Every year, International Men’s Day is celebrated globally on November 19th. It aims to bring attention to positive male role models, raise awareness about the struggles men face, and give a voice to men who feel unheard.
Throughout history, we have lived in a patriarchal society where men hold more social and political power over women. While we typically talk about how the patriarchy is harmful to women, the impacts on men are often overlooked. The patriarchy discourages men from expressing their emotions or showing vulnerability while promoting competition amongst one another, contributing to poor mental health. Men are not as likely to seek help for mental health problems, and are also less likely to acknowledge them and talk to their families about them. These harmful stereotypes encourage taking risks without regard for their own safety or the safety of others, but discourage them from seeking medical help. Men often will even avoid taking medicine, and instead try to “tough it out” or “walk it off”. Men are constantly pressured to meet these dangerous expectations, only providing further emotional distress, making men feel alone and trapped.
The patriarchy also promotes homophobia, which affects men’s relationships. Homophobia not only affects members of the LGBTQ+ community, but it also discourages serious friendships among men, for fear of “looking gay”. Men-on-men attacks were actually the biggest form of hate crime in Canada because of their perceived sexuality.
But these problems often go unseen and unnoticed in society. Many men have heard false remarks regarding International Men’s Day, such as “Isn’t that every day?” without realizing the significance of the day. Because men are taught to suppress their emotions, they often find themselves grappling with thoughts of suicide. In fact, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the US, and in 2023, men committed suicide almost four times more than women. Additionally, International Men’s Day aligns with feminist values, as both promote egalitarianism — the belief that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
You can observe International Men’s Day by having a conversation with a man in your life, encourage him to take care of himself, and donating to a men’s health organization. Just having a conversation can create a safe space for men to express themselves. Promoting self-care is beneficial, and it gives men a chance to really process their feelings and emotions. Donating to a men’s health organization helps improve mental health, prevent suicide, fund cancer research, like for prostate cancer, and help prevent homelessness and addiction in men.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, or if you just need some additional support, please seek help in our school’s mental health center or seek help from a trusted adult on campus, and you can call the 988 suicide hotline.
