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Letters
Women members of the Socialist Movement Pakistan lead a march against religious extremism on International Women's Day 2014, photo by CWI Pakistan (Click to enlarge)
Do you have something to say?
Send your news, views and criticism in not more than 150 words to Socialist Postbox, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD, phone 020 8988 8771 or email [email protected]
We reserve the right to shorten and edit letters. Don't forget to give your name, address and phone number. Confidentiality will be respected if requested.
Views of letter writers do not necessarily match those of the Socialist Party.
McCarthy Momentum
In February I sent a short note to Momentum organisers in Hackney, east London, saying I had filled in their online registration form - "but I do strongly disapprove of the use of the exact wording used in the McCarthy trials in the US: 'Are you or have you ever been...'!"
I received a very rapid apology saying "any similarities to that tragic period in history was completely coincidental and without intention or malice". They said they had changed the wording and "hopefully it is now more neutral".
I have not seen the new wording, but I'm also not sure their idea of a 'broader movement' is going to stretch to include me anyway - a one-time member of the Labour Party, expelled for socialist activities as a member of Militant's editorial board. But... we'll see!
Clare Doyle, Hackney
Butterfields buyout
I live on the Butterfields estate in east London on what is called a 'registered tenancy'. Our leasehold has been sold off, like many others on the estate, to a company called Maidenway, although the previous landlords, Glasspool Trust, still own the underlying freehold. Residents face rent hikes and evictions as a result.
I have lived on this estate my entire life. I was actually born in number 32 Butterfields, and lived there until I moved into my present flat after I got married.
All the tenants on the estate have my full support. The 'assured shorthold' tenants have been sold out to Butterfields E17 Ltd.
While this may be legal, it does not make it right or worth going unchallenged. My next door neighbour is one of those affected, although she has lived here for some 14 years.
Our unity towards each other in this current situation is something we should all focus on. United we stand, divided we fall. Make our campaign one that truly stands out. We need everyone's support.
Toni, Tenant, Butterfields estate
Socialist situations
On a positive note, it is encouraging that so many people are completely fed up with years of right-wing, pro-capitalist policies with virtually no opposition. Unlike Labour's leadership, not only does the Socialist Party have the appetite to fight for workers, it is a party that can interpret situations for what they are.
At the recent Socialist Party North West regional conference, Kevin Bennett, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) councillor in Warrington, commented that joining TUSC felt like coming home. As a socialist, I identify with this because the Socialist Party speaks to people like me who are sick of years of capitalist wars, austerity, the war on social housing and poverty pay.
The best Jeremy Corbyn is currently offering is to implement change if he wins the 2020 general election, and that's if the right wing hasn't seen him off by then. Whereas the Socialist Party will respond to changing situations and fight for workers' rights now.
Julie, Salford
'Women's work'
What, cleaning? Silly, that's women's work!
The capitalist system reinforces the notion of 'women's work' for every new generation entering this world. Yes, we may not be living in the 'Mad Men' era.
But the majority of unpaid housework and family care still falls on the shoulders of women - even though society very much knows it is happening. It is indeed an unjust bummer.
As long as the capitalist class can find someone to do this work for free, oh boy they won't half take advantage of that. It's not like women can protest against the establishment by not bothering to take care of their kids or let their houses become dumping grounds.
Under the capitalist system, unpaid work isn't valued. Generations are conditioned into thinking it is lesser work and not as important as say a banker or surgeon.
This makes it so employment related to 'women's work' is low paid: home carers, nursery staff, cleaners. This low pay adds to the vicious cycle of undesirability and worthlessness, and reinforces negative attitudes and behaviour towards women.
So how can we permanently end this cycle? Socialism, that's how!
A democratic workers' state would provide free childcare and domestic services to ease the burden on women. Workers in these jobs would be well paid - as they deserve to be. And as a result, future generations would come to value the work more highly.
New opportunities would open up for everyone. Parents would no longer lose huge chunks of money to pay for childcare.
Single parent? No problem. Go and spend a nice day with your family while a council-employed cleaner helps tidy up so you don't have to let the TV babysit your kids again while you try to get all the laundry done.
Even more wonderful, why not drop your kids in a free creche for a few hours so you and your partner can go and enjoy some time together? The only conversation you've been able to have in the past five years is how little Jimmy has an unhealthy obsession with 'In the Night Garden' while one of you is trying to put him to bed and the other is washing dishes.
Some argue referring to it as 'women's work', and associating these jobs with women, in itself causes or perpetuates the stigma. But we could stop calling a cold a cold, and people would still get runny noses.
If we don't eradicate the root cause of 'women's work', how will it ever become a thing of the past?
Capitalism placing the burden of domestics work on working class women has a direct impact on every single person. Cooking, cleaning and family care are things we cannot live without, so it's about time they got the value they deserved.
Socialism would value these roles, and create a society with many more opportunities and freedoms for working class women and men. It would release us all from the vicious cycle of 'women's work'.
Corinthia Ward, Birmingham
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
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