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This is why she thinks we must be clear on why and how we struggle for the four-now six-demands of the women's movement.
The demands relate to the Welfare State, and the State has always had a direct relation to the family unit and to the situation of women within it.
The pamphlet traces the changes in women's position from the time of the Industrial Revolution, through the period of laissez-taire capnalism, the First World War, the general strike, and the last war. It was in 1945 that the Welfare State as we know it really began. the present crisis of the Welfare State, and how this affects women: the problems of inflation, prices and incomes policies, and welfare cuts.
The pamphlet is seen as part of an ongoing discussion. In this context, two points in particular need to be taken up.
of ruling class strategy. When outlining the early years of the Welfare State, Wilson is clear that it represented the interests of the ruling class. That she is not clear that this is still the case is shown when she states that The final section of the pamphlet covers First, it is crucial to have a clear analysis of private practice.
of that system.
This must be inherent in developing the campaign around the Working Women's Charter. It also means we have the task of intervening in struggles like that of the health workers, to pose the need for workers' control of the NHS, demanding not only creches and higher wages, but also calling for more resources for contraception and abortion, an end to the private ownership of drug companies and the abolition In short, we must pose demands that serve our needs-as opposed to those of the capitalist system-and which carry forward the revolutionary struggle for the overthrow DORIS ELLIOT
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The following issues are still available: No. 1, 1972 March/April 1972 SOCIALIST WOMAN Low pay. Women in Soviet Union, USA abortion struggles, etc.
Low pay, Miner's wives, Alexandra Kollantai, Lessons of NJACCWER, etc.