All about women power

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise — from Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

What do the movies Erin Brokovich, Silkwood and Norma Rae have in common? These are movies that feature women on the frontline. These are also movies about women who fight for their rights, women who cannot be pushed around, women who know what they want and how to get it, and women who have balls.

Silkwood, starring Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood is the true story about Karen Silkwood who was an American labor activist working as a chemical technician at a plutonium processing plant in Oklahoma. Her job was to make plutonium pellets for nuclear reactor fuel rods. Karen found irregularities in the working conditions like exposure of workers to contamination, faulty respiratory equipment and improper storage of samples. She testified before the Atomic Energy Commission alleging that employees were being given tasks for which they were poorly trained, that they handled the fuel rods improperly and that the company falsified inspection records. Karen herself was dangerously contaminated. She expelled contaminated air from her lungs. Experts also found plutonium traces in her house especially the bathroom and refrigerator. Karen made public about the dangers posed to herself and the workers in the plutonium plant. On the night she was supposed to meet with a New York Times reporter, Karen was found dead on the road and the documents she was supposed to show to the reporter were missing.

Norma Rae starring Sally Field (who won the Academy Awards for Best Actress in the movie) is a minimum-wage worker in a cotton mill. After hearing a speech by New York union organizer, Norma Rae decides to join the effort to unionize workers at the cotton mill. Despite the pressure from the factory management, Norma Rae successfully orchestrates an election to unionize the factory, resulting in victory for the union and the granting of their demands. Norma Rae is based on the true story of Crystal Lee Jordan.

Erin Brockovich, the movie which gave Julia Roberts her Best Actress award at the Oscars, is based on the true story about an unemployed single mother of three who, after losing a personal injury lawsuit against a doctor in a car accident she was in, asks her lawyer, Edward Masry, if he can find her a job in compensation for the loss. Ed gives her work as a file clerk in his office, and she runs across some files on a pro bono case involving real-estate and medical records against Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Erin digs for more information about the case, convinced that the facts simply do not add up, and persuades Ed to allow her further research. After investigation, she discovers a systematic cover-up of the industrial poisoning (Hexavalent chromium) of the town of Hinkley’s water supply that threatens the health of an entire community. She finds that PG&E is responsible for the extensive illnesses residents of Hinkley have been diagnosed with and fights to bring the company to justice. Erin becomes instrumental in rallying the over 600 plaintiffs and in helping them win the largest class-action suit of its type.

Karen, Erin and Norma Rae have become inspiration to women. There are still women who like Norma Rae, Erin and Karen struggle to make their voices heard. And in the Philippines, some who cannot do things upfront have to thank women organizations like Gabriela. Gabriela is just a dial away if you need help.

And in commemoration of the International Women’s Day tomorrow, March 8, Gabriela has scheduled a list of activities that started March 1 until tomorrow. The activities will highlight women’s issues and concerns like violence against women, sexual abuse, prostitution and sex trafficking, discrimination, harassment and job displacement through discussions, mass actions, face painting, and an open house where Gabriella leaders will be available for interviews.

The International Women’s Day began on March 8, 1857 when women workers from garments factories marched in New York City to protest against low wages, 12-hour daily work schedule and oppressive working conditions. The demonstration stemmed from the death of women and children when a garment factory in New York caught fire. And on March 8, 1908, 30,000 women workers marched calling for legislation against child labor and the right to suffrage of women.

In 1910, the International Labor Movement headed by Clara Zetkin a German labor leader, moved for the proclamation of March 8 as International Women’s Day. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution mandating its member nations to observe International Women’s Day.

Gabriela was established in 1984. It will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009.