This letter first published in The Guardian (08/03/08) 

Over the last few years we have seen the growth of "career" women, sharply suited and expertly "made up", parading their feminism in the media. Glossy language about the gender pay gap oozes from politicians who ask us to vote for them because they are women. Now business is taking on the feminist baton (You're fired!, G2, March 6).

However, before the UK government follows in the footsteps of our European "sisters", can it be explained how 40% of a company's board being women will affect the lives of all the women employees, who make up the majority of those struggling on poverty wages?

working women need universal childcare

Business leaders say tackling gender inequality has economic incentives in terms of being able to recruit from a wider talent pool. But what will their response be when asked to also support paying higher corporation taxes to fund universal childcare and an increase in the minimum wage? One of the main barriers to working women is expensive childcare, and a higher minimum wage would slash the gender pay gap overnight.

Today, on International Women's Day, commemorating the 1908 march through New York by 15,000 female textile workers demanding better working conditions, let us remember the 100 years of women fighting for a society based on the interests of the many, not the equal career opportunity for a few.

Audio File: ULU Marxist Society - 100 years of International Women's Day  By Barbara Humphries  Friday, 07 March 2008

Audio File: Women and the Labour Movement  By Barbara Humphries   Thursday, 31 January 2008

Remembering International Women’s Day 1917 - The gains made for women by the Russian Revolution  By Miriam Martin   Thursday, 08 March 2007

International Working Women's Day - By V.I. Lenin  By V.I. Lenin  Wednesday, 08 March 2006

The Emancipation of Women in Russia before and after the Russian Revolution - Part Two  By Elisabetta Rossi  Tuesday, 30 March 2004

The Emancipation of Women in Russia before and after the Russian Revolution - Part One  By Elisabetta Rossi   Monday, 08 March 2004

Marxism versus feminism - The class struggle and the emancipation of women  By Alan Woods   Thursday, 19 July 2001

Marxism and the emancipation of women  By Ana Muñoz and Alan Woods   Wednesday 08 March 2000