RAPE and violence against women most extreme forms of degradation of women in our society. Such acts are not one off ocperformed by reflect women's position in society and the family. Twenty five per cent of all violent crime takes the form of sexual or domestic attacks on women in the home. Forty seven per cent of rapes are committed by people known to the victim and only a few are known to be mentally disturbed.
that has taken place recently in the pages of Socialist Challenge.
fact that women are trapped in a subordinate position the because women are materially dependent on men within the family. They are the provider of domestic services not supplied by the state.
The only possibility of ment of women is not by having tougher but uhrougen changing ts through changing socer wilcis base•o coercion in every sphere of Galle establishing society where free social ana sexual relahons exist.
In this context we can ЗІРоТОНТ ЗОс ПО ТоO achievements of post capitalist beginning to challenge the overall position of women society алететоте changing attitudes and treat women.
Russia in the early days of ple, the most advanced efore since was abortion, civil marriage and the right to work was enshrined in the constituand began enacted.
are the mad men they JUDITH ARKWRIGHT replies to the debate Violence toward women stems from the family subordinate production, cannot play a full role in public life and will continue to be subordinate to men.
Women will
achieve full equality until this is overcome and an alternative to the family and domestic labour developed. Attitudes toward women which generate hostility, sexual obiectitication or violence can change as part of this The fight against violence against however, cannot be postponed until Such demands do not imply any reliance on the state and in fact show up ine role oI ine state in perpetuating violence to wonted These demands can be used to stimulate the set activitv of women to fight for their needs. struggle women around this and all the demands for our liberation will show quite clearly that we will have nothing to do with the law and order' brigade and their proposals for combatting rape which centre ment' of the individual Such people do not have the interests of women al neart wnen Iney demand stiffer sentences Ul Hallgig would women gain from this? Nothing In fact quite the opposite any strengthening of the apparatus weakens women's fight since it is precisely the same parliament, the same courts, the same institutions which attack women's rights work, to fertility control allu so ol Our emphasis socialists should be on campaigns which benefit women. We should take these demands up within pointing out how GUCStions like cuts in public affects Lan DOll especially, demanding that unions negotiate on behalf demanding provisions of women members alarms, self defence lessons in worktime and schools, better street lighting, cheap transport, for meetings to be at suitable tor women and so on. In addition unions should draw up codes o conduct in relation to sexCollective The fight for women's liberation begins to challenge the wiltel mael have of women and forces them to treat women with respect and as equal beIngs. This type of strategy takes the emphasis away the individual man and the individual woman and towards collective response. men off matter of letting LIC TOOK and anti-working our movement and we defend the right of women to Self defence is no offence -unlike the adverts in Sunday's colour magazines.
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Photo: G Cookson troduced For women. Free
DONT KILL YOUR WIFE