On Saturday, thousands of people angry about rising levels of sexism and oppression attended the ‘Women’s March 2025’.
With the election of Donald Trump – who once talked of “grabbing women by the pussy” – and the rising popularity of figures like Nigel Farage and Andrew Tate – who has been accused of trafficking women – vile and reactionary opinions about women seem all too common.
Sexist ideas about ‘women belonging in the home’, and ‘needing men to protect them’ are being spewed by these right-wing conservatives. But naturally, this has led to a backlash of indignation. Women’s March 2025 was part of this reaction.
Comrades from the Revolutionary Communist Party partook in some of these demonstrations, listening to speeches, and discussing with those protesting.
The slogans and speeches of the official demonstrations showed anger at women’s oppression.
Unfortunately, most speakers struggled to get to the heart of why women are oppressed, and, most crucially, how to end this oppression. As a consequence, the demonstrations largely restricted themselves to vague slogans like “women’s rights, trans rights”.
However, those we spoke to on the demonstrations had correctly drawn the conclusion that sexism is a systemic problem – not a case of ‘a few bad apples’ and individual attitudes.
Our comrades took the discussion one step further, explaining that the system which maintains and encourages sexism is capitalism, and it is the crisis of the system which is dredging up these reactionary ideas.
Real alternative
The fear and revulsion of far-right figures like Trump and Farage dominated many of our discussions on these demonstrations.
RCP comrades argued that the rise of these figures are a product of the impasse of capitalism, and the lack of a bold left alternative. These demagogues are only able to find a response because it is clear to so many that the liberal establishment has no solutions.
In fact, the attempt by a section of the establishment to prettify their pro-imperialist, anti-worker policies with identity politics can only feed the popularity of figures like Trump and Farage.
We argued that it is therefore necessary to build a party capable of providing a real, revolutionary alternative to the capitalist status quo.
We also explained that it is in the interest of working-class men to fight women’s oppression, and that a united, class-based struggle against capitalism is the only way to begin uprooting exploitation and oppression once and for all.
The explanations our comrades provided proved very popular at these demonstrations. Branches report that some attendees are now looking to join the RCP.
These marches are yet another indication that workers, young people, and the oppressed will not take attack after attack lying down.
Anger and determination to fight exist everywhere. What is needed now, above all, are correct solutions, and an organisation able to carry them out.
Leeds
14 Leeds RCP comrades attended the Women’s March in the city on Saturday.
We gathered at 11:30 and set up a stall straight away. We had a public briefing speaking about the Marxist position on women’s oppression and how to overthrow it. This gathered a crowd who were keen to hear what we had to say.
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Our chants were picked up by the crowd, including “there is only one solution; a woman’s place is revolution” and “smash the system, smash the state; working women cannot wait”. Impressed by our bold chants and presence, one attendee immediately asked to join the RCP.
Going around the crowd, we wanted to make our message clear: only by building a Revolutionary Communist Party can women’s oppression – rooted in capitalism and class society – be overthrown. 12 people expressed an interest in joining the RCP because of this.
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Cambridge
In Cambridge, comrades from the Anglia Ruskin University attended the Women’s March. There were around 500 attendees in total.
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When comrades discussed with those in attendance they shared their personal experiences of misogyny and sexual violence. All of them linked these experiences not to ‘bad apples’ or individual attitudes, but said that these ideas are systemically reinforced. A couple specifically blamed capitalism.
Our discussions were fruitful. Young people were very happy to meet proud communists who are able to confidently link the question of oppression to capitalism. They agreed with our class perspective and points that women in power – Suella Braverman, Liz Truss, and Rachel Reeves to name a few – are no friends to the masses of oppressed women.
Sheffield
In Sheffield, comrades attended the Women’s March, alongside 250 others angry at the rising levels of women’s oppression.
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Our class-based demands were popular at the demonstration, with comrades raising two slogans in particular: “Nigel/Elon is a millionaire/billionaire, we know he doesn’t care, take his money, take his wealth, spend it on the national health!” and “organise against the billionaires and the far right”.
The issue of the far right was of special interest to those on the demonstration. People were keen to build a movement which could cut across the far right’s hypocritical furore over the grooming gangs scandal.
