The question “is there an International Men’s Day” is frequently asked on social media in the days leading up to International Women’s Day.
This year, Friday 8 March is dedicated to championing the countless achievements of women and highlighting the need for the world to keep the momentum going when it comes to driving for gender parity.
However, some social media users argue that honouring International Women's Day is an elitist and sexist occasion that removes men from the conversation about gender equality and disregards their voices, rights and successes. Today, several Twitter users have posted the hashtag #InternationalMensDay in response to International Women's Day, with some asking for sexism to be “reversed”.
It’s worth noting that International Men’s Day - a day dedicated to shining a spotlight on men making a positive difference in the world and raising awareness of issues facing men on a global scale – has been celebrated for over two decades.
So when is International Men’s Day and what does it celebrate?
Here’s everything you need to know:
When is it?
International Men’s Day is celebrated annually on 19 November.
The date coincides with the birthday of the father of Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a doctor from Trinidad and Tobago who relaunched International Men’s Day in 1999.
Despite the existence of the global event for over 20 years, there are many who don’t realise that the day exists, and some who oppose the notion of International Women’s Day.
Every year on International Women’s Day, comedian Richard Herring makes it his mission to educate naysayers on the existence of International Men’s Day.
“8 March, International Women’s Day is being celebrated today. Why [is] International Men’s Day [not] celebrated on some date? This proves that feminism prevails all over the world,” one person tweeted last year.
“Hey I was as angry as you, but when I Googled it to see if it was possible to set a men’s day up I discovered someone had already done it, It’s November 19th. Good news, hey?” Herring responded.
This year Herring used the attention that his comedic tweets were receiving to raise more than £150,000 for domestic violence charity Refuge.
What does it celebrate?
The aim of International Men’s Day is to celebrate positive male role models and to raise awareness of men’s issues.
These include topics such as mental health, toxic masculinity and the prevalence of male suicide.
In the UK, men are three times more likely than women to take their own lives, according to emotional support charity Samaritans.
In 2018, it was revealed that male suicides in the UK had dropped to their lowest rate for more than 30 years.
International Men’s Day coincides with Movember, which involves men growing their facial hair in an effort to promote conversations about men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
“The observances of International Men’s Day are part of a global love revolution,” says Dr Teelucksingh.
“International Men’s Day is observed on an annual basis by persons from all walks of life, who support the ongoing effort to improve lives, heal scarred hearts, seek solutions to social problems, mend troubled minds, reform the social outcasts and uplift the dysfunctional.
“International Men’s Day is designed to promote positive role models in society and develop wholesome individuals.”
