It’s Women’s History Month again. Perhaps we’re not alone in thinking it feels a little different this year, considering the political climate that we’re inhabiting. Conversations about women’s rights, representation and equality are more charged, as a cultural shift impacts the country in regressive ways.

While the current presidential administration, led by a man with a well-documented and dubious history with women in his life, issued the customary proclamation recognizing Women’s History Month, its actions tell another story.

He allowed the secretary of defense to cancel “cultural awareness” observances in the military, which includes events recognizing Women’s History Month. In Mexico, the U.S. consulate pulled out of a binational walk to celebrate International Women’s Day, an event that the country has been a part of since 2018. A source told the Laredo Morning Times that “government officials were not authorized to participate in events related to gender issues.” Also, some women working for the government have found themselves caught up in the administration’s effort to dismantle DEI programs within federal agencies.

We won’t delve into the president’s remarks as a private citizen or on the campaign trail about women who dared to defy him, as much of it isn’t fit for print. He has shown us his views on women, and now he’s backing them up with his policies.

Yet, despite his tendency for cheap insults and dismissive comments, there are still women among his most ardent supporters. In Virginia, it’s easy to find a couple of them — both are Republican gubernatorial hopefuls eager for an endorsement from the current White House occupant.

As we reflect on Women’s History Month, it’s important to remember that protest has always played a crucial role in the advancement of women’s rights.  From the suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote to the millions who participated in the Women’s March on Washington in 2017, demonstrations have been a catalyst for progress.

Perhaps the president and the architects of his policies will wish they had considered these historic events as they look back at their actions against gender equality.