What is Sadie Hawkins Day?

Rumors have been flying about the possibility of a Sadie Hawkins style dance in the near future (February 25th, to be exact). So in honor of this upcoming event, the Talon has decided to delve into the history behind the origination of this 80 year old tradition.

Who is Sadie Hawkins?

Sadie Hawkins is a character created by American cartoonist Al Capp in his comic strip Li’l Abner. This character was first introduced on November 15 in 1937, and was described as the “homliest gal” in the town. As the story goes, Sadie’s father was worried that she would be unable to find a husband, so he hatched a plan. He gathered all of the single men in the area and made them race (on foot) with Sadie pursuing them. The man who she caught would be her husband. The rest of the single women in the town loved this idea, and declared Sadie Hawkins day a yearly event.

Sadie Hawkins Day in History

While the Sadie Hawkins character was first introduced in 1937, it wasn’t until 1939 that the fictional event took on a life of its own. In ’39, LIFE magazine published an account of 201 colleges participating in Sadie Hawkins inspired dances, with the girls asking boys to be their dates in a typical gender role reversal. These events eventually led to the creation of Sadie Hawkins Day, which is celebrated annually on November 15.

Sadie Hawkins Today

With 21st century feminism gaining traction, society is seeing an increase in more assertive and independent young women, and typical gender roles and dating dynamics becoming less relevant. While the day is still celebrated by many schools and colleges around the nation, its message is becoming less radical within society.