International men's day

[ThinkAboutItTomorrow]

At work we're thinking about doing something for IMD. It would be focussed on male role models, especially around flex working and inclusion probably some mental health at work things too.

I just wanted to check if it is a positive thing and there aren't dodgy undercurrents of MRAs? Online it looks pretty positive and I certainly recognise the role men play in equality (& the gain in moving on from the toxic parts of stereotyped masculinity)

Thanks for any info / thoughts

There is an IMD? I thought that every day was IMD.

That would be 365 days a year then

It would be focussed on male role models, especially around flex working and inclusion probably some mental health at work things too.

I think this sounds really positive. Add in encouragement to take parental leave too please.

IMD is very useful imo - last year at work someone tried to derail IWD with a "but what about meeeeeen" whinge and we were all able to retort "great, IMD is in November so good of you to volunteer to do something.". He slink off (probably helped by the fact that many of the respondents were other men telling him to get a grip).

Isn't that EVERY fucking day ?

Are the women at work organising this IMD action?

You could promote Michael Conroy's event in Manchester.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-man-box-the-dysfunctional-home-of-gender-identity-and-why-men-need-to-demolish-it-tickets-51209604305

I think a focus on mental health would be an excellent thing. Just be careful it doesn’t end up with a list of things for women to do. Men really need to “own” this stuff, and from bitter experience, they can be reluctant.

I would start by asking for male volunteers.

International Men's Day is very useful. It's the perfect put-down for anybody whinging about why there's an International Women's Day.

(November 19th)

In soviet Russian (where IWD started) there was also a Veterans day which eventually just became a men’s day. Bother we’re celebrated as a catch all day to celebrate people in your life if that sex, the closest equivalent I have seen in western culture is mother’s/fatger’s day but obviously that I quite exclusive. I think that it’s a bit out of the spurt of things when people make the eighth of March too political. It’s just supposed to be about appreciating the women in your life. By the same token I find what you are proposing really weird. Maybe have a barbecue or just a friendly email or whatever but don’t make it into some kind of political statement, we already have far too many of those. The spirit of appreciation is worth far more.

I think IMD with a focus on things like mental health and toxic masculinity are a great idea.

But totally agree that this is something for men to organise and mobilise. Not women.

Who is doing the wifework in organising this day ?

Surely the men should be organising it? although why can I see an event at a pub with strippers on the cards

OP, it could certainly be done in a positive way. You'll be choosing what it focusses on so you can set the agenda and stick to positive things. And I'd only do it if you also do stuff for IWD too.

Anyfucker and yet anotherspartacus

A double act in the making.

Your witty quips are making my day

It’s certainly something men should be organising and could be used to combat toxic masculinity.

It’s true very few men give a shit about it any other day than IWD as Richard Herring proves every year.

I think it's probably best for men to organise it and highlight the issues that are important yo them. But as a workplace promoting family friendly practices and good mental health would be a good start.

Please tell me women aren’t organising this.

Sounds good to me, something the OP should encourage men in her organisation to get involved with.

Women shouldn't be organising it, but imo not so much from the 'wifework' pov but more because I wouldn't want males organising or being important contributors to IWD. Sensible support - cover their phone or whatever to let them participate type of thing?

Not women organising, the inclusion & diversity committee. Though that is female biased.
I think it would fall to the male members given subject (though that effectively means their female EA's ).

It was a useful repost to 'what about men's day' on IWD so feels like something should happen & best is to focus on the positives to men from equality.

Sounds like there aren't any big red flags about it (ie MRA links) though?

And yes every day is IMD at our workplace. I kind of want to organise it to replicate the worst of IWD. I'd love to have a stage full of women telling men how to do being men. And how much I'm helping them be better men in the office.

Caveat - IWD wasn't all like that, there were some real highlights but I did have a couple of moments rolling my eyes....