Anti-imperialist feminists meet
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NEW DEBATE BY FEMINISTS
A group of anti-imperialist teminists from Dublin and Belfast came together recently for a discussion and exchange of ideas. Several WOMEN travelled +¢rom Dublin to the Selfast meeting in July, which was held in the Falls Womens centre.
The meeting was the first of its kind for several years — women from North and South meeting to discuss the question of erganising as anti—imperialist feminists.
The impetus tor the exchange came form the Dublin group. They have been meeting regquiarly since October 1988 and have organised themselves as a Women Against imperialism group and have produced a short leaflet outlining their aims and what they stand tor. It was to further explore these aims and draw from the experience of Belfast women who have been in the forefront of the struggle which led to the Belfast meeting. The morning session of the meeting took reports from North and South. Particular emphasis was given to developments in the language and cultural movements and to the necessity of relating to these movements.
the afternoon Session saw Further discussion on the future plans and aspirations of the two groups.
COMPARING EXPERIENCES
[he Belfast women have formed a fightback group and are working towards building a national womens conference to be held in Belfast this October around the theme “Building on our Differences’. All aspects of the struggle against women's Oppression would be examined.
The Dublin group had set out to organise themselves as a group and bring the analysis both anti—imperialist meetings develop that analysis. of anti-imperialist feminism to the wreomens movement and the movement. . Public were planned tO examine and
ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
It was agreed by the meeting that tasks were important, but a number of women present argued in favour of anti-imperialist women clarifying their outlook a5 a priority. The question of MLlitarism and the difficulty woen had in cricially discussing the armed struggle were reterred to. Republicanism was suggested as a discussion topic fora further meeting, a5 were the questions of economic imperialism and socialism. The latter topic was regarded as important Given the recent election results and the large protest ‘socialist’ vote in the 274 counties. both The meeting ended with agreement to hold a further joint discussion in Dublin in September. In the meantime the respective groups will meet and try to define an agenda for the tasks Facing anti-imperialist feminists today.
ANNE CONWAY.
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