BEHDINAN – KJK Coordination Member Besê Erzincan answered Arjin Baysal’s questions on Jin TV’s Xwebûn program.
Speaking about the difficulties women face in the world and the struggle against it, Besê Erzincan stated that they want to create a women’s union in order to strengthen women’s movements in the world. Emphasizing that Kurdish women, especially after the Rojava revolution, set an example and pioneer for women in the world, especially in politics, Erzincan said that as the Women’s Freedom Movement, they not only rejected the male-dominated system, but also created an alternative.
How do you evaluate the struggle of women in the world today?
Today, the most strategic problem is the situation of women, what is done to women has been done to society. When women’s problems are solved, more positive things will happen in society. This is our approach. Even when we consider the situation of women in the world; Today, the capitalist modernity system is running through the powers, it has established itself in this way, and especially women play the main role here. Authoritarianism around women is increasing day by day. For this reason, as power and interests increase, the situation of women and society worsens. Today, capitalist modernity has spread everywhere. In such a situation, women’s labor is ignored not only in one direction but also in many ways.
Especially after the 2000s, with the increase in the authorities, the resistance of women against this is increasing. Now, when we look at the situation of women in the world, we see that very different policies are applied towards women. In Europe, America, China and the Middle East, there are different approaches to women depending on the situation, there is basically the ignorance of labor, but this is done in different styles and ways. Therefore, it is necessary to make a more detailed assessment of the situation of women.
For example, when we look at the situation of women in the Middle East, it is seen that Kurdish women are on the rise. This affects the whole world. However, when we look at it in general, it is seen that women’s movements are effective in many countries such as Argentina and Poland, but these movements also deal with the situation of women from a single perspective; they are grappling with a single demand. For example, they only fight about violence against women, abortion; that is, they only act on certain rights. For example, there is a women’s initiative in Argentina, they turned into a really big movement with the slogan “We will not be missing a single person”, they affected the whole world, they influenced many women. They acted on this basis. Again, some female artists were sexually assaulted in the cinema and culture sectors in Europe and America. women expressed their opposition to it. Again, the struggle of women in Rojava had a universal effect.
THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM WANTS TO USE THE TALENTS OF WOMEN FOR THEIR OWN
In the capitalist modernity system, when the state sees that women become conscious and their struggle progresses, they make their calculations accordingly. They develop policies and methods towards women in many ways. In particular, they want to create confusion. Because ideology is very important to a woman. If there is no idea, no sense of freedom in the mind, women often lose their way. That’s why the system is called such a way. The second style, when they see women not struggling, they melt them into their system. We see that many women in Europe and America are presidents or vice presidents. This is definitely a very good thing, an improvement. But here the system has a purpose. Women are also studying, they are improving themselves, they are knowledgeable. That’s why they want to use women’s talents for their systems. In other words, they allow women to enter their system to say, ‘Women do not need to fight for freedom, we are already developed’. It not only makes women a part of its system, but also uses it for its own purposes and gives a message to women who are struggling. “You don’t have to fight, because women are in the top positions,” he said. The capitalist system carries out such a method and policy.
Another point is that they want to abolish gender. In conversations they say that men and women are equal, but in practice it is not. Basically, there is the destruction and meaninglessness of the society/sex contradiction. They do this with different discussions. Making the gender contradiction meaningless cannot be part of the struggle. Because whether you like it or not, there is duality in nature. There are men and women. The gender contradiction has deepened even more in the 5,000-year period. Undoubtedly, our struggle grows on the basis of gender contradiction. That’s why we must achieve women’s rights and an alternative life. In this regard, states have many different policies. Again, this policy is carried out differently in each region through education and the press.
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WOMEN ARE SEEN ONLY AS VEHICLES
The influence of Islam in the Middle East is huge. They interpret Islam in their own way so that they enslave women more. On this basis, we can say that they interpret and perform. When Islam emerged, it was more progressive. For example, women could go to the mosque. But day by day, the male-dominated mentality became dominant and they changed and interpreted some things according to themselves. For example, in the Middle East, they have locked women in their homes, only seeing it as a tool for childbirth. They have no education, no social relations, in a cage, isolated, confined. In Europe, women are used differently. In daily life, women’s labor is very cheap. For example, even now, the labor of mothers is not seen at home, it is seen as if they are not working. Or women are used for prostitution to destroy society.
The current situation stems from the policies of the state. But there is also the case of women against them. Women have always resisted 5,000 years of male domination. Especially in the last two centuries, the struggle of women has grown even more. Because there have been many revolutions and women have taken the lead and played their roles. From the perspective of feminism, there are studies and efforts of feminists. Feminism has worked very hard to raise women’s awareness of their plight. There can be many types of feminism. But every feminism has played its part in life to raise awareness of women. His actions still continue. They have actions to get the right to vote, against violence and against abortion. Feminism left a great legacy and pioneered women’s movements. We can also discuss where there are deficiencies and conduct evaluations on how we can complete and enlarge. We have such an approach. We discuss these issues under the leadership of Jineology. For example, how can we radicalize women’s movements? Because radicalism is very important for women’s labor.
Of course, it is not enough to refuse, it is necessary to create an alternative. So what feminism lacked was in its one-sided view. The society also has deficiencies in terms of working more and working in one piece. Again, it is necessary to break away from the life of capitalist modernity. In this sense, there may be a struggle on one side, but it is necessary to build an alternative life and make changes in the system. There are shortcomings in this direction. They struggle, but after the struggle they resume their old lives. It is true that we criticize the women’s movement, but at the same time we say that we need to build an alternative life. In terms of relationships, economically, socially and politically, women need to participate more, add more of their intelligence and ideas. We wanted to move forward in these directions. This requires even more militancy. Radicalism demands it. There were shortcomings here. Undoubtedly, there are very brave, heroic people among them, I am not talking about them anyway.
THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT IS UNIVERSAL
Women also benefit from advances in technology and science. It has positive and negative aspects. Positive aspects; people can reach each other quickly. In other words, when there is violence in a place, it can no longer be hidden as before. This enabled women to take a step towards organizing. It is seen that women struggle not only for women’s work, but also for democracy, ecology and justice. Women lead the way, both for women and for society. We can say that women’s movements work for both women and society. This is why the women’s movement became universal. It used to be less.
We said that the problem is the same, so the solution is similar and close to each other. Today, thousands and millions of women can organize protests in Argentina, Spain, Poland, America and Kurdistan. He wants his right, he criticizes. We have seen an example of this in India. In general, we can say that there has been progress. The coronavirus process has also been effective, it should be evaluated. We know that the climate balance of the world is disturbed. The number of people in the world is very large. There are some cities where millions of people live. Since he was not healthy, the disease emerged, and the state used it according to itself. During that illness, everyone was told to stay at home and not go out.
Some things may have been out of necessity, but there was an opportunity to get the drugs sooner. The approach of power; it was to lock those who want freedom, democracy and those who criticize themselves at home on the grounds of corona. Here again, it was the woman who had the most difficulty, and it was again the woman who was fired. It was the woman who saw the most male violence. We’ve talked before. Marriage, home is basically a cage for a woman. The fact that men and women were together at any moment increased the violence even more. Violence against both women and children has increased. Rape has increased. For example, female genital mutilation has increased even more in Africa during the corona process. Because at that time, gender conflicts became more and women saw the real face of men better. They often broke up in the morning and rarely saw each other in the evening, but if you were together 24 hours a day, you would get to know each other better. On the other hand, There was also greater awareness and resistance. there was. They saw the real face of men better.
WOMEN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER
On November 25 this year, we saw millions of women taking part in demonstrations en masse. This shows that no one can stop women in front of them anymore. Lots of women want a new status. They do not accept slavery, second-sex status. Because in the last 200 years, many philosophers, researchers and academics have emerged, they have also worked and created a consciousness. Again, many women’s organizations have developed. Of course they need to be more active. In the world, in the Middle East, in Kurdistan, women understood each other better.
They are better united. Thus, they can organize even more strongly in the 21st century. Because there is such a deficiency in women’s organizations and movements. They take many actions, but organization and education are lacking. It is necessary to develop more radical actions. The struggle of women is the heart and mind of humanity. The more the women’s struggle for freedom develops, the more the freedom of humanity progresses. Humanity can only be saved through the struggle of women. Only this way can life be beautiful. Women’s movements have a role in democracy, ecology, equality and in every field.
Where does the struggle of women in Afghanistan stand?
The situation in Kurdistan and Afghanistan is similar in some ways. Both are Aryan peoples. But why did this happen? We have to understand it from a woman’s point of view. These attacks are aimed at women’s freedom. Afghan women were struggling, and their struggle was essential and exemplary for Asia and the Middle East. Just like Kurdish women who set an example to the world today, so are Afghan women. Afghan women did not want to join the Taliban and criticized America as well. They wanted to reveal their own colors, their own organizations. So that also worked. America came to save women and peoples. But it turned out that America came here for its own interests. After their interests ended, they immediately handed over the country to the Taliban. Afghan women are in a very difficult situation right now.
As women’s movements around the world, we can do something for Afghan women if we organize ourselves better. But we have very few women’s organizations in the world. Some pioneers of Afghan women left the country. But many women are still struggling in Afghanistan. In many places, they take action by risking death. On this occasion, we once again salute the struggle of Afghan women. Of course we are with them. Actions and statements were made in many parts of Kurdistan. But we may still have some practical shortcomings. We know that the relationship between Afghan and Kurdish women is very strong.
We know that in the Kobanê process, in the Afrin process, they took Rojava as an example. But Rojava’s difference is that it has an organized and revolutionary movement. They are self-defense and socially organized. In Afghanistan this was missing. For example, there were women’s institutions in Afghanistan, they acted according to the USA. That’s why women’s institutions were not well organized when America left. When the American army withdrew, the Afghan army could not resist one day. Because it was not a people’s army, they worked for money. Money does not make an army. In Rojava, on the other hand, belief, ideology and thought have developed. That’s why there is a difference between them. We believe that Afghan women will also increase their resistance and we will resist together with them.
At what stage is the women’s struggle in Kurdistan?
The Rojava Revolution is very important for women’s movements around the world. Many were inspired by this revolution. Women were not just a revolution in which their rights were given. The Rojava Revolution aims at a complete and radical change. There has been no revolution so far. There is an effort to establish a new life with a new perspective in every aspect of life. This situation developed under the premise of Rêber Apo’s ideas. That’s why it spread around the world. This is how Rêber Apo’s theses spread all over the world. Again, women’s movements recognized Kurdish women in the person of YPJ-YJA Star. They recognized the co-presidency system in Bakur.
It had a lot of ideological and military impact. Kurdish women have made great progress. Rêber Apo’s ideas are spreading all over Kurdistan. The thoughts and philosophy of the Leader in Bashure Kurdistan are very influential on women. There is great love and devotion to Rêber Apo. Again, it can be said that Arab, Turkish, Persian, Armenian, Assyrian, Syrian, Turkmen, Yarsan, Alevi, Shiite and Yazidi women in every country were all affected by Rêber Apo. Our struggle has nullified all the lies of the male-dominated mentality. Because we have seen how a woman can do everything if she has the means and possibilities. They can even do some things better than men.
In the reality of the Kurdistan revolution, it has been proven in the person of Kurdish women that a woman can do anything and be successful. In life, women were mostly removed from the subject of defense. The perception that only a man can protect a woman has been created. The perception was created as if a woman could not protect herself if she was alone, she would be completely defenseless. But in practice we have seen that the opposite is true. In every part of Kurdistan, the majority of women are radically opposed to the occupation. Just as we are affected by the mass actions of women around the world, our work affects women around the world. Of course, Kurdish women lead the way in this regard. We are working on it because we have an alternative. We don’t just reject it, we fight for an alternative. The best example of this is Rojava. That’s why we call the Rojava Revolution a women’s revolution. It’s not just a slogan, it has a basis in reality. We also have many shortcomings and weaknesses. Our movement could have established better relations and spread its ideology, but we fell short in this regard.
CLARITY IN IDEOLOGY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN’S MOVEMENTS
What is the relationship between the Women’s Freedom Movement and the women’s movements in the world?
Especially after the Rojava Revolution, all Kurdish women carried out a lot of work in every field. Especially in the field of organization and diplomacy… There are women’s organizations in all fields. They are working to build communes and assemblies. They also work for women’s diplomacy. We have many relationships. We attach great importance. In particular, there are efforts for the unity of Kurdish women, women in the Middle East, and women of the world to come together and fight together. We also build relationships to share our experiences. It is also very important for us to benefit from the experiences of world women. Clarity in ideology is very important for women’s movements. This is the most fundamental problem in the world right now. There is a great confusion, there is a great confusion in terms of ideology, they are lacking in terms of change, they are having difficulties. For example, our movement With the defenses of Rêber Apo, she created a broad paradigm in terms of democracy, ecology and women’s freedom. She also established an alternative system such as democratic confederalism, she.
We must be united in the struggle. Education is required for this. Only cadres working for women’s liberation and sacrificing themselves are needed. It is necessary for the whole world. Women’s work is not about making life “normal”, sometimes participating in actions. Of course, there are many women who work very radically, they want change to happen. We have a very big ideology. If a person lives according to that ideology, he can play his role anywhere. This has been proven. Kurdish women are pioneers today, they play a role in many fields, especially in politics, they are addressed, they are conscious. We want to create women’s union to strengthen women’s movements around the world. We have a lot of things we want to improve.
The participation of Arab women in Rojava is also very high. Again, we are working with many Turkish female friends. There are Persian women among us. If we build our union on the basis of women’s freedom, we will further strengthen our struggle against male-dominated states. If we organize ourselves well, if we fight, we create a society where we can build a better, more real life and true love that includes the rights of all people, all groups, all children and young people. There is a need to develop women’s unity.
