Valentine’s Day has come and gone. It’s been around a long time. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius I named it. The oldest known written valentine is from 1415. By the mid-1850s mass produced cards came along. Hallmark came about in 1913.
Hard to miss it when it comes around. Very commercialized, but there’s another day coming up soon: March 8. Unlike Valentine’s Day this observation focuses exclusively on women. It’s called International Women’s Day. Guys, when March 8 comes around, any special woman (or women) in your life ought to be shown you care. More cards, candy and flowers? Maybe. At least a verbal acknowledgement. Appreciation and beyond.
If you are not familiar with IWD, it commemorates women’s fight for equality and liberation. This special date gives focus to women’s struggles for reproductive rights, as well as against violence and abuse aimed at them. It started in the early 20th century. The designation of this day began as Working Women’s Day at the 1910 International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen. In 1922, Vladimir Lenin declared March 8 International Women’s Day. Educational, I will bet, for many.
Has progress been made in the last hundred years or so? Well, yes and no. Here in the U.S. the women’s movement was part of 1960s protests covering gender and racial equality, along with the anti-war demonstrations. Those battles are still being fought. Racism hasn’t stopped. War seems perpetual. As for women, who only a little over 100 years ago won the right to vote, there are now rumblings from higher ups in our government that advocate for that right to be taken away. Keep in mind, it will be four years ago this June that Roe vs Wade was overturned.
Not exactly a valentine sentiment. Creepy. Ugly. Disgustingly sexist, to say the least. But this nastiness is all pending legislatively in what is called the SAVE act. You may have heard of it. It has to do with requiring a few layers of required identification in order to vote. Given that married women probably still take their husband’s last name, critics see the act as clearly wanting to deny women the ability to vote. As was the case until 1920.
There’s a lot wrong with our current government. Both major parties are culpable in this backward-trending movement. Given that the 2026 mid-term election is in the crosshairs of the current administration, not to mention 2028, and the so-called “opposition party” is all bark and no bite, women are again on notice. We all are.
In the meantime, when March 8 comes around, think about what it stands for. None of us would be here if not for a woman. Show some gratitude!
Joe Harrington
Oak Park