Women Strike for Bread & Peace
PETROGRAD - Women equipped with signs and spirits of protest flooded the early morning streets. Boots marched in defiant unison with shouts heard all around. It was International Women's Day, and the dawn of a revolution.
"Bread and peace!" the women yelled.
Yesterday women went on strike demanding an end to the Great War, an end to food shortages and an end to czarism. What had started as a series of meetings and rallies to acknowledge women's achievements ignited a socialist undercurrent and erupted into protest.
"Bread and peace!" the women yelled.
Yesterday women went on strike demanding an end to the Great War, an end to food shortages and an end to czarism. What had started as a series of meetings and rallies to acknowledge women's achievements ignited a socialist undercurrent and erupted into protest.
The strains of supporting a large military force in the constant combat of the Great War has required Russia to commit its entire industrial capacity to supply the army with weapons and other war materials. The workforce has become just as important as any battlefront -- it is not simply military engagements that will decide victory; rather, an army will only be defeated if its entire nation's ability and desire to fight is destroyed.
This process of organizing the home front to support the war effort has already had profound effects on the role of women in society. Women have become the core of Russia's workforce, replacing the men who have gone into the army to assist with military production and other jobs in all parts of the economy.
Women's increased participation in the workforce has instilled within them a newfound sense of strength and confidence that has only catalyzed national rebellion.
This process of organizing the home front to support the war effort has already had profound effects on the role of women in society. Women have become the core of Russia's workforce, replacing the men who have gone into the army to assist with military production and other jobs in all parts of the economy.
Women's increased participation in the workforce has instilled within them a newfound sense of strength and confidence that has only catalyzed national rebellion.
"March 8 was International Women's Day and meetings and actions were foreseen. But we did not imagine that this 'Women's Day' would inaugurate a revolution. Revolutionary actions were foreseen but without date. But in the morning, despite the orders to the contrary, textile workers left their work in several factories and sent delegates to ask for support of the strike...which led to mass strike...all went out into the streets."
-Leon Trotsky
Women workers marched to nearby factories to join with additional strikers at Putilov, Petrograd's largest industrial plant. People in the city began to break into stores to get food and bread. When the police shot at crowds of strikers, their protests turned into city-wide riots. Over 50,000 participated in the strike.
Beneath this protest lies a clear desperation for free expression. After having been subjected to absolute rule for centuries, it can only be expected that the people of Russia will continue to respond in every way, shape and form. The monarchy's days are numbered.
Beneath this protest lies a clear desperation for free expression. After having been subjected to absolute rule for centuries, it can only be expected that the people of Russia will continue to respond in every way, shape and form. The monarchy's days are numbered.