The Political Orientation Speech Thomas Sankara, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 2 October 1983

The weight of old traditions of our society devotes to the rank of the woman beast of burden. All the evils of neo-colonial society, the woman suffers doubly: first, it is experiencing the same suffering that man, and secondly, it suffers from other human suffering. Our revolution affects all the oppressed, those who are exploited in today’s society. It therefore concerns a woman, because the basis of its domination by man is in the system of organization of political and economic life of society. The revolution, changing the social order that oppresses women, creates the conditions for genuine emancipation. Women and men in our society are all victims of oppression and imperialist domination. That is why they are fighting the same battle. Revolution and liberation of women go together. And this is not an act of charity or a burst of humanism than talking about the emancipation of women. It is a fundamental necessity for the triumph of the revolution. Women wear them on the other half of the sky. Create a new mentality in women voltaic allowing it to assume the fate of the country alongside the man is a primary task of the revolution. It is the same transformation to bring in the attitudes of man vis-à-vis women. Until now women have been excluded from decision-making levels. The revolution, empowering women, creating the conditions for releasing the lead combatant women. The NRC, in its revolutionary political work for the mobilization, organization and unity of all forces of the nation and the woman will not be outdone. She will be involved in all the battles we have to undertake the various barriers against the neo-colonial society and building a new society. She will be involved at all levels of design, decision and execution, organization of the life of the entire nation. The ultimate goal of all this grand enterprise is to build a free and prosperous society where women will be equal to men in all areas. However, it should have a fair understanding of the issue of emancipation of women. It is not a mechanical equality between man and woman. Acquire habits known to man: drink, smoke, wear trousers. That is not the emancipation of women. This is not the acquisition of qualifications which will make women equal to men or more emancipated. The degree is not a pass for emancipation.

The real emancipation of women is one that empowers the woman, who combines in productive activities, the various struggles facing the people. The real emancipation of women is one that commands respect and esteem of man. Emancipation as freedom allows itself does not, it is won. And it is for women themselves to advance their claims and take action to make them succeed. In this, the Democratic People’s Revolution will create the necessary conditions to enable women to fully realize voltaic and completely. For, is it possible to liquidate the operating system now operated women who constitute more than half of our society?