International Men's Day 2018: What is International Men's Day, why do we celebrate it?
TODAY is International Men’s Day but what does the day commemorate? Why is International Men’s Day celebrated?
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November is a month which celebrates men and brings awareness to issues which impact them.
The whole month of November is known as ‘Movember’ when men grow moustaches throughout the month, to raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancers, as well as male mental health issues.
Often men who take part in Movember ask for donations which they can put towards male orientated charities.
Calls for a day dedicated for men were requested as early as the 1960s, with the New York Times reporting in February 1969: “Many men have been agitating privately to make February 23 International Men’s Day, the equivalent of March 8, which is International Women’s Day”.
International Men’s Day on November 19 is celebrated in more than 70 countries and is a time which highlights men and boy’s health, improving gender relations, celebrating achievements and contributions of men and male role models.
According to International Men’s Day, below are a list of issues that the day highlights -
- 76 percent of suicides are men
- 85 percent of homeless are men
- 70 percent of homicide victims are men
- 40 percent of domestic abuse victims are men
- Men are the majority of victims of violent crime
- Men on average serve 64 percent longer in prison
- Men on average are 3.4 times likely to be imprisoned than women when both have committed the same crime
How is the day celebrated?
The official International Men’s day website encourage those who support the day to take to social media using the hashtags #internationalmensday #celebratemen #menshealth #stopmalesuicide #thankamantoday.
Since the day began being widely commemorated, Movember fundraisers, award ceremonies, radio and TV programmes, church meetings and peaceful awareness marches have all been ways of celebrating men.
You can organise your own event, celebrate positive male role models in your community and use social media to take part in the day.
Simply spending time with the men in your life can be another way to commemorate the day.
Warwick Marsh from Australia and coordinator for internationalmensday.com said: “Our mission this year is to highlight the positive value men bring to the world, their families and their communities.
“We have put the spotlight on positive role models to raise awareness of men’s health and well-being.
“International Men’s Day encourages men to teach the boys in their lives the values, character and responsibilities of being a man.
"Mahatma Gandhi said, “We must become the change we seek.”
“It is only when we all, both men and women, lead by example that we will create a fair and safe society which allows everyone the opportunity to flourish in their families and communities.”