Fight Back Nov

Women's Gagasines are about them, newPapers interriewd them, g0verumeots and Charities worldwide actalimed them.

whe were they?

Molread amd Betty, the fighting women Of the Sort ? An article in "Cosmopoltitan” (the trendy young woman's "Playbos") characterised Metty as the gex nyebol (T hate her because I fancy her, said the Provo in dark glasses)

and Mairead ad the saintly srnbol, BT WHO ARE THE FIGHTING woKRN oF THE KORTH?

Tt ds ‘the women of the Turf Ladge wh chased the Drits out of the area. The women of Ballymorphy, Andersonsteyt, St. James's, Clonard, Twinbrogk and the few Lodtee who inltigted and are active in the Relatives Action Committees, lead ing Marches, degmistrations, aod all-giskt vigils against the removal of political Status, The women of the Néyal Victoria higspital, Lower Falls, striking against paar conditiansaf work and recently afatnst docidents arising fram sry surveillance in the hospital. The women of the Clonand who petitlonsd against the presence of the troops, Dolours and Marian Price, lanwilehing These women are not enly fighting but in Bany caged Inading the atrigele. Look at any activity over the last 7 years and you will find women playing a leading role. They have been in the streets fighting the Grits, leading demonstrations, active in prisoner's ald coimittees, keeping watch on the barricades in the. No-iia BPGHS SE Bee On, DEPENDENT ACTIVITY IN THE. ANTI=UNIE= [ST AREAS The initiation of the Relatives Jiction Memitte (RAC) in Februsrey IST was a sign of the direct participation of water. in the strogele, Tt marked alsa the begionineg of a retura te the atreeta, The actions taken against the troops are not just. pr raisewerthy, they ate vary sharp political lessens which paint the vay towards mas activity against the troops. They shift the emphasis fron the military tactics af the Proevisionails to the day=toeday preblens of the chettaes. The demongtrations ,vigils, and Teatings on political status touch the very: Heart of the British deppliticisatith strates.

And this many women are very well aware of. They-are critical of the organised Hepublican Bovemeot's) lack of. activity an these questions. 40, dedlated in the bom, often the direct target far harragatent by the troops, bearing direct responsibility for their r= alives sutfering in jail while proetexting against the Loss of political etutus, Witten have taken their ow palitical initiatives and ferced others to take wp these issues. a ind yet many wimen are hesitant te ace the political implications af their activity go womn ‘Their activities are still essentially aeen as second ary mid supportive. <All the probleng that @a with womants role in tho home, domwetic comltitents, lack of childcare and nursery facilitirs, lack of Another is: the action of 4 wonrn wie Patlecked themselves ta the fowning St. eeener in London, The 4+ were pretestineg avalnet the doss of political status. for Trish Political prigeners and te show the plight of those who refused te accept tig they chained thenselys to the railings, The 4 were taken te Cannon How police station where they refused bail and the affer ef clotidiarc and food.

dccerding to an ‘Irish News! reporter taey admitted causdiog ab obstruction and were conditionally discharged for 2 Years, One af the woorer. oho wasntt reprisented in court, was quoted as saving they — "had carried aut a \Teaceful pretest and would hava pleaded oot auibty bec all had family crmnitmants at bom" 11 Thig deesatt detract fren the impertanos: of the ine itisgtive - show by the 5,000 pha atte ded the demonstration on Sunday Hareh & which demanded political status and wes led bt these very sue women, AUR POSITIVR MISCRIMOYATION Until worn realise the impartagce of ; ramet Hy MER x — DA = ia ‘4 RQUAL POLITEGAL ROLE TR THK STRRGGLE Argel! eic om Liberation their struggles will romain secondary and supportive, Wones ia Ireland are doubly appeesard, by inperisliem und as unpaid demestic servattte in the hoe, This oppressien marke every aspact of their activites, ahd Must be seenas pitt and parcel of the struggle tor socdaliem against imperialist dgomination, PThe proeblens of women in capltalist BGtlety cannot and will mot ywait until gam ideal point in time in the future wien a solution is found. The drudgery of women, the oppression of children and the demand of both far their rights de the coperete esoress— don of capitalist brutality in Narth=ern Dreland ag much as the DrltLab tent p 5

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Political experience and confidence in playing an equal decision- making role eee