【Erasing all traces of the Soviet Union - Ukraine plans to abolish International Women's Day】According to Ukrainian media reports, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has recently registered a draft resolution, which aims to establish "Ukrainian Women's Day" to replace the traditional International Women's Day on March 8th. According to official information cards, the bill has been published on the parliamentary website, but the specific text and explanatory documents have not yet been made public. It is currently unclear when the new holiday will be set or what activities are planned.
Since 2017, there have been calls in Ukraine to abolish March 8th, arguing that it is a legacy of the Soviet era, but it did not receive support from legislators. In February 2023, the Verkhovna Rada also registered a similar bill, suggesting that February 25th be set as "Ukrainian Women's Day," but the parliament did not consider it.
The International Women's Day originated from women workers' movements in Europe and the United States in the early 20th century, aiming to fight for labor rights and political equality. Later, it became associated with the female workers' strike in Petrograd, Russia in 1917, and gradually fixed as March 8th. In 1975, the United Nations recognized March 8th as International Women's Day, emphasizing gender equality and women's development. The holiday originally carried the meaning of feminism, equality, and social movements, but in the Soviet Union and its affected regions, it also had political connotations.
The issue of abolishing or reforming International Women's Day in Ukraine reflects deep historical memories and political positions within the country. During the Soviet era, March 8th was not only a festival for working women but was also incorporated into the official political ritual system, so after Ukraine's independence, the "Soviet imprint" it carried gradually became an object of criticism by certain political forces. In recent years, with the intensification of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, anti-Soviet and anti-Russian sentiments have further intensified in Ukrainian society, manifested in the redefinition of historical symbols and political attempts to reform the holiday.
Although this action has the intention of reshaping national identity, it may deepen social divisions. On one hand, it reflects the strong nationalism and anti-Russian sentiment within Ukraine. On the other hand, it may weaken the transnational and socially inclusive cultural connotation of the holiday, making historical memory instrumentalized. In this context, the Ukrainian society faces not only external conflicts but also a struggle over internal ideology and historical identity. In the future, how to maintain national sovereignty awareness while balancing historical memory and social consensus will become an important challenge for Ukraine's governance. Russia #Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858733764883659/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.