Today is International Men’s Day … but when is it Women’s day?
Is that not the question one asks on these days? I’m only asking because each year on International Women’s Day social media is flooded with men asking angrily or sarcasticly (or both) when it’s International Men’s Day. Well it’s today.
In all seriousness though, this is a very important day!
This year’s theme is “Better Health for Men and Boys”.
So let’s start with the sad fact that the suicide rate for men globally is much higher than that of women.
One cause is toxic masculinity and gender stereotypes. Till this day many still teach boys and men that “boys don’t cry” and to “man up”.
Subsequently, when struggling, men tend not to reach out and get the help they desperately need — with fatal consequences.
The same toxicity is also the root cause for another issue that men face. Many men put off going to their doctor when physically ill, meaning that life threatening illnesses may be further along by the time they seek treatment.
An example of toxic masculinity at work is that right now #BringBackManlyMen is trending on Twitter. Most likely caused by the pictures of Harry Styles wearing a dress — something that the brilliant Billy Porter has done to per-fec-ti-on on multiple occasions previously — as if that is somehow an offence that diminishes all men. Rather than one person living their best life.
Because to some people, people conforming to gender stereotypes is much more important than the wellbeing of a single individual. They’d rather force everyone to take the blue pill & have us all remain enslaved by the toxic masculinity that hurts everyone, rather than redefine and broaden masculinity to better suit all men.
So on this #MensDay day let’s focus on bettering the lives of men — gay, straight, bi, cis, trans, etc. — by making masculinity inclusive for ALL men.
I firmly believe that it will have a positive long-term impact on both the physical & mental health of men & boys.
#YouAreIncluded
PS. Women’s day is 8 March, in case you didn’t know and don’t know how to use a search engine.
