Day of X: May the 28th: International Day of Action for Women's Health

Image by Smabs Sputzer via Flickr

It's generally accepted that the International Day of Action for Women's Health was founded in 1987 at a meeting of the Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights. But further investigation shows that there have been several less successful attempts to launch this Day. Today, I'd like to take a brief look at the troubled history of this significant event.

That Daye on Whyche Wee Celebraite Thee Goode Helth of Womyn And the Continuashon Of That Condishon Ywis

Created in 1392 by William Courtenay, then Bishop of Hereford, this turned out to be a cynical cover for a mass nun recruiting program (the population having been decimated by a tragic outbreak of Habit Fungus in 1389).

Courtenay's methods became increasingly heavy-handed, and the Daye was finally discontinued two years later, after a public outcry when the Earl of Worcester's favourite niece was hit over the head with a crozier while attending a lecture on "Thee Future ov Fumigashon" and was found wandering the grounds of a nearby convent, mildly concussed and wearing a cheap mass-produced wimple.

Day International for the Investigation of the Health of Lady Folk

Taking place in 1633, the identity of this Day's founder remains a mystery as everyone involved was immediately burned as a witch.

Day for Attending to the Health of Women

Proposed by early feminist (and author of The Rights of Women) Mary Wollstonecraft in 1794, this was largely a promotional tool for the launch of her next book, The Rights of Women 2: Bumper Popup Edition. Wollstonecraft lost interest after the first year when the book failed to enter the London Morning Chronicle bestseller list.

And that's your Day for today.