafficking, but on the other
hand make self-determined sex work possible – unencumbered by pointless visits to the authorities and stigmatising health instructions.
We also demand an anti-racist immigration policy that does not divide people into undesirable “economic refugees”
and desirable professionals. The dying at the EU’s external borders must stop! We demand that refugees & other immigrants can live here under humane conditions and do not have to constantly fear for their residence
status or for being deported.
Not least, we dream of a system that takes the climate crisis seriously: Capitalism is causing the climate catastrophe, because it exploits natural resources – similar to care activities – which are at the same time the basis for all economic activity. Environmental damage & CO2
emissions are externalised from costs and ignored. If these were included into costs, there could no longer be a “business as usual” in the economy – it would just not be “profitable”.
Without a shift away from the consumption that capitalism demands and encourages, we are certain to miss any climate goals. It is no coincidence that we are standing in front of the
City Galerie for this anti-capitalist part of our demonstration. Climate catastrophes destroy livelihoods, kill people and cause large-scale refugee movements. They often affect women even more than men, most severely people
in the Global South. Meanwhile, it is also women & FLINTA, especially in the Global South, who are at the forefront of the fight against the climate crisis. The effects of the climate catastrophe, already clearly visible
today, will worsen if neither governments nor economy are willing to take effective measures, such as expanding public transport and cycling or a speed limit on motorways. Let’s take it into our hands to build pressure
from below!
In the following, the Offenes Frauentreffen Ausgburg and the Rote Jugend Schwaben talk about their anti-capitalist and anti-patriarchal demands. We would like to point out that the
contributions explicitly deal with violence. Talk to the awareness team if you are not feeling well and/or need to talk.
Offenes Frauentreffen Augsburg
Dear comrades, dear friends
All over the world, we are witnessing women taking to the streets to fight for a world beyond their oppression. These struggles are consistently tried to be smashed by the state. Looking at Iran we see how the struggles of women, who are fighting for nothing less than their future and their freedom, are tried to be extinguished with the highest form of aggression by the state. They do not shy away from confronting the protesters with violence in the streets, which even leads to deaths.
Looking at the women in Rojava, we see, how they are
fighting for a self-determined life. Their self-governing structures are
repeatedly attacked by the Turkish military.
But we don’t have to look that far for a fight against
patriarchy. Even here we women suffer under the patriarchal system, because it
goes hand in hand with capitalism.
The unpaid care work of women, as well as the low pay of of
so-called “women’s professions”, is essential for capitalism and
ensures the survival of this system, along with other mechanisms of oppression.
Therefore, there will never be real, sustainable solutions to our problems in this social structure. We will always be exposed to everyday sexism and constantly have to do underpaid or even unpaid work.
But we are not exposed to this situation without a fight.
Because if we put down our unpaid care work, we have the possibility to declare
war on this system and together build up pressure from below!
Let us take an example from our strong and courageous sisters worldwide!
When we’re on strike, the world stands still! For a life in freedom!
Rote Jugend Schwaben
Today is march 8th. The origins of march 8th come from the workers’ movement in the Soviet Union.
On March 8, 1917, women textile workers in Russia went on strike, ending the February revolution. 90,000 people marched the streets and fought for higher wages, better working conditions, shorter working hours and defended themselves against the unreasonable living conditions in capitalism. The German socialist Clara Zetkin then named March 8th the International Women’s Day to honor the role of women in the February Revolution.
Since then, on march 8th, we have been taking to the streets to draw attention to the situation of women in capitalism. Because even 106 years later we still have to fight for equality! As women, we face countless burdens everyday.
We are beeing threatened with sexual harassment everytime we leave the house – Sexual harassment beeing one of the many instruments of the patriarchy patriarchy – to keep us feeling small and weak, so that we don’t dare to rebel against this patriarchal system! And if we fight back, they won’t believe us: neither in our everyday life nor in court! This country, its Officials and its judges, prefer to believe the perpetrators than those affected. Especially women from Working class find it difficult to defend themselves against sexual harassment in the workplace, considering these are usually subject to a strong economic dependency. The state and capital will not protect us!
We need to combine a structure of self-defense-mechanism among women with women’s solidarity with other Women, practice, learn and live this combination!
So believe your sisters when they tell you about an assault. Support and protect each other! This state will not protect us, our sisters will!
In addition to the everyday danger of sexual harassment, women take on the majority of the unpaid housework: cleaning, cooking, washing, raising children. Proletarian women usually bear double the burden, since they are not only employed, but in addition to their paid work they take care of the unpaid housework. The unpaid work performed by women is neither valued nor rewarded. It remains invisible and becomes the subordinate to paid work.
Women are also exposed to a mental and psychological burden. In addition to the unpaid housework, many of them organize the everyday life of the family: the child has to go to school, the laundry or the shopping has to be done, and so on .
We demand that everyone, especially men, help their mothers and wives with the housework and help organize everyday life to a noticeable extent and to take responsibility for themselves!
And finally, we demand that unpaid work will be socialized!
In addition to the unpaid housework, most women are also workers. They will often be pushed into part-time jobs by gender roles. As a result, women earn less than men and are therefore more subject to economic dependencies. In addition, women are still not paid equally. We demand safe and decent working and living conditions! We demand that women earn the same wage as men!
A year ago, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine began. It is clear to all that war means death, suffering and Devastation. But the situation of women in war is rarely addressed. Not only do they have to watch their brothers and sons serve as cannon fodder for Capitalists to serve and die, women in particular fall victim to a specificweapon of war: rape. Rape is a common act of war committed by soldiers to prove once again the dominance of men over women and to demonstrate power over territory gained through war.
We challenge you all to fight wars worldwide! We demand an end to rape as a weapon of war!
But why is all that? Why are women still suppressed, after more than 200 years of struggle?
The answer is: capitalism has still not been overthrown!
Patriarchy and capitalism are closely intertwined and only with the fall of capitalism patriarchy will also fall and all genders will have the opportunity to lead a liberated life! Gender roles emerged to protect capitalistic structures. In addition, queer people get oppressed as a way of sanctioning patriarchal structures if you dare to rebel against gender roles.
Capitalism benefits from maintaining patriarchy. so It is convenient for capitalism that we do unpaid housework, it pushes us into the so-called women’s jobs with lower wages or stimulates our consumer behavior through crude beauty ideologies.
Capitalism benefits from keeping us women small and that we, thanks to female socialization, are way less likely to become revolutionary personalities in the first place.
In order to overthrow patriarchy and liberate all genders, capitalism must be deprived of its economic basis. Abolish Private ownership of factories, schools, universities, hospitals, so that the first prerequisites of women’s liberation can be met! Socialism is the first prerequisite for women’s liberation.
The second requirement is a social revolution within socialism. The Women’s revolution can only be over when all sexist and capitalist behaviors have been eradicated from our society.
The liberation of women is only over when our queer comrades-in-arms are not afraid of violence and discrimination and can lead an equal life!
Women’s liberation will end when all genders are liberated!
And therefore: join the fight against capital and patriarchy! Let’s tear down the foundation of patriarchy together! Down with capitalism! Down with the patriarchy!
Bread and roses for the workers! For socialism! For the women’s revolution!
Closing rally Townhall Square
Fstrk Aux
Feminist struggles for equal pay have a tradition.
The Goals of the „Allgemeiner Deutscher Frauenverein“ (General German Women’s Association), founded in 1865, were right of women to gainful employment that secures their
livelihood, equal pay for equal work and improved education for girls. The association was a reaction to the Lex Otto, a law that forbade women to publish newspapers or work as editors.
Patriarchal ideologies were responsible for occupational bans, voting bans and the depriviation of women & queers. Feminists at that time tried to achieve equality through the right
to education and work. Labor unions played an important role as organising groups in this context. Today, the women’s associations of Verdi or DGB campaign for issues of equality at work.
Last week, workers in the public transport sector went on strike. This was followed by warning strikes in hospitals and at the public utility company. Today, workers in day-care centres
and social institutions are on strike. The strikes show how much the system depends on these mainly flinta*-dominated professions. We stand in solidarity with the strikers & support their demands.
Silke Klos-Pöllinger from the Equal Pay Day Alliance and Verdi now speaks about their demands for equality at work as well as retirement provision.
In a passionate poem, the DGB women put their demands succinctly.
Ver.di
Dear women, dear participants,
Today, so many different groups are here to jointly set an example for real gender justice in this country. Together we do this every year with the Equal Pay Day Action Alliance,
which was out and about yesterday in the city centre with information, and for which I have the honour of speaking again today.
I am a labor unionist: because I know and want to convince that women have to organise and unite to fight for better wages, salaries and working conditions. In Augsburg and everywhere.
Because nothing works alone!
It is a scandal that in Germany women still earn on average 18 percent less than men. In Bavaria it is even 21 per cent less! That sets us almost at the bottom of the league in Germany.
It is a scandal that far too little is still being done to remove the many obstacles that prevent women from participating equally in working life: Too few childcare options, too few flexible working time models, too few part-time management positions, no fair sharing
of unpaid family work, still far too many mini-jobs without social security!
It is a scandal that in typical female professions in the health sector, in trade, in the services, they are still paid less than in typical technology-oriented so-called male professions!
Many employers shouldn’t be surprised if they can’t get any more skilled workers. Those who are looking for skilled workers cannot do without women! They have to change working
conditions and create better framework conditions. So finally: upgrade women’s jobs – not only through recognition and praise, but through financial upgrading and fair pay!
The trade union ver.di is currently on strike in the collective bargaining round in the public sector: today, for example, workers in the municipal social and educational services
went on strike. Please support your female colleagues and other public sector workers and stand in solidarity and argue for them wherever you can. This is also women’s solidarity in action.
We want higher wages for women-dominated professions in the service and social sectors! But women not only earn less than men, women also receive on average 45 % less pension than men. That is why we also demand a compensation of the pension gap of women, a curbing of female old-age poverty and more pension points for child-raising
and care periods!
Dear women, dear FLINTA*, dear all: Let’s finally break down the barriers to women’s equal participation in working life and stand up with us labor unions, with the Equal
Pay Day Alliance, for a future-proof, sustainable and gender-equitable world of work!
DGB Frauen
Without their own pay
women are in a bad way.
If you want to give everything to children,
choose professional life!
Bare your teeth to women‘s stress –
shorter working hours for all!
Good mothers are smart
want to be more than a housewife
Create for every little one
a good daycare spot!
Us women want equal rights
We can steal roses too
Tell every child:
Women into MINT!
Care work and helping the weak
are both not only women’s business
I shout with loud voice:
My body my choice
Mini-jobs and low pay
leaves some women sidelined
and in the end
the pension is missing.
A regulation so unfair we had no words:
Stop tax breaks for married couples!
Whatever we wear, wherever we go –
yes means yes, no means no.
Fight for a better world:
Equal work, equal money!
If someone believes that politics
is not for her and not chic at all
then she is thinking wrong.
With these games she only helps the wrong targets.
Every day on March 8th –
Break the heart of the patriarchy!
Fstrk Aux
Labor unions can make an important contribution when it comes to feminist rights in the workplace.
But, what about the people who are not organised? What about jobs that are invisible and that are mainly done by migrant people. What about unpaid care work, housework, raising children,
caring for relatives?
In order to draw attention to these problems, Latin American activists in particular are resorting to general strikes – and thus shut down large parts of the national infrastructure.
In 2016, the Argentinian movement Ni una menos used the general strike as a form of protest against gender-specific violence against women and queers. The movement denounces this violence as a structural problem and focuses
on the unequal treatment of flinta*s. Inspired by the Argentinian feminist movement, the Feminist Strike Committee Augsburg was founded in 2018.
When we strike, the world stands still – the motto of the international Feminist Strike Day makes it very clear that we are many. And that we have to organise ourselves.
We declare war on the crises of the systems! We stand in solidarity with feminist struggles worldwide! 8 March is every day!
The Yeni Kadin organisation now invites everyone to join in Kurdish dances. We stand in solidarity with Kurds worldwide who are fighting for their right to exist in Turkey, Syria,
Iran and Iraq.
