“Try not to become a successful man, but rather a valuable man.” Albert Einstein.
Einstein definitely knew what he was talking about when he uttered these words. Today is a historic day, and we are proud to be a part of it. Today is the day that we embrace the men that have touched our lives in a gentle but strong way. The ones that inspire us to strive forward and to keep on moving towards our goal. Team Best for Him has been standing strong for the cause of men’s upbringing not only mentally and physically but in aspects of fashion, grooming, self-care, and pop culture suggestions. But even if everyone knows today is International Men’s Day, few are aware of its history, significance, or the reason for its existence. Ridhiman Das takes it upon himself, to share with you all that you need to know about this significant date so that you value the men in your life more than you ever did.
Let us dive deep into how this date came to be and why it is so important to celebrate and acknowledge the 19th of November every year!
History
The idea for International Men’s Day was initially created on February 8, 1991, and was officially launched by Thomas Oaster on February 7, 1992. The project was restarted in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999. Malta, on the other hand, has been hosting celebrations of International Men’s Day every year since February 7th, 1994. The Maltese AMR Committee decided to move IMD to November 19, 2009, because Malta was the only nation to commemorate the February date honouring men and their contributions to society.
The event’s creator, Jerome Teelucksingh, chose November 19 in honour of his father’s birthday and to commemorate how the nation was united on that day in 1989 by Trinidad and Tobago’s football team as they attempted to qualify for the World Cup.
Teelucksingh has presented International Men’s Day as an opportunity to address all issues impacting men and boys, not specifically a gendered day. “They are pushing for gender equality and slowly seeking to eliminate the negative stereotypes and the stigma connected with men in our society,” he said of IMD and its grassroots activists.
Even though International Men’s and Women’s Day are seen as “gender focused” occasions, they are not ideological mirror images because they draw attention to problems that are thought to be specific to men or women. The history of IMD (International Men’s Day) focuses mainly on highlighting issues that are thought to be specific to the experiences of men and boys, as well as placing a focus on positive role models. This is especially important “in a social context that is often fascinated with images of males behaving badly… In highlighting positive male role models, IMD attempts to show that males of all ages respond much more energetically to positive role models than they do to negative stereotyping.”
The Six Pillars
International Men’s Day is not without its own visions and goals. The event every day observes certain objectives, which are known as the six pillars, as it strives for a more rosy future of men and women cohabiting more than ever.
The six pillars are as follows:
1. To encourage the use of positive male role models, such as everyday working-class guys who lead decent, honest lives rather than merely athletes and movie stars.
2. To recognise the beneficial contributions made by males to the environment, the family, the community, and society as a whole.
3. To emphasise the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of males.
4. To draw attention to discrimination against men in the law, social attitudes, and service sectors.
5. To promote gender equality and better gender relations.
6. To build a better, safer world where people can live in security and develop to the fullest extent possible.
Themes
Additionally, if you did not know or if you had not noticed before, International Men’s Day follows a certain theme in its celebrations every year. They are followed simultaneously along with the six pillars and are generally suggested by the coordinators of the event. Examples of such themes include “positive role models” in 2009, “peace” in 2002, “our children’s future” in 2010, and such other themes every year.
For the current year of 2022, the theme stated is “Helping Men and Boys.”
Conclusion
International Men’s Day should not be seen as the only day to acknowledge, respect, and pour some love on the men in your life. It is a day meant to embrace and value the great things that men have contributed to the betterment of society and also to be grateful and thankful for the supportive and loving men that you are surrounded by in your lives. Men and women are both meant to cohabit harmoniously, so it is essential that both genders are respected equally in order to strive for true gender equality and equity in the distant future.