Text from a Socialist Students leaflet produced for International Women’s Day 2026

International Women’s Day – March 8th – once again takes place in a world of chaos. Wars, economic instability, and attacks on basic rights have become the norm. The Epstein files reveal the sexism and rottenness of the capitalist class.

There is a lot to protest about! Many of the legal and social rights women have won are under threat and exacerbated by capitalist turmoil. Even basics like health care and housing have become a struggle. Sexist and misogynistic ideas are being amplified by powerful figures, not least President Trump.

A major issue for women students is the outrageous levels of sexual harassment and abuse we face. 97% of young women in Britain have experienced sexual harassment. That confirms what we all know from our experiences on campus, on nights out and at work. University and college bosses are more concerned about cost and their reputation than student safety.

Around the world young women are part of the mass movements challenging the sexism, poverty, repression and exploitation of the capitalist system. We’ve had enough, and we need change.

Raising awareness of the issue is not enough. We need action.

That starts with getting organised – and discussing what we want to fight for. Immediate measures that would dramatically improve women’s safety on campus include: free 24/7 shuttle transport; decent lighting; and the expansion of student support services.

Venues can do much more, including distributing free drink covers. All venue staff should have training to identify red flags and how to intervene, with sufficient staffing levels to ensure they can.
Instead of unaccountable uni bosses, we need student and trade union democratic oversight of reporting and complaints procedures so we can have confidence in them.

Socialist Students is campaigning for all of these demands. Winning safe learning and social spaces will mean fighting for funding. Socialist Students fights for full public funding of education and an end to the rotten market model of running education.

Fight for socialism

Prejudices, gender stereotyping, and sexist behaviour should be challenged; that starts with democratic and accountable student committees which should be in control of how training is carried out.

But education alone is not enough. Sexist ideas do not stem from individuals; they are products of the capitalist system we live in.

Systemic problems require systemic solutions. To eliminate gender violence, we need to challenge the root cause of sexist ideas by taking economic and political control out of the hands of the small minority who profit from inequality and oppression.

We need a mass movement with workers and youth at its heart to win the funding and resources we need and fight for a socialist alternative to capitalism.

Get involved with Socialist Students and discuss how you can be part of building that movement.