International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day
Very important holiday
For me, millions of women worldwide
Perhaps my story will explain
My Grandma Esther
Immigrant sweatshop worker
A women’s needle trades union organiser
Helped build General Strike of 20,000
Women like her demonstrated
Against appalling working conditions
In New York, 8 March 1908
For better pay, conditions, suffrage
Then Socialist Women’s Conference
Declared March 8, yearly
International Women’s Day
To honour working women’s struggles
Bread and Roses
Suffragist demanded
Need for equality, respect
What women do paid, and unpaid
Mothers are life givers
Nurture, teach, heal, raise
Next generation of workers
Yet women’s abilities, contributions devalued
How many women died
In difficult childbirth
Ability to control body
Still restricted today
As a student, I went on strike
For first US Ethnic Studies Department
Amazing struggle and victory
Women saw need to explore our oppression
Growing up could often feel it
Back then, it had no name
Just women expected
To let men be dominant
As with first wave feminism
Coming out of anti-slavery, union struggles
Our skills in other movements
Turned to our consciousness raising
In London 1970
We explored, shared together
How we’d been tracked, trapped in roles
That so limited our potential
Women’s Liberation movement grew
As we understood, made demands
Equal pay, jobs, education, self-defined sexuality
Free contraception, abortion, childcare,
Freedom from violence, male dominance
Women’s history was deeply buried
We thought expressing for first time
So empowering, our rediscoveries, still continuing
Connecting with earlier voices, achievements
Achievements, struggles, worldwide
Sharing solidarity across diverse cultures
UN supports, accelerate action
Together, forge gender equality
Marrying gentle, kind, aware Bob
Both wanting to live change to fairer gender roles
Sharing housework, cooking, childcare, our love
Raising son to see, be beautiful ‘new man’
Of course, not always easy nor perfect
But moving in wholesome direction
Where people of all genders cooperate
Can more freely, positively be themselves
Experimenting, creating new models
Touching my own vulnerability
As we venture forth in fresh ways
To live in justice, harmony together
Giving birth and mother dying
Had huge effects on me
Deepening, softening, opening heart
Into dimensions, long forgotten
Practising mindful meditation
Came to see, embrace my suffering
Grandma Ester’s suffering there, too
Holding with understanding and love
Love’s power to slowly transform
Our anger, hurt to compassion
Compassion for me, Grandma
Compassion for all affected
Beyond reacting to patriarchy
Either with anger or fear
Still caught in grasp of its power
Instead, freedom of clearer seeing, living
Roses of kindness
Arts, beauty, caring
Being in tune with that energy
Sacred path to walk
Walking on Mother Earth
Her healing resonating into us
When we connect with nature’s wonders
Support each other, all species
Teaching Women’s Studies
Helping women who blamed themselves
See cards stacked against them
By capitalist greed, racism, patriarchy
Equal pay, rights for women
Still fighting for today
As daughter-in-law’s victory showed
Glass ceilings still need smashing
Women still earn less than men
In UK, US, worldwide
Most mothers double shift
Back home work continues
Women of Colour
Doubly discriminated
Paving paths for justice
We stand together in solidarity
Granddaughters teach me
More about LGBT + issues
Diversity of sex and gender
Feminism expands with new generations
Our solidarity sustains us
Women and all supporters
Beyond bullies projecting hate
Our love will see us through
Women’s equality can
Help people of all genders
Be beautiful as themselves
To contribute, be supported
Still a long way to go
And we see setbacks
Yet I’ve seen much progress
So know that it’s possible
Old and strong, she goes on
You can’t kill the spirit
She’s like a mountain
Greenham Common women sang
Grandma died when I was so young
Never could tell me about her activism
Only remember her hand on lace curtain
As we left from our last visit
Did she think, maybe this little maidel
Will make a difference for women
I try grandma, I try
So do my grandchildren
Joy Magezis, 8 March 2025