International Men’s Day (IMD) is celebrated annually in November to recognise and celebrate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of men. The objectives of celebrating an International Men’s Day are set out in ‘All The Six Pillars of International Men’s Day’. It is an occasion to celebrate boys’ and men’s lives, achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to nation, union, society, community, family, marriage, and childcare. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic awareness towards men’s issues.
Inaugurated on 7 February 1992 by Thomas Oaster, the project of International Men’s Day was conceived one year earlier on 8 February 1991. The project was re-initialised in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago. The longest running celebration of International Men’s Day is Malta, where events have occurred since 7 February 1994. Now as Malta was the only country that observed the February date of celebrating Men and their contribution to the society, the Maltese AMR Committee voted in 2009 to shift the date for IMD to 19 November.
Jerome Teelucksingh, who revived the event, chose November 19 to honour his father’s birthday and also to celebrate how on that date in 1989 Trinidad and Tobago’s football team had united the country with their endeavours to qualify for the World Cup. Teelucksingh has promoted International Men’s Day as not just a gendered day but a day where all issues affecting men and boys can be addressed. He has said of IMD and its grass roots activists, “They are striving for gender equality and patiently attempt to remove the negative images and the stigma associated with men in our society”.
From a young age, boys are gendered in a particular way – boys will be boys, they are told, and boys don’t cry. With variation, it is a sensibility found in many cultures around the globe. As they grow up men are encouraged to present a strong, unaffected image, that often masks the deep need to communicate what is going on for them emotionally.
Six pillars of IMD |
- To promote positive male role models: not just movie stars and sports men but everyday, working-class men who are living decent, honest lives.
- To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, child care, and the environment.
- To focus on men’s health and wellbeing: social, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
- To highlight discrimination against men in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law.
- To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.
- To create a safer, better world, where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential
The inaugural celebration of IMD in India was organised by the leading Indian Men’s rights organisation Indian Family on 19 November 2007. The date of 19 November was accepted based on the fact that Australia and the West Indies (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago) were already observing IMD on that date. The event was again celebrated in India in 2008, and plans were made to continue the celebration annually.
In 2009, India received the first corporate sponsorship of the International Men’s Day with menswear brand Allen Solly deciding to create promotional offers on IMD, and HBO deciding to screen male-positive movies in its “Men in Black” series on 19 November. In 2014, Confidare Education Consultancy hosted an International Men’s Day art gallery in New Delhi, while in Kolkata protests were held to highlight men’s rights and abuse of the elderly. Other men’s rights activists posed questions on the occasion of IMD, questioning the lack of gender neutrality in laws about domestic violence and child custody. The Chennai chapter of All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) submitted a memorandum to the government on IMD 2014, demanding the establishment of a Men’s Welfare Ministry, National Commission for Men, and making all laws gender neutral.
In 2018, Avijan, a welfare and charitable trust for men, organised a protest in Kolkata to demand gender neutrality in law, a men’s commission in India, repealing of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, and strong action against misuse of the rape law.
Save Indian Family – Karnataka (SIF Karnataka), an NGO working for Men’s Rights in India under Save Indian Family Movement, celebrates International Men’s Day every year. In 2019, in association with two major hospitals of Bangalore, Aster Hospitals and Regal Hospital, it ran a #HealthyHim campaign on prostate cancer awareness. In 2017 and 2018, among many other awareness activities, the volunteers organised a bike rally to Nandi Hills, India and celebrated International Men’s Day with more than 40,000 people present.
Daaman Welfare Society & Trust, another prominent NGO working on the same principals under the Save Indian Family Movement, also celebrates International Men’s Day every year. In 2019, it hosted a day long grand event at Rave 3 Mall in Kanpur and created awareness on International Men’s Day. The need for National Men’s Commission was also discussed.
It is just to say that the traditional ideas of what masculinity means in society is changing, and needs to change, if vulnerable men are to be protected from these harmful conditions. As stereotypes and discrimination start to break down in our culture there is an emerging need for boys and young men to identify with positive role models that embody the true qualities of masculinity. Those of kindness, generosity, inner strength, and natural, open communication.
International Men’s Day, and the month of November, is an excellent opportunity in our global culture to present the true face of masculinity to those who need to see it.
Happy International Men’s Day!