The first Women’s Day celebration in the United States was a demonstration in 1909 by working women and their supporters for better wages, shorter working hours, better working conditions, and the right to vote. Despite many social and political improvements for women in the 20th Century, the fundamental problems of yesterday are still the fundamental problems of today, particularly for poor and working-class women. The articles this year for International Women’s Day highlight the continued struggle of women for equal pay, better working conditions, protection against physical harm, and better living standards for all people.

Wages are one of the biggest concerns for all workers under capitalism. Currently, on average women in the United States make less than men. Low wages, coupled with other factors, create a desperate economic situation for many working-class women.

Similarly, women face sexual harassment, often in their workplaces, which creates a climate of fear amongst women. As the case of the New York Knicks demonstrates, sexual harassment is pervasive in capitalist society. Our history has shown that working-class women need to go outside the capitalist legal system and build mass movements and mass actions that are inclusive of all workers to win lasting victories.

This is why the example of the California Nurses Association, a militant union with fighting tactics and demands, is important for all workers.

While working-class women need to fight on these issues, we must understand that, under capitalism, these victories will constantly be under attack by the ruling class (a good example of this is the right to an abortion). Only a socialist society, based on democratic workers’ control and management of the economy, can succeed in eliminating wealth inequities, discrimination, sexual harassment, and the many other problems that women face today.