On International Women’s Day, we’re called to “accelerate action” for gender equality. But in reality, we’re witnessing an escalating rollback of rights, representation, and recognition. From the reversal of Roe v. Wade to tech giants quietly erasing cultural observances like Black History Month, Pride Month, and Women’s History Month from their calendars, the message is clear: progress is under attack. This isn’t happening in isolation; it’s part of a deliberate backlash against movements like #MeToo and the push for greater equity.
A Timeline of Backlash Against Women and Gender Justice
2006: The “Me Too” Movement is founded
- The “Me Too” Movement was founded by survivor and activist Tarana Burke.
2017-2018: #MeToo Goes Viral
- In 2017, the #MeToo hashtag went viral. The movement gained global traction, exposing systemic sexual harassment and assault in workplaces and industries. Powerful people and institutions were held accountable for their actions.
2022: Roe v. Wade Overturned – A Fundamental Right Stripped Away
- The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade ended nearly 50 years of federally protected abortion rights.
- Many states immediately enacted bans or severe restrictions, disproportionately impacting low-income women and marginalized communities.
- This signaled an emboldening of conservative movements seeking to curtail women’s rights more broadly.
- We started to see real evidence of the backlash to #MeToo with people exonerated, cases dismissed, and an attack against women accusing men of harm.
2023-2024: The “Broken Rung” and the Decline of Women-Focused Spaces
- Reports confirmed that women still faced significant barriers to workplace advancement, with fewer mentorship opportunities and systemic biases keeping them from leadership roles.
- Organizations supporting women in tech, such as Women Who Code and Girls in Tech, were forced to shut down due to funding cuts and broader cultural shifts away from prioritizing gender equity. We, ourselves, experienced this with the loss of the She+ Geeks Out community.
2025: Erasure of Rights
- The US elected a President who multiple people have accused of sexual assault, has been found liable in a civil case, and was recorded saying horrid things about what he can do to women.
- Google and Apple quietly removed cultural observances, including Black History Month, Pride Month, and Women’s History Month, from their calendar apps due to fear of retribution from said President.
- The SAVE Act was proposed by Republicans and passed by the Republican-controlled House last year under the guise of election security. This bill creates barriers that disproportionately affect women, especially those who have changed their names due to marriage or divorce, making voter ID requirements harder to meet.
- Government agencies, including the National Science Foundation, were instructed to avoid terms like “women” and “female” in certain reports, effectively erasing gendered language while keeping male terminology intact. This was all part of a broader effort to suppress gender identity and equity discussions while attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights continued to intensify.
- International organizations, including Amnesty International, have sounded the alarm on mounting attacks on gender justice.
- This isn’t just about the U.S. 35 governments from around the world are pushing back against gender-inclusive policies.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
This isn’t a series of isolated incidents; it is a coordinated effort to strip rights, recognition, and resources from women and marginalized communities. Each of these actions contributes to a larger cultural shift that normalizes gender inequality and reinforces systems of oppression.
On International Women’s Day, “accelerate action” is critical. We must recognize the playbook being used to dismantle progress and take collective action to counter it.
What Can We Do?
- Share this timeline and amplify stories of resistance.
- Support women-led organizations and companies. Many organizations that champion women’s rights are struggling for funding and support.
- Stay informed about policies like the SAVE Act that restrict access to the ballot.
- Demand transparency and push back against corporate attacks on women’s rights.
- Join local, national, and global movements advocating for gender justice.
History shows that progress isn’t linear. While setbacks are inevitable, so is resistance. The only way forward is to work together and refuse to accept this erosion as the new normal.
Now is the time to accelerate action.