For comedian Richard Herring, March 8 is always a busy day.
He spends the entirety of International Women’s Day on Twitter, responding to men asking the same predictable, crotchety question: “So when are we going to have an international men’s day?”
“It’s November 19,” Herring dutifully replies, every single time.
The excellent Women of the World Festival — or WOW — launched in Perth this weekend, and got me wondering if there should be a male equivalent.
My first instinct is: Of course, there shouldn’t. White, straight men have been in a position of privilege in our patriarchal society for generations upon generations.
If we had a festival to celebrate that, it would probably look and feel like a North Korean missile display. And possibly with similarly shaped floats.
But then, I started thinking that a men’s festival, done right, could actually be quite helpful.
Feminism is all about progression and challenging authorities. The WOW Festival celebrates the achievements women have made, while looking at the the obstacles which still lie ahead.
On the other hand, masculinity, it seems to me, is about defending age-old stereotypes and disciplines: Society dictates that man should work hard and play hard, while protecting his family.
But that traditional view of masculinity isn’t for everyone. And feeling the pressure to meet those traits can put significant strain on one’s mental health.
Perhaps that’s why the 2016 International Men’s Day focused so much of its timetable to the issue of male suicide.
Everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin, but that’s not going to happen if you’re under constant pressure to achieve an almost mythical, and possibly out-dated, image of the alpha male.
Men’s Shed groups, which have been popping up around Perth and Kinross in the last few years, are a great step forward and encourage men to get together in a safe space and speak — actually speak — to each other.
Communication could be key here and maybe we need to address some of language used around men.
If two male teenagers fight, saying “boys will be boys” doesn’t do a jot of good.
And if a five-year-old boy cries after falling off his bicycle, telling him to “man up” probably doesn’t help.
Jude Kelly CBE, who founded the WOW Festival in London nine years ago, has stressed that the event in Perth is open to all genders: In fact, anyone interested in breaking down barriers and changing attitudes.
And after the powerful Me Too movement, and emotional scenes at the Brett Kavanaugh hearing in America, isn’t that everyone?
So maybe men don’t need to have their own festival after all.
