Category Archives: International Women’s Day

IBRG Archive at the WCML; N.E.Lancs IBRG and Irish Women in Britain.

Posted on February 5, 2020 by lipstick socialist

IBRG was an organisation that reflected the history of the Irish in this country but one that was not frightened off linking up the present with the past – unlike many other Irish organisations in the era of 1981-2003. Branches  … Continue reading →

Posted in education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, North of Ireland, political women, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Margaret Mullarkey; working class, Boltonian, IBRG activist

Posted on January 19, 2020 by lipstick socialist

  In archiving the history of IBRG it is noticeable how many women were active as national officers as well as playing a more hidden role as the backbone of the organisation at a branch level. Margaret was one of … Continue reading →

Posted in education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, North of Ireland, political women, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , | 1 Comment

My review of “Betty Tebbs – a radical working class hero” by Mark Metcalf

Posted on November 25, 2019 by lipstick socialist

      Through my friendship with Eddie and Ruth Frow I have met many women like Betty who had been  activists in the CPGB and the trade union movement. We came from different generations – and had quite different … Continue reading →

Posted in Betty Tebbs, biography, book review, Communism, education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The IBRG archive at the WCML. Part Four; How Irish women played an active role in IBRG.

Posted on June 8, 2018 by lipstick socialist

In the 1970s the Irish community in Britain was represented by the Federation of Irish Societies; an organisation made up of mainly men who were Irish born. IBRG was set up in 1981 because of the F.I.S.’s reluctance to speak … Continue reading →

Posted in feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, North of Ireland, political women, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Following in Sylvia’s footsteps; from 1918 to 2018. Meet Charlotte, Josephine, Eden and Lauren.

Posted on March 1, 2018 by lipstick socialist

Sylvia Pankhurst’s  response to the 1918 Representation of the People Act reflected her politics. She had opposed the First World War from the start and  spent the war years defending the rights of poor women and children in the East … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, Communism, education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, labour history, political women, Socialist Feminism, Tameside, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Better World for Women: British Women Trade Unionists visit the Soviet Union in 1925

Posted on March 8, 2017 by lipstick socialist

In 2017 it feels  like the word hope has left the political vocabulary. Politics today seems to be all  about trying to hang  on to our jobs and our public services. It feels as if we are all in the … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, labour history, Manchester, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Why we need to reclaim International Women’s Day from the middle class feminists!

Posted on March 8, 2016 by lipstick socialist

I have grown to hate International Women’s Day. As the lives of women (and the partners we live with) deteriorate under the Tory government with the collaboration of Labour councils, the meaning  of the annual Day, started by Socialist women … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, Communism, education, feminism, human rights, International Women's Day, Palestine, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, working class history | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Stop,Look,Listen…my weekly selection of favourite films, books and events to get you out of the house

Posted on February 28, 2016 by lipstick socialist

    Watch Welcome to Leith…Leith as in North Dakota USA. A documentary set in a barren, if beautiful landscape. It is a landscape that is slowly emptying of people; there are only 24 people in Leith including one black … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, drama, education, feminism, films, human rights, International Women's Day, labour history, Manchester, Palestine, peace campaigns, political women, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized, women, working class history | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrate IWD;Maud Brown and the Hunger Marches

Posted on March 8, 2015 by lipstick socialist

What does International Women’s Day mean in 2015? It seems like everyone from the banks to Radio Three can celebrate a day that is now largely devoid of its socialist feminist roots. But for me IWD should be a day … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, biography, Communism, feminism, International Women's Day, labour history, political women, Socialist Feminism, Uncategorized, women | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stop,Look,Listen…my weekly selection of favourite films, books and events to get you out of the house

Posted on March 9, 2014 by lipstick socialist

Watch.…. Dirty Wars..another fascinating film put on by Manchester Film Cooperative. It is the story of the secret war by the US to eliminate people that they see as their enemies and this includes US citizens. Reporter Jeremy Scahill exposes … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, drama, education, feminism, films, human rights, International Women's Day, labour history, Manchester, Middle East, music, NHS, political women, trade unions, women | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment