By Pip Hinman
Thousands of feminists took to the streets around the country on March 12 to mark International Women's Day. The biggest rally, 5000, was held in Sydney, and large numbers of women gathered in other capital cities as well as regional centres to make their voices heard.
Two thousand women marched in Adelaide, 3000 in Melbourne, 150 in Newcastle, 500 in Brisbane, 150 in Hobart, 150 in Toowoomba and 200 in Darwin (on March 5). Such a showing gives the lie to the myth that women have achieved formal equality with men.
While a range of generations marched, young women in particular made their presence and politics felt with colourful banners, chants and music. It is significant that so many of the demands made by feminists in the early part of this century — child-care, equal pay, equal opportunities and abortion rights — still feature on placards and banners today.
While some, notably Carmen Lawrence, the latest establishment media darling, argue that "jobs for the girls" will improve women's lot, others disagree. According to Greens (WA) Senator Christabel Chamarette, who spoke at the Sydney rally, merely increasing the number of women in parliament will not change the unjust structures that oppress women.
"Gender balance is an indicator of the health of a community. It is an outcome, but it is not the solution to oppression. The solution lies in challenging the political agenda, and both men and women are needed to do this", she said.
A variety of themes marked this year's mobilisations. Melbourne women marched under the banner of "Women Unite, Break Out, Speak Up, Fight Back!". Sydney's was "Don't let them tell you it's all over", and Adelaide chose "Support Family Diversity".
In Melbourne, 2000 women gathered outside Parliament House to hear Martha Matiala, a South African community and women's rights activist, Lilian Crofts, a Bougainvillean officially granted refugee status by the Australian government, Elvie Sievers of the Richmond Secondary College occupation, Rachel Evans, a Resistance activist, and Margaret Wirripunda of the Yorta Yorta tribe, on whose land the rally occurred.
The march was led by a float, accompanied by a percussion band and loudhailer system, with male supporters marching at the rear.
Jane White reports from Perth that 200 women were addressed by a variety of speakers. In particular, Mingli Wonjurri spoke about the Third World conditions suffered by Aboriginal people in WA and Emma Garcia from the Women's Refuge Multicultural Committee related the peculiar difficulties minority women face. Greens Senator Dee Margetts noted the increasing gap between rich and poor in Australia and the role women can pay in changing this.
Angie Hartwig, from the WA South African Solidarity Group and recently returned from South Africa, gave details about that country's forthcoming elections and urged women to get involved in international solidarity.
The conditions of Aboriginal women were also featured in a speech at the Darwin rally, reports Deb Sorensen. Barbara Boorooloola, who worked as a local TV news presenter, described the difficulties she faced as a black woman in a predominantly white business.
A number of well-attended IWD forums were also held in the week before the rallies. Both Hobart and Sydney held successful Politics in the Pub events which attracted older and younger feminists keen to discuss strategies for women's liberation.