#internationalmensday #mensday
International Men’s Day (19 November 2023) Message
by Fr Dr M. D. Thomas, Director, Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi
The 19th day of November is celebrated as ‘International Men’s Day’. The day is not yet recognized by the United Nations. But, the day had been around since the 1960s in several countries. The day was conceived and coordinated in 1999 by Dr Jerome Teelucksingh from the University of West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.
The day has a strong foundation in the editorial in ‘Salina Journal’ written by John P. Harris, an American journalist, in 1968. He highlighted the imbalance of having International Women’s Day, while not having a day to promote the male workers who slog in diverse sectors, also considering equality of genders.
It is a day to create awareness about men’s physical, mental, social and spiritual health and wellbeing. It is also a day to celebrate their contribution to families, communities, nations and civilizations, along with marriage, childcare and environment.
Further, the day is intended to draw attention to issues that men face, like parental alienation, abuse, homelessness, suicide and violence. The day is also oriented to highlight positive male role models, not just movie stars and sports men, but ordinary working class men who live decent and honest lives.
The day is oriented to highlighting discrimination against men in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations. The day is geared towards improving gender relations and promoting gender equality, along with creating a safer and better world, where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.
The day is not to be understood as a gendered day, but a day to address issues affecting men and boys. The day concerns removing the negative images and the stigma associated with men in our society as well as strengthening equal dignity between genders.
Various countries across the world improvised innovative ways for celebrating the day. They developed broader dimensions of the concerns connected to men and boys, like violence inflicted to men by their wives, violation of human rights and responsible fatherhood.
International Men’s Day was first celebrated in India by Indian Men’s Rights Organization on 19 November 2007. The selection of the date was influenced by the tradition in Australia and West Indies. Malta seems to have had a tradition of celebrating the day even earlier on 07 February, before it was shifted to the current date.
Furthermore, a few of the themes considered over the years are ‘give the boys the best possible start in life’, ‘helping men and boys live longer, happier and healthier lives’ and ‘working together for men and boys’.
The themes include also ‘keeping men and boys safe’, ‘positive male models’, ‘celebrating men and boys in all their diversity’, ‘zero male suicide’ ‘today’s man and tomorrow’s future’, and ‘better relations between men and women’.
Men and boys are to be instruments of positive influence in the society. Their organizational and political leadership initiatives and qualities have to be sharpened. They have to be guided towards larger societal commitments, along with inclusive ways.
Developing positive masculinity, rising above stereotyped images of men, celebrating men’s and boy’s strengths and acknowledging their vulnerabilities and needs are certain additional points on the agenda of the day.
Getting men together and engaging their minds on the issues that affect them is a vital need. Boys and men required being supported for re-imagining childhood care and education, in view of making a difference in life.
Men and boys have to be given better life chances. A positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity, has to be developed. In this regard, international perspectives have to be given a local focus, in view of better outcome.
It cannot be debated that men make sacrifices every day in their places of work, in their role as husbands, fathers, brothers and citizens, for their families, for their friends, for their communities, for their nations and for their society. It cannot go unnoticed.
International Men’s Day, in the ultimate context, ensures making the human society fairer, safer and better. The wellbeing of everyone as well as equality and dignity of genders is its final destination.
On the occasion of ‘International Men’s Day 2023’, on behalf of Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi, I wish to make a strong appeal to my fellow humans in India and world over, let us consider concerns of men and boys anew and ensure making our families, communities, nations and the larger society better than what they are today.
What’s more, oh! Men and boys! the clarion call addressed to you today is to wake up and grow towards qualities of masculinity and manhood, in view of making the human society richer with equality and dignity of genders. Thank you.
