How to celebrate International Men”s Day in 2021
“These women did a good job,” men sometimes thought pessimistically, spoiling another bouquet of flowers for March 8th. — So, for example, March 8 is a holiday for every woman, but like a 23-year-old in February — “Did you serve? No? Well, go for a walk, Vasya!”, but there is a holiday that all men should celebrate!
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And there really is such a holiday! In this article we will tell you what kind of holiday this is, what it looks like, when it is celebrated, and what you can do in its honor.
The history of the holiday
Therefore, the birthday of the father of the founder of this holiday (the founder”s father, Aragorn”s father) is celebrated in November, when the festival of men is celebrated (yes, it is quite complex at some points in the story).
How did he appear?
It all started in 1968. Subsequently, the United States actively collaborated with the USSR and lost this tribe. The Soviet Union had recently recovered from heavy losses in the Great Patriotic War, recently launched a man into space, and rapidly increased production.
It got funny: a journalist named John P. Harris wrote an article highlighting the imbalance in the Soviet system.
In fact, he, of course, was wrong and simply distorted the facts, as it is convenient to use against the political competitors of his country.
March 8 was not originally a holiday of “spring and femininity” or even a holiday of motherhood. This is a celebration of women”s solidarity in the fight for their rights. On this day, it is logical to remember how women achieved equal rights with men. This is due to the fact that quite recently (and forty years ago, until the sixties) women did not even have full civil and political rights.
Even earlier, they could not drive a car, could not study with men in general education institutions, could not wear trousers, could not resort to a very limited set of professions), and many other large and small ways of oppression. Women have overcome them all, and March 8 is a day to celebrate this and remember what other issues stand in the way of women’s movement towards freedom and independence.
However, Harris did not go into all these subtleties, but simply condemned a system that condemned the oppressors as a class of political rivals and proposed introducing a men”s festival in the United States to show that they were better than the Soviet Union.
In the early 1990s, Thomas Oster, director of the Missouri Center for Men”s Studies, invited organizations in the United States, Australia and Malta to organize a small event to celebrate International Men”s Day. The event was subsequently held in February. These activities were carried out successfully for two years, but did not receive adequate support and attention in 1995.
Therefore, Ooster abandoned further plans for that day and did not continue working in the United States. Soon Australia also abandoned International Men”s Day, and only Malta held a small event dedicated to the stronger half of humanity.
However, the four-year COO in Trinidad Tobago was revived by University of the West Indies scientist Jerome Teelucksingh. It is already coming from a different, much more benevolent and constructive basis. He realized that there is Fathers” Day, there is Soldiers” Day, but there is no day that could express support, solidarity and warmth to all men. Inappropriate principles that fit these categories.
Read also: 9 most famous gender stereotypes about men
We often laugh at modern feminists who try to destroy gender stereotypes and look for ways to become increasingly offended. Yes, it”s hard to deny.
Men who grow up surrounded by toxic masculinity, including Jerome, boys and young men who demand to be invincible supermen without guilt and the right to normal human emotions, and who do not conform to stereotypes of masculinity: homosexuals, transmen, non-men, non-military men, non-military men. Men engaged in “non-Zhi” professions are emotional and sensitive men.
Therefore, he decided to introduce a men”s holiday in November — on the birthday of his father, who has always been an example of his own, and not toxic masculinity.
Now, with the rebirth of this holiday, Men”s Day helps to promote the positive aspects of male identity, in other words, to promote positive images of growing boys, youth, young men and the masculinity that can only depend on men. who cannot find examples in the media that are attractive to men. This day does not compete with International Women”s Day. It simply emphasizes the importance of men”s physical and mental health and positive examples of masculinity.
International Men”s Day: the purpose of the holiday
Therefore, the important tasks of Men”s Day are:
- Show boys, young men and men. This is done through showing examples of positive male images.
- Challenge stereotypes about masculinity. Show that men are wonderful people, brave, strong, courageous and at the same time sensitive, kind, emotional and sympathetic, doing things that defy stereotypes and remain masculine.
How to mark?
As a rule, Men”s Day is not celebrated internationally. In his honor, there is no day off in the United States (unlike March 8 in Russia). However, organizations working with men organized various events in his honor, mainly aimed at raising awareness about issues related to men.
What can you do to celebrate Men”s Day?
- Donate to a men”s charity. For example, to the HIV Transmission Support Fund (for example, there are many gays among them). Egg Cancer Foundation.
- Raising awareness of men”s health issues. For example, read about the symptoms of testicular cancer, undergo an examination and self-examination, visit a venereologist, read medical literature and learn more about male physiology.
- Find out more about men. For example, watch a film where the director is a man or the life of an outstanding person is told. Read books where the author and main character are men, or study biographies of prominent men (singers, actors, writers, inventors, musicians).
- Learn more about toxic masculinity and its issues.
- Learn more about mental health. Perhaps seek help if you need it.
- Watch films about homosexuality, about the fight for gay rights, perhaps about homosexual couples. This is especially cool if your manager has negative views of homosexuals, non-men, or trans people. Men”s Day is a great opportunity to work on overcoming them.
- Spend time with your close men — fathers, brothers, friends, peers — communicate and engage with them, find out how they are doing and if everything is okay with them.
What to give your loved one on Men”s Day? The main thing is not to follow stereotypes. After all, it is against them that the Day of Men opens. Give your loved one something that he likes, that matches his hobbies, whatever they may be, and that gives him pleasure. Men”s Day is an opportunity to make your loved one a happy man.
Therefore, Men”s Day is a small holiday aimed at caring for men and overcoming the stereotypes associated with them. Since 1999, it has been celebrated on November 19th. Spend time with your loved ones, if you want, read about it or watch something related to men. Good luck!
