International Men's Day

 Today is International Men’s Day. Yes, really. Some of you might not have even known it existed, and I wouldn’t blame you. Unlike International Women’s Day, which is marked with widespread celebrations, detailed social media posts, and even full-blown events, International Men’s Day often passes by unnoticed. You know, the day where we talk about men’s mental health, men’s physical health, fatherhood, and all the stuff that gets conveniently swept under the rug the other 364 days of the year. Wait, what’s that? You didn’t know it was today? Shocking.

Where are the hashtags? Where are the corporate-sponsored campaigns? Where are the panels, the interviews, and the inspirational montages? On women's day, you can’t scroll two seconds without seeing an influencer posting about “empowered women,” companies throwing events, or brands churning out social media graphics like their marketing budgets depend on it (because they probably do). But men’s day? Barely a whisper. Nada. Crickets.Apart from Loose Women turning into Loose Men for the day (a nice gesture, to be fair), there’s a resounding silence when it comes to acknowledging men’s day. That's one and only major nod- it's a lovely thing to do but that's it. Honestly, where are the heartfelt speeches, the corporate virtue-signaling, the endless hashtags? Where’s the outrage at the fact that most people don’t even know this day exists?

This lack of focus highlights a deeper issue: a hesitation, even resistance, to recognize that men deserve a dedicated day too. Every year, when the topic of International Men’s Day comes up, there’s inevitably someone who asks, “Why should men have a day?” as though the concept is inherently ridiculous. But if we’re genuinely striving for equality, the answer is simple—because everyone deserves a day to reflect, celebrate, and address issues specific to their gender.

And let me guess, some of you are already muttering, “Why do men need a day anyway?” Oh, I don’t know… maybe because:

• Men account for 75% of suicides worldwide.
• Men are told to “man up” instead of getting the mental health support they desperately need.
• Fathers often get shafted in custody battles and paternity leave conversations.
• Men are battling outdated stereotypes about what it means to be a “real man.”

Just like International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating achievements but also raising awareness of challenges women face, International Men’s Day should be about recognizing men’s contributions to society and discussing the unique struggles men face.

• Mental Health: Men are significantly less likely to seek help for mental health issues. Suicide rates among men remain alarmingly high.

• Health Awareness: Prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and heart disease disproportionately affect men, yet discussions around men’s health still feel taboo.

• Parental Rights: Fathers fighting for custody rights or better parental leave policies often struggle with outdated stereotypes.

• Toxic Expectations: Men are expected to be stoic providers, never vulnerable, which harms their emotional well-being and relationships.

These are just a few examples, and they’re important issues. But when International Men’s Day is ignored, these topics don’t get the spotlight they deserve. Instead, we’re left with the harmful assumption that “men don’t need a day,” as though male issues don’t matter. Still think a day for men is redundant? Because that’s some galaxy-brain logic right there.

Now, before you say, “But men are celebrated all the time!” let me stop you. Yes, men historically may have held privilege in certain areas, but having privilege doesn’t mean men don’t have struggles. And plus, not every man has privilege... I highly doubt that homeless man on the street wondering where his next meal is coming from isn't privileged. Newsflash: it’s possible to advocate for both genders without it being a zero-sum game. Equality isn’t about pitting one side against the other like some bizarre gender Hunger Games. But that’s exactly what happens when people champion International Women’s Day (which, to be clear, is brilliant and necessary) while rolling their eyes at the very idea of International Men’s Day. If you’re only lifting up one half of the population while pretending the other half is invincible, that’s not equality—it’s just bias wearing a different hat.

On International Women’s Day, we see organisations, celebrities, and influencers flooding social media with posts championing women. There’s an undeniable momentum, and rightly so—women’s day deserves to be celebrated. But here’s the kicker: equality doesn’t mean pushing one side forward while the other is left behind. You can’t claim to support equality and then roll your eyes at the idea of celebrating men. It sends a message that only one gender’s experiences matter. So, if you’ve plastered social media with inspirational women’s day posts but couldn’t be bothered to even acknowledge men’s day, ask yourself: why? Is it because you’ve been conditioned to think men’s struggles don’t matter? Or is it just easier to dismiss the idea altogether?

International Men’s Day is a chance to reflect, to support, and to grow. It doesn’t take anything away from women’s day to also give men their moment in the spotlight. In fact, if we truly believe in equality, we should be encouraging balance. So, today, let’s make a start. Talk about men’s day. Share a post. Have a conversation. Because if we only ever focus on one day out of the two, then it’s not equality we’re promoting—it’s just another form of bias. Here’s a tip: don’t wait for the marketing team at your favorite clothing brand to remind you that men deserve a shoutout too. Start talking. Post something. Say “Happy International Men’s Day” without irony or a snide comment attached. Because until we all start giving this day the attention it deserves, we’re just proving that equality is a nice word to throw around—so long as it doesn’t require actual effort. And don’t sit there worrying what your mates might think. If your friends are rolling their eyes or dismissing you for saying “Happy International Men’s Day,” maybe they’re not as 'woke' as they like to think.

Happy International Men’s Day. Let’s all do better.