For a while now I’ve been occasionally posting the same tweet, noting that its ‘International Men’s Day’ and/or ‘White History Month’.
I think its slightly awkward that Straight Pride Day clashes with International Men's Day and that they're both during White History Month.
— Robert Sharp रॉबर्ट शार्प (@robertsharp59) July 17, 2013
Happy International Men's Day, everyone. Strange that it comes so soon after #IWD International Women's Day, but there we go.
— Robert Sharp रॉबर्ट शार्प (@robertsharp59) March 10, 2014
@EmmaBurnell_ Well, it *is* International Men's Day today, again.
— Robert Sharp रॉबर्ट शार्प (@robertsharp59) February 15, 2014
@EmmaBurnell_ An embarrassing clash with White History Month. Again.
— Robert Sharp रॉबर्ट शार्प (@robertsharp59) February 15, 2014
Yet again, International Men's Day falls bang in the middle of White History Month.
— Robert Sharp रॉबर्ट शार्प (@robertsharp59) January 15, 2014
The joke, you see, is that every day is Men’s Day and White People’s Day, lol. Those in traditional positions of power don’t need specific moment to highlight their heritage, culture and political needs.
Imagine my surprise, then, to discover that International Men’s Day is an actual thing:
Objectives of International Men’s Day include a focus on men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is an occasion for men to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care while highlighting the discrimination against them.
The November IMD is a significant date as it interfaces the popular ‘Movember‘ charity event and also with Universal Children’s Day on Nov 20 with which IMD forms a 48 hour celebration of men and children respectively, and of the special relationships they share.
Noble aims indeed. One thing that strikes me is the part about gender equality. Its not really a surprise when a father with daughters adopts feminist views – who would not want his daughter to enjoy equal rights and opportunities?
Less talked about, however, is the important idea is that fathers need to take responsibility for raising feminist sons. That is the key battleground in my opinion, where destructive and archaic ideas of masculinity persist unchallenged.