This 1972 pamphlet, written by Selma James—an American writer, feminist, and social activist who co-founded the International Wages for Housework Campaign—critiques the shortcomings of traditional left-wing and trade union approaches to women’s liberation. The campaign, a grassroots network of women, advocated for the recognition and compensation of caregiving work, both inside and outside the home. James argues that unions have historically overlooked the specific types of exploitation women face, such as unequal wages and the undervaluation of housework. She calls for a women’s movement that operates independently of unions and existing political systems, advocating for demands like shorter work hours, guaranteed income, bodily autonomy, and equal pay. The pamphlet highlights the importance of women organizing on their own terms to challenge capitalist exploitation and create a revolutionary movement based on their unique experiences and analysis, rather than relying on traditional structures.

“It will take some time, but then Rome wasn’t destroyed in a day.”