Jimoh Abibat

Every year on March 8th, the world commemorates International Women’s Day (IWD), a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day to reflect on the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the dismantling of systemic oppression. For us, International Women’s Day is not just a celebration but a call to action. It is a reminder that the fight for women’s liberation is inseparable from the fight against capitalism, imperialism, and all forms of exploitation.

In Nigeria, where women face intersecting layers of oppression—economic inequality, patriarchal traditions, and the lingering effects of colonialism—the struggle for women’s rights is deeply tied to the broader struggle for socialism.

The Origins of International Women’s Day: A Socialist Legacy

International Women’s Day has its roots in the socialist movement of the early 20th century. The first National Woman’s Day was organized in the United States in 1909 by the Socialist Party of America to honor the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against poor working conditions and low wages. Inspired by this, Clara Zetkin, a German Marxist and advocate for women’s rights, proposed the idea of an international day to celebrate women’s struggles during the 1910 International Socialist Women’s Conference.

The first International Women’s Day was observed in 1911, with over a million people across Europe participating in rallies demanding women’s rights to work, vote, and hold public office. The fourth International Women’s Day was the first one to take place on 8 March. The year was 1914.  

In the first world war, working-class men became cannon fodder for the capitalist war machine. Millions died in the name of imperialism. Meanwhile the ‘double burden’ on women workers, who toiled in the factories and in the home, was further intensified. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was women workers who went on to kickstart the Russian Revolution on International Women’s Day three years later. In 1917, they walked out of the textile factories and onto the frozen streets of Petrograd, this process kickstarted the Russian Revolution.

Although, right-wing elements are doing everything they can to distort the origin and history of IWD, it is our duties as Marxists to continue to remind the people about the socialist origins rooted on this day. The socialist origins of IWD remind us that the fight for women’s rights has always been intertwined with the fight against capitalist exploitation. Women workers, particularly those in low-wage and informal sectors, have historically been at the forefront of labour movements, demanding not only better wages but also dignity and equality.

It is important to clarify the type of women we are for, we are for women who are victims of capitalist system, who experience and feel the brunt of the system and not bourgeois women who enjoy from the capitalist system that impoverish majority of women in Nigeria.

Women’s Resistance in Nigeria

In Nigeria, women have played a pivotal role in the fight against colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchy. One of the most significant examples of women’s resistance in Nigeria is the Aba Women’s Uprisings, also known as the Women’s War. In 1929, thousands of women in southeastern Nigeria protested against the colonial government’s imposition of taxes on women and the corrupt practices of warrant chiefs. The women, organized through traditional networks, used sit-ins, marches, and direct action to disrupt colonial administration. The protests forced the British to abandon the tax policy and reform the warrant chief system.

The tax protest by Egba women, led by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in the 1940s, was a significant anti-colonial struggle in Nigeria. The British colonial government imposed heavy taxes on market women, causing economic hardship. Through organized protests, petitions, and boycotts, they challenged the authority of the Alake of Egbaland, who supported the tax system. Their relentless efforts forced the Alake to abdicate temporarily and led to the abolition of the oppressive tax. This movement not only empowered women but also became a symbol of resistance against colonial exploitation, inspiring future struggles for equality and justice Nigerian women have also been active in the labor movement, fighting for workers’ rights and gender equality.

In the 1980s, women workers in the textile and manufacturing industries played a key role in strikes and protests against structural adjustment programs (SAPs) imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality also highlighted the role of women in contemporary struggles for justice. Women were at the forefront of the protests, organizing rallies, providing medical care, and using social media to amplify their voices. The movement underscored the importance of intersectional activism, as women demanded an end to not only police violence but also gender-based violence and economic inequality.

The 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, demonstrated remarkable leadership, resilience, and organizational strength by women. The contributions were essential in sustaining the movement and amplifying its demands for transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance. Women were at the forefront of mobilization, leading marches, coordinating efforts, and ensuring widespread participation. They effectively used social media to raise awareness, expose injustices, and keep the momentum alive, making it difficult for authorities to suppress the movement unnoticed. Digital advocacy became a powerful tool in their hands, allowing them to challenge misinformation and rally both national and international support.

The Persistent Challenges Facing Women in Nigeria

Despite the progress made by Nigerian women, significant challenges remain. Gender-based violence, economic inequality, and political underrepresentation continue to hinder women’s liberation. According to a 2021 report by the National Bureau of Statistics, 30% of Nigerian women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, while 68% live below the poverty line. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues, with increased reports of domestic violence and job losses among women.

Nigerian women continue to face barriers to reproductive health care, including limited access to contraception and safe abortion services. Maternal mortality rates remain high, with Nigeria accounting for 20% of global maternal deaths. We must prioritize the fight for reproductive rights, recognizing that women’s autonomy over their bodies is essential for their liberation.

The Africa Context: Women Under Capitalist Oppression

In general, Africa, where the rival imperialist powers continue to divide up the spoils of a continent rich in natural resources and with a vast and youthful working class, the conditions of everyday life continue to deteriorate for millions. Africa remains the region of the world where women are most likely to be killed by an intimate partner. Protests against femicide in Kenya earlier this year were repressed by the hated Ruto government. In the Congo, mass rape has been used as weapon of war as the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group has seized control of much of the country’s east. All the while, another of the continent’s most significant conflicts – the ongoing war in Sudan – has resulted in more than 5.6 million people becoming internally displaced. This makes women and girls even more vulnerable to gender-based violence.

The Need for Socialism in Women’s Liberation

Just as it was pointed out, the struggles of Nigerian women cannot be separated from the broader struggle against capitalism and imperialism. Capitalism thrives on the exploitation of labour, and women—particularly those in the informal sector—are among the most exploited. Patriarchy, as a system of oppression, is reinforced by capitalism, which benefits from the unpaid labour of women in the home and the low wages paid to women in the workforce to enrich the minority elites. Socialism offers a clear-cut analysis and practical steps of a society where women’s rights are not just aspirational but guaranteed.

A socialist Nigeria would prioritize universal access to health care, education, and housing, ensuring that women have the resources they need to thrive. It would dismantle patriarchal structures and promote gender equality in all spheres of life. Most importantly, socialism would empower women as active participants in the economy and politics, recognizing their role as agents of change.

In many parts of the world, the clock appears to be turning back on the gains made by the women’s movement and workers’ struggles in the past. This is a symptom of a capitalist system which, in its state of crisis and decay, turns towards reactionary ideas and leaders to defend itself. Faced with this, what’s needed now is a strong socialist feminist response.

We stand for a new society – one built on the solidarity of revolutionary workers’ struggle. Public ownership over the biggest monopolies and democratic economic planning across borders could entirely eliminate the drive towards imperialism and expansionism. It would replace the desire to maximise profit with the goal of increasing human well-being as the fundamental economic imperative. This could lay the material foundation for the complete transformation of all human relations. It would create the basis for not just formal or legal equality, but for the ending of all forms of oppression. If you agree, and if you want to be part of building a socialist organisation that fights for this, join MSA today.