In the women's world, as well as in the men's world, there exists the class law and the class struggle, and it appears as fully established that sometimes between the socialist working women and those belonging to the middle class, there may be antagonisms.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the existence of class struggles and conflicts between different social classes, specifically between working women and middle-class women.
Clara Zetkin's quote emphasizes the inherent struggles and conflicts that exist within societal classes, noting that both women and men deal with class laws that can lead to antagonism between different groups. It draws attention to the differences in experiences and struggles of women from the working class compared to their middle-class counterparts, ultimately indicating that social divisions affect all aspects of life, including gender dynamics.
In practice
In a discussion about women's rights, to emphasize the importance of understanding class differences among women.
In individual industries where female labour pays an important role, any movement advocating better wages, shorter working hours, etc., would not be doomed from the start because of the attitude of those women workers who are not organized.
When the men are silent, it is our duty to raise our voices in behalf of our ideals.
For reforms ameliorate the situation of the working class, they lighten the weight of the chains labour is burdened with by capitalism, but they are not sufficient to crush capitalism and to emancipate the workers from their tyranny.
When the men kill, it is up to us women to fight for the preservation of life.
Each reform, therefore, improving the economical and political situation of the workers proves to be an arm that increases the energy with which the proletarian struggle of classes is fought.
The socialist parties of all countries are duty bound to fight energetically for the implementation of universal women's suffrage which is to be vigorously advocated both by agitation and by parliamentary means. When a battle for suffrage is conducted, it should only be conducted according to socialist principles, and therefore with the demand of universal suffrage for women and men.
I have never conceived that having been in public life required me to belie my sentiments, or to conceal them. Opinion and the just maintenance of it shall never be a crime in my view, nor bring injury on the individual. I never will by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance. I never had an opinion in politics or religion which I was afraid to own; a reserve on these subjects might have procured me more esteem from some people, but less from myself.
In all ages, hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns upon the heads of thieves, called kings.
Any man who does not accept the conditions of life sells his soul.
We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.
Sometimes a disappearance can be more haunting than an apparition.
A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war.
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