Every year on October 20th or March 8th, social media is flooded with questions from boys (and some girls) alongside posts celebrating International Women’s Day, asking: “Why is there only International Women’s Day and not International Men’s Day?”
Understanding International Men’s Day
- 1. Not every day is International Men’s Day
- 2. We need to address men’s issues
- 3. Politicians have supported this day
- 4. This is a day for all men
- 5. Creating community value
- 6. Major brands are getting involved
- 7. Men’s rights activists can speak out
- 8. You can be a feminist and still support International Men’s Day
- 9. Charitable activities
In fact, we do have an International Men’s Day, but it is often overlooked.
There are many reasons why we need and should celebrate International Men’s Day.
Many people say that every day is Men’s Day, except for October 20th and March 8th, which are Women’s Days.
In reality, there are many reasons why we need and should celebrate International Men’s Day, and here are 9 key reasons that may change your perception of “Men’s Day.”
1. Not every day is International Men’s Day
You may have heard someone say a hundred million times, “Every day is International Men’s Day.“
However, with 13 men committing suicide every day in the UK; male students performing worse than female students at all educational levels; a death rate of 1 in 5 men before the age of 65; the reality that men are often victims of violence from both genders; the unfair burden of responsibility men face at work and home; and the majority of the unemployed, homeless, and imprisoned being men, it is impossible for every day to be International Men’s Day.
2. We need to address men’s issues
One of the most ironic things is that men are often invited to speak, but when it comes to discussing men’s issues, they are quickly dismissed.
For example, in the UK, a Member of Parliament once blocked a parliamentary discussion on men’s issues, arguing that the notion of “men also face inequality” is foolish.
On one hand, people say the answer to the suicide crisis among men is for men to speak up about their issues.
On the other hand, they argue that we cannot discuss men’s issues because women’s issues are still more important.
This is no different from perpetuating the old notions of masculinity that “boys don’t cry” or “real men” do not complain about their problems.
International Men’s Day has helped people in the UK speak out about men’s issues since 2010. So what are we waiting for? Let’s speak out!
3. Politicians have supported this day
Former Prime Minister Theresa May was the first British Prime Minister to recognize International Men’s Day.
“I acknowledge the important issues that this event will highlight, including men’s health, the suicide rate among men, and the poor academic performance of male students, among others. These issues need to be addressed carefully.”
4. This is a day for all men
Regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity, this day is for all men – the group that makes up half of the world.
In 2016, UK promoter Kellie Moloney spoke out about transgender issues at the International Men’s Day conference in Poole.
This reminds us that International Men’s Day is for all men, without discrimination or stigma.
5. Creating community value
Thanks to International Men’s Day, conferences aimed at improving public service quality for men have started in the UK. Universities have also begun to celebrate this day.
If you tune into radio stations in the UK, you may hear more discussions about men’s issues.
Half of teenage boys say they cannot talk to their fathers about their stress and anxiety because it feels strange. 54% of teenage boys who have experienced mental health issues choose to hide or pretend to be normal.
6. Major brands are getting involved
Some brands are starting to take men’s issues seriously, such as Lynx’s campaign with the hashtag #BiggerIssues addressing the issue of men’s suicide, which reached 24 million people and won the Corporate Partnership of the Year award for charitable work.
According to Stephen Hull, brands should view International Men’s Day as an opportunity to create a more authentic and multifaceted representation of men.
7. Men’s rights activists can speak out
The campaign “Men Do Complain” regularly chooses International Men’s Day to take to the streets and raise awareness about issues that are still not addressed and discussed enough regarding men.
8. You can be a feminist and still support International Men’s Day
Many feminists used to only support International Women’s Day and believed that “every day is International Men’s Day.“
In recent years, more open-minded feminists have changed their stance, and author Joseph Gelfer has called on feminists to support International Men’s Day.
In 2015, when 200 feminists protested and demanded that York University cancel its International Men’s Day celebration, Ruth Morris – a former student of the university – garnered 4,000 signatures agreeing with her that “true feminists must fight for gender equality for both men and women.”
9. Charitable activities
International Men’s Day coincides with Movember.
Movember (a blend of the words “moustache” and “November”) is an annual event in November involving men’s facial hair growth to raise awareness about men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer and other male-specific cancers.
This is the time when the most funds are raised for men’s-related charities in the UK.
This year’s International Men’s Day is on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
| International Men’s Day (November 19) began in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago and has received support from the United Nations, as well as men’s groups in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.
In today’s society, when discussing gender equality, we tend to assume that women are the only victims of inequality and that men are the perpetrators of this issue. Therefore, gender equality initiatives and programs often focus on helping women and girls while forgetting that men and boys can also be victims of gender inequality. Additionally, men today face considerable pressure and issues arising from their personal lives, families, and society. Thus, initiatives like International Men’s Day are deemed extremely important to engage everyone, across all sectors, in the fight to effectively address the problems that men and boys currently face, creating a better world. That’s how International Men’s Day on November 19 came to be! |
