The first thing I do as soon as I get up is check my phone. And I’m completely guilty about the fact that on this International Men’s Day, I almost forgot about it until I was reminded by one of my friends. As I was scrolling through Instagram to find any post regarding it so that I can put it on the story, to my surprise, I didn’t find one. I had to search for it and still couldn’t find any traffic for that search. Even Google looked bland without any doodle especially, unlike women’s day. This brings my attention to the fact that the most influencing mode of communication today, virtual mode, is actually quite avoidant when it comes to men’s welfare.
In the era of digitalisation, where digital media is influencing the masses, lack of attention towards men is so evident that even people are getting used to it.
Even majorly, men don’t know when and why men’s day is celebrated. They don’t wish each other with enthusiasm like women’s day. The gap created by societal norms between expectations and expression of a man and a woman is so vast that you’ll see men celebrating women’s day more evidently then their own men’s day.
Men were always expected to take care of things, their families, career, society. All these responsibilities kept them so busy that they never got time to think about what they like or what they should do. They either found escape in alcohol or any other substance that kept their “manly” image intact.
A person who was always taught to give will start feeling awkward if he is pampered suddenly.
The truth is that patriarchy does not only affect women for years but also is a constant pressure on men.
Toxic masculinity can also be a reason why men’s welfare is missing from the virtual world. The human tendency to judge and categorize is stopping them from celebrating the beauty of masculinity.
To my surprise, events like Men’s day is even criticized by some feminist saying, Women’s Day is meant to draw attention to the oppression faced by women due to patriarchy, Men’s Day celebrates privileged men who benefit from it. Whereas, the whole idea of feminism is based on establishing equality.
Here is a list of things we need to stop doing or think about to celebrate positive masculinity virtually.
Do not show man as an object
In the days of the showcase and ads, living things were once depicted as objects. But we must not lose sight of the fact that, ideally, they are show items. They are not a thing; they are not an object.
To be more precise, men are portrayed as objects in the marketing of men’s underwear and deodorant by commercial enterprises. Men who are attractive or have six packs are more likely to flaunt their assets.They not only show the marketed product, but they also show how appealing particular males are to women. The goods they market ought to be available to all men, not only attractive ones. Men have aspirations beyond simply attracting women. Men’s identities, gender, and fundamental features are significantly impacted by this advertisement. Companies should not employ slogans or taglines that portray men negatively. Every advertisement has the potential to mislead viewers of any age about the characteristics of a man, after all they are a part of the media.
Advertising items featuring a nice man not only accomplish their objective but also encourage people to view men on an equal footing with women. Marketing should place more emphasis on products than on gender norms.
Once all men and women can trust men not based on their appearance but on the way they make the world a better place to live, then we’ll see men’s welfare in the virtual world.
Never be critical of a man’s feminine side
Everyone possesses both masculine and feminine qualities, according to the Shiva Purana. A person who exhibits more male traits will act more like a man, and a woman will act more like a woman. and that’s totally okay. We unintentionally criticize their feminine traits by using a few pretty common phrases for guys:
Boys are not allowed to cry
Crying is simply an emotional release of hurt; it’s not a sign of fragility. In our society, when a female is sobbing, we see it as fairly normal and a natural part of who she is. But if we see a kid or a man sobbing, we make a big deal out of it or think it shows weakness. Yes, males can also be hurt, and it’s acceptable to cry in public. Give them enough room to be honest about their feelings without worrying about criticism. This is an integral part of men’s welfare promotion.
Boys are always powerful
It’s excellent to have strength of mind or body. But it might be difficult for males to be strong enough in some trying circumstances. And I assure you that the circumstances are not gender-biased. Men have problems because of how they look as well. “Body shaming” has a negative impact on boys’ and men’s ability to grow as people.
Boys are more knowledgeable than women in all areas
Depending on their requirements and opportunities, anyone can obtain information. Men are not ignorant or to be ashamed of themselves if women are knowledgeable about something and men are not. You may learn new things at any age. Afterall, life is a constant chase of learning new things. This is crucial in promoting healthy men’s welfare.
Promoting true men’s welfare
Virtual world is no doubt the most impactful mode currently. And some things should not be gender-biased. Just because men and women were taught to be a certain way, doesn’t mean it is supposed to be this way always. Pampering a man and being pampered as a man, both can be a task in itself. But isn’t taking up new challenges and stepping out of the normal is the way through which you can make a change?