As gusts of cold wind swept through Sunset Park in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon, around 30 attendees commemorating International Working Women’s Day stood in solidarity during a public assembly. It was organized by Workers Movement for Liberation, an organization of working class youth in New York City. 

While celebrations for women took place worldwide, the modest gathering in Brooklyn aimed to highlight the economic and class struggles of women who are often overlooked — caretakers, retail workers, housekeepers and construction workers, among others. 

Women in these occupations are more vulnerable to job insecurity, limited healthcare coverage and low wages. While the gender pay gap in the United States has narrowed over the past two decades, in 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research report. The gap is attributable to women who take on the most precarious and essential work in society. 

Between chants of “Working women unite; stand up and organize; in our unity is our might!” a half-dozen political organizers representing transgender, gay, Latino and Black communities delivered passionate speeches.

The event took on a heavy and urgent tone amid the return of the Trump administration, which has been hostile to workers, immigrants and trans people.

The organizers, most of whom were members of the working class, emphasized the need to unite, organize, and challenge structures that enable labor exploitation. Many spoke about gender-based and sexual violence they have experienced as well as the unpaid labor that working women take on as both employees and mothers. One speaker addressed the trickle-down effect of a mother’s absence from the home, noting its impact on educational inequality for Black and Hispanic children. 

During the event, Mixtli handed out purple daisies — a color associated with campaigns for survivors of sexual violence and abuse — to attendees and passersby. While she earned a bachelor’s degree, she feels trapped within the same systemic struggles that generations of her family have endured as immigrants from Mexico. 

“It’s not just my struggle but the struggle of my mom, my grandmother, and the women in my family,” said Mixtili, who asked to be identified by her first name only.

Colleen Donovan, 30, grew up in a working-class family and currently splits her time between working at UPS and a restaurant to make ends meet. 

“The government, banks, our bosses, corporate media — they have private ownership over all the goods we produce,” Donovan said.

She reflected on an incident of workplace sexual harassment, recalling the moment when she removed her jacket while carrying heavy boxes.

“Every time I have to strip — when I have to take off layers — that’s my supervisor’s favorite part,” Donovan said in her speech. 

The socialist origins of International Women’s Day date back to 1917, when 100,000 Russian women marched through the streets of the capital demanding bread and better working conditions. This women-led demonstration sparked a series of events that eventually led to the overthrow of the Tsar. 

Many at the event expressed discontent with the current mainstream feminist movement, feeling left behind.

Catrina Om, the first-generation daughter of working-class immigrants from Mexico, grew up in Staten Island. Her organizing efforts focus on resisting the current economic structures, uniting with workers, and recruiting others into the movement. 

“None of us can do it alone. We all need each other — it’s the only way to move forward,” Om said. 

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