There is the real question. Many “day of X” are to raise awareness of some issue. There are some real men specific issues in society that should be addressed, but I get the impression most will be toxic about it instead (I wonder how many are doing this to smear men’s issues). Of course the issues men face in society are overall not too big a deal, and I’m not sure it is worth a day (a long with most other things that get a day)
I don’t like the idea of comparing the relative struggles of various groups. Everyone is dealing with something, and somebody always has it worse. That doesn’t invalidate the struggle.
In fact, I’d say that’s one of the struggles men deal with. We’re often expected to soldier on, man up, tough it out, walk it off, etc etc. Men who talk about vulnerability or pain are met with derision and scorn. But stress, anxiety, trauma, isolation, physical and emotional pain, everyone should feel worthy of asking for help. We do deal with discrimination in some forms, and talking about those issues shouldn’t be intended to compare to social injustices women have been dealing with.
Where it veers into toxicity is when we compare our struggles, and use our issues to dimish the issues of other groups.
So if it’s a day of positivity and support, I’m all in. If we made a day just because we felt left out of all the other days of recognition and support, then that’s the wrong message.
There is the real question. Many “day of X” are to raise awareness of some issue. There are some real men specific issues in society that should be addressed, but I get the impression most will be toxic about it instead (I wonder how many are doing this to smear men’s issues). Of course the issues men face in society are overall not too big a deal, and I’m not sure it is worth a day (a long with most other things that get a day)
I don’t like the idea of comparing the relative struggles of various groups. Everyone is dealing with something, and somebody always has it worse. That doesn’t invalidate the struggle.
In fact, I’d say that’s one of the struggles men deal with. We’re often expected to soldier on, man up, tough it out, walk it off, etc etc. Men who talk about vulnerability or pain are met with derision and scorn. But stress, anxiety, trauma, isolation, physical and emotional pain, everyone should feel worthy of asking for help. We do deal with discrimination in some forms, and talking about those issues shouldn’t be intended to compare to social injustices women have been dealing with.
Where it veers into toxicity is when we compare our struggles, and use our issues to dimish the issues of other groups.
So if it’s a day of positivity and support, I’m all in. If we made a day just because we felt left out of all the other days of recognition and support, then that’s the wrong message.