International Men's Day

“International Men’s Day has the potential to become the global medium to heal our world. The concept and themes of International Men’s Day are designed to give hope to the depressed, faith to the lonely, comfort to the broken-hearted, transcend barriers, eliminate stereotypes and create a more caring humanity.”- Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh. At times it appears there is a double standard regarding how societies put in place measures concerning the observation and celebration of manhood and masculinity. Men are socialized to be rough and tough. Interestingly, this gendered socialization is perpetuated by many women in the societies given that so many of our families are female-headed households. Men who championed men’s rights are oftentimes viewed with suspicion; however, the same microscope is not applied to women who championed women’s rights. In fact there are very few organizations which are dedicated to the empowerment of our men and boys. The structure of most education systems are skewed towards female achievement while on the other hand our boys continue to struggle in an over feminized education system. This double standard surrounding gender issues is quite problematic and must be remedied with a renewed sense of urgency. International Men’s Day is a global observance that celebrates the positive contributions and achievements of men while addressing important issues affecting men’s health, well-being, and gender equality. International Men’s Day provides an opportunity to promote discussions and actions that support men’s physical and mental health, encourage positive role models, and advocate for a more inclusive society. This counterculture that pushes back regarding the celebration of International Men’s Day is problematic. We must be mindful that not all men benefit from patriarchy. Masculinity has numerous strands and some men are also oppressed by the system of patriarchy especially those who are not seen as belonging to the rigid and hyper masculine label that frequently is attached to masculinity. History of International Mens Day. International Men’s Day started in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999. The day was created by Dr Jerome TuluckSingh to commemorate his father’s birthday. Since then International Men’s Day is celebrated in over 80 countries with the aim of highlighting: the social issues faced by men both mentally and physically, the role of men as active parents. Additionally, the day is set aside to highlight men as positive agents of change in society; role modeling inclusive behaviours as well as seeing the different identities of men through the lens of intersectionality Objectives of International Men’s Day. Historically, men have not always paid much attention to their health and well-being. In fact, those men who have done so have been viewed as lesser than men and ridiculed. Men are required to adhere to this strict definition of manhood and masculinity and those who do not ascribe to this are oftentimes labeled as deviants. It is therefore refreshing and welcoming to see the progress that International Men’s Day has made over the years despite the attack of the counterculture that continues to question why such a day. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The WHO adds the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. The extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological and related knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health. The WHO concludes that informed opinion and active co-operation on the part of the public are of the utmost importance in the improvement of the health of the people. Men should indeed champion their health as well as support and encourage other men along this journey. It is only when men are healthy that our families and communities will be healthy. Improving men and boys’ health is one of the six key objectives of International Men’s Day on Tuesday 19 November, and the “Men’s Health Champions” theme responds to this commitment. The IMD 2024 theme – Men’s Health Champions – will help shine a spotlight on both the problems of men’s health and the people delivering the solutions, with the help of four sub-themes: Building healthy communities! Look out for your mates! Take action, Stay healthy! Creating a healthier future! In Jamaica, a number of activities are being organized in observance of International Men’s Day (IMD) on Thursday, November 19 under the theme ‘A Man’s Health is a Man’s Wealth’. The Construction of Masculinity . According to Zilbergeld (1992), boys learn that their manhood is tied to their penis, and having and using erections has something to do with masculinity: "before having sex with partners or even themselves, boys know that sexual interest and prowess are crucial to being a man...Since sexuality is such a crucial component of masculinity, males feel pressured to act interested in sex whether or not they really are.” The construction of Caribbean masculinity is rooted to a large extent in the horrific period of enslavement. During slavery, the black men were viewed as inferior. Those enslaved men who were thought of as being strong and powerful were the first to be auctioned off. It is evidently clear that from around the 16th century a systemic and structured scheme was enforced to categorize black men. The black man was not allowed to show his emotions. Regrettably, this categorization of the male species lives on centuries later. We must then ask the question: how do we move the dial from where we currently are as men to where we desire to be? The time is now to interrogate notions of masculinities as we embrace being champions of our health. Masculinities. Boys are often told not to cry, and men are told to “man up” and “take it like a man” when dealing with the pressures and stresses of life. These unrealistic and outdated notions of masculinity force many men into a corner where they struggle with their emotional vulnerabilities. These harsh descriptions of one’s masculinity can often be internalized and misconstrued as blemishes on one’s manhood. The society needs to move away from such skewed interpretations of masculinity. Disturbingly, boys who display school smarts are often ridiculed as effeminate by peers and even adults in areas where academic excellence by males is typically devalued. Masculinity refers to the roles, behaviors, and attributes seen as appropriate for boys and men in a given society. In short, masculinity refers to society’s expectations of males. In many societies, boys and men are expected to be strong, active, aggressive, tough, daring, heterosexual, emotionally inexpressive, and dominant. This toxic view of masculinity is reinforced by the agents of socialization such as the education system, where boys who are viewed as being different are bullied, teased, and ridiculed. Interestingly, those males who display soft skills are not seen on the same level as those males who display the thuggish persona. It is for this reason another strand of masculinity, that of aspirational masculinity, takes a more holistic approach to men and their issues. Don McPherson describes aspirational masculinity as the philosophical approach to engaging men in a positive and deliberate examination of male identity and the relationships and behaviors of and between men. Championing Health. The word ‘champion’ is categorized as a noun. The word does not necessarily means undefeated, instead it means courage to get up and continue despite the odds stacked against you. This summarizes the everyday role of so many men. Men are oftentimes the unsung heroes of their families. Manhood should be celebrated. More encouragement and reinforcements are also needed in order for men to fully realize and buy into being champions of their health. Men should not be ashamed to take the necessary time off from work to attend to their health concerns. Unfortunately, in some workspace, men who apply for leave to attend to their health sometimes are viewed with suspicion; this needs to be rebuffed and a new paradigm be sought. Issues concerning health are not only linked to one’s physical health, there is also the individual’s mental state of being which sadly is oftentimes ignored. Ignoring one’s state of health can have serious implications, not solely for the person in question, but also for those relationships that the individual might be involved in. Time taken off to champion one’s health is critical. Safe Spaces. On this International Men’s Day, let us work harder for a gentler society rooted in a spirit of positive masculinity, while acknowledging the existence of multiple masculinities. The time is now for men to recommit and pledge their support in the campaign to improve men’s physical and mental health. It is also vital that as men, we strengthen other men where necessary as we collectively continue our journey rooted in masculinity and manhood. Additionally, International Men’s Day serves as a foundation for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal #5 which addresses gender equality. Globally, this important occasion should be used to encourage all men to continue playing their affirmative roles in their families, communities, and in nation building and development. Gender is not a metaphor for women. Men matter too. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationalMensDay #IMD #MensDay