FEMINIST LETTER NO 12
Till alla Feminister
Most of you know that during the past few years I have concentrated my political efforts on feminist issues. Sept 30th in the year 2003 I circulated a message where I wrote the following:”I would like my place in Parliament to be used by the feminist movement. I want you as a feminist, to be able through me to take part in debates and put questions to government ministers, to suggest changes in legislation and oblige the established political parties to declare their positions on key feminist issues./…/
Gender power structures permeate the whole of society. Women and their needs are constantly neglected. That is why I believe we feminists need a platform of our own to act from. As a Member of Parliament I can provide one and act as your direct channel into Parliament. /…/
I see myself first and foremost as a feminist and wish my position in Parliament to be at the disposal of the feminist movement that is not channelled through political parties. “
The reaction was overwhelming. My mail has since been functioning as a “letter democratic box ”. I have met thousands of people at hundreds of meetings. I have been confronted with many people’s desire for change and will to make their contribution, but I have also met with disappointment and frustration; disappointment over the fact that we have not achieved more and frustration over that so little is happening in spite of the fact that we know so much. The inability of many political parties to acknowledge the feminist dimension has today led to many a conversation and discussion as to how feminist issues can be addressed more effectively. Today’s feminists want to see a gender equal society in their own life-time!
The Left Party is, as I see it, the political party which has best succeeded in developing feminist policies. As a member of the Left Party I have had no problems in participating in the feminist discourse. And yet I now choose to leave the Left Party. The reason for my doing so is my conviction that a single party will never be able to break down patriarchal power structures on its own, partly because the task is too formidable and partly because the structures of politics are in themselves patriarchal.
Never before in history has knowledge about the systematic discrimination against women been as widespread as it is today. Never before have the brutal consequences of perverse patriarchal power structures been highlighted as effectively as at the present time. Political rhetoric has become sharper, but in practice, every day reality plainly speaks a language of its own, in the labour market and in homes. Too few persons in position of power seem to be seriously interested in drawing conclusions from all the knowledge at their disposal. Therefore new networks are being initiated nearly every day. In several political parties women are setting about creating gender equality councils and separate networks. This clearly indicates that women experience a lack of gender equality, wherever they are. The need for a purely feminist political alternative is being increasingly voiced.
Feminist politics requires new ways of thinking both with regard to form and to content. The discussions now going on within the broader women’s movement, that are concerned with finding new ways to influence political decision-making, is crucial to the process of revitalising democracy. I intend to continue, with my seat in Parliament as a base, to participate in discussions and initiatives, now without the formal restrictions imposed by belonging to a particular party.
Tillbaka till Tidigare Feministbrev
