The myth of passive women

The Socialist Alternative played host on Tuesday to a public forum on ‘Rebel Women in Australian Working Class History’.

Held at 246 King St Newtown, the forum was delivered by labour historian Sandra Bloodworth while exploring the myth that women are passive in the face of victimisation and exploitation.

“The hidden history of Australian working class radicalism has been almost totally buried by mainstream accounts,” Ms Bloodworth said. “The history of working class women has been ignored most of all.”

Ms Bloodworth believes that by revealing the history of rebellious working class women who went on strike, fought off police and strike barriers, it may stir the public into action.

“With an open misogynist and ruling class warrior like Tony Abbott in power, we need to revive the long and inspiring history of these women,” she said.

Ms Bloodworth has been an active member of rebellious Australian women’s groups since the 1970s, participating in a wide range of campaigns and strikes. Drawing on her own experiences and those of women from 1889 up until present day campaigners, the forum aims to inspire both the young and the old.

“I draw some lessons from our fascinating and inspiring history for today which are relevant for anyone who wants to see a better world and especially if you are interested in how women can fight for their rights,” Ms Bloodworth said.

After what she describes as an “amazing experience” in December 1981, Ms Bloodworth has been interested in the transformative nature of working class struggle. Three hundred women textile workers at the Kortex plant in Brunswick in Melbourne went on strike for a pay rise.

“From the first early morning meeting I began to see how people can change in so many ways when they stop being downtrodden and stand up to fight.”

Ms Bloodworth described the air as “electric” when the protesting women convinced male truck drivers to honour their picket and turn their trucks around.

Hosting Tuesday’s forum and believing that “women’s oppression can only disappear with the abolition of all classes”, Socialist Alternative are clear supporters of Ms Bloodworth’s campaign.

“Once we understand that working class men have nothing to gain from women’s oppression, we can see the possibility of breaking them from sexist ideas,” she said.