International Men’s Day – A reckoning?

November19 is recognized internationally as a day for focus on the achievements of men the world over and the challenges they face, especially in the social sphere. Even though International Men’s Day is not as well recognised and observed as its counterpart, International Women’s Day, at least it has begun to creep on to the calendars of several countries.

In some respects, it is like the contrast between the globally acclaimed Mother’s Day and its “poor relation”, Father’s Day. One is widely renowned and celebrated, the other far less so. There are of course valid historical reasons for this, but it is nevertheless a reality which we must face.

From reports reaching us, efforts are being made here to hold some activities to mark the occasion, focusing on awareness of male issues including health and abuse, while celebrating the contribution of males to human development. Unfortunately, while in the case of women one can point to their disadvantaged position, the centuries of oppression, exploitation and discrimination carried out systematically by men against women, there is no such justification if one puts the boot on the other foot.

It must be acknowledged that the bulk of crimes against women have been perpetrated by men and importantly, if one is not to be drawn into some form of sexist war, that those actions against women, took place in the context of certain economic, political and social systems. Those systems, including slavery, colonialism, and native genocide, were developed and operated by men primarily for their benefit but from which their wives and offspring also gained.

For instance, in the home countries of colonial powers, women were very much second-class citizens who had to fight, literally, to be granted such basic rights as the right to vote. Yet, with racism a convenient excuse for enslaving black people, even the “second class” whites, women included, were on a different rung to colonial peoples.

Celebrants of International Men’s Day, also have to face up to the responsibilities of men for instituting such systems and perpetuating the oppression of women. Besides the aforementioned crimes of colonial plunder and human slavery, one cannot escape the reality of the culpability of men for the multitude of wars, up until today. Any historical review of women’s leadership in wars is likely to reveal that such direct involvement would have been mainly on the side of national liberation and ending the oppression of their countries, especially that against women and children.

This is not to say that one should ignore the positive contributions of men in the course of human development, nor that there are challenges they face in today’s world which must be ignored. But we can only advance if we own up to whatever historical shortcomings on our long journey.

It means that while men must own up to their historical responsibilities, we can only move forward if men and women work together, understand the roots of oppression and discrimination in our societies and resolve to combat them. The focus on International Men’s Day is as good an opportunity as any to begin.