Women’s History Month should not act as a cookie–cutter period of celebration to make us feel good about ourselves. The history we learn should serve as invaluable lessons, cautionary tales and motivation to continue the fight. Understanding women’s history is vital to guaranteeing women’s liberty and equality for the future in the United States.
At Ithaca College, the 14th annual Women Leaders Series features a procession of workshops, panels and events hosted by the college and student organizations. These efforts and events should not go unrecognized, and can ultimately act as critical steps in supporting women in our civil society, but the effort cannot stop there.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter acknowledged the first National Women’s History Week in conjunction with groups across the nation. After congress’ passing of Public Law 100-9 in 1987, the month of March was “designated as ‘Women’s History Month’, and the President [was] requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
This March, President Donald Trump issued his presidential message for Women’s History Month, claiming his administration “will always promote policies that embolden women, uplift our children, and fortify the American family.” It is no coincidence that Trump is using language tying women to children and “the American family.” This rhetoric harkens back to a time of traditional gender roles that he and his administration wish to return women to. It also demonstrates the performative nature of Women’s History Month, and how anyone can utilize it to support and serve their own agendas.
The left is also not safe from the shortcomings of Women’s History Month. It is no longer good enough to merely celebrate the accomplishments of women in the nation, as their rights are actively being stripped away, with hierarchical and patriarchal control reinstated. Learning from our past and understanding the structures that stood in the way of women’s liberation and equality is key to continuing the fight. We should not blindly celebrate the history and achievements of women without actively fighting for their interests currently.
The political shift toward authoritarian regimes and governments worldwide, including in the United States, includes strategic and targeted attacks against women. The United States Supreme Court decision that protected abortion rights as a constitutional right under the privacy of the 14th amendment, Roe v. Wade, was overturned with Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022. Bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom are key to ensuring women’s sovereignty.
In Hillary Clinton’s essay “Women’s Rights Are Democratic Rights,” published in Foreign Affairs on Feb. 17, Clinton wrote, “[w]hen women are silenced, democracy itself is weakened. Authoritarian regimes do not target women as individuals; they attack the very institutions, movements, and norms that sustain democratic governance.” We need to recognize the real impacts women have to face. These are not just abstract political talking points, they carry real weight and have real stakes. We can appreciate the progress and the accomplishments of women from the past while simultaneously demanding a better present and future. The first step in that is understanding the past, mobilizing in the present and working toward a better time ahead. And this work goes far beyond the month of March, but is a starting point nonetheless.
