Do you think "International Men's Day" is insulting to women's rights?

[traceyracer]

It's today apparently.

Isn't it like having a "White person's day"?

I think a day where men can raise issues of things that affect them is a good idea. Why wouldnt it be.

The best reason remains , it's great because when you point proving idiots going " why is there a IWD why dont we have an IMd" we can go ...well actually....

Not at all

I have no problem with men raising men's issues. What pisses me off mightily is men highjacking women's issues and claiming them as their own

It's not a holiday though is it question it's just a recognition day.

Of course it's not an insult to women's rights. Unless you're one of those idiots that thinks everything has to include you.
traceyracer it's not really MRAs who 'cry' about non medical routine infant circumcision. I think you'll find it's not very popular on Mumsnet generally, or any group of people who support the basic human right of bodily automony.

I don't see why it should bother me.

Most women and men don't care much for IWD and IMD.
If people are using IMD as a way to highlight problems with men's physical and mental health, issues of homelessness etc then that's a good thing. Men have issues specific to them too.

Also I'm very opposed to male circumcisions. It is pointless and unnecessary. All babies and young children have a right to bodily integrity. Adults have no business interfering with the genitals of children unless there is a real medical need. We don't condone FGM for girls nor do we condone the surgeries performed on intersex children. Circumcision should also be outlawed.
When a boy is old enough, he can decide for his own personal or religious reasons if he wants to be circumcised.

I have no issues with it for all the reasons mentioned above. If there are initiatives arising out of it to reduce male suicides then so much the better.

QuestionTheDaddy women are the opposite sex to men, not gender. It may seem pedantic but conflating the terms has contributed to the situation we’re in where our rights are being eroded, so it is important.

But on international women's day dodnt we have some trans women thrust at us as women? Where are the trans men to thrust at them

At work we use it to talk about men’s issues like prostate/testicular cancer, mental health etc. I think as long as you don’t treat it exactly like IWD it’s fine (e.g. on IWD we had talks about how to attract women into our technical roles, and how to encourage more women into senior leadership. This would not be at all appropriate to do for men! I am a little pissed off that they have so many senior male managers signed up to lead a workshop today when on IWD they could only find 2 senior women and 2 men to do talks! But that’s more to do with our piss poor sex ratio at the top).

I must admit I’m not a fan of the trend at the moment to offer prostate cancer screening everywhere, but that’s more to do with the unreliability of the PSA tests rather than me being anti-men.

I also admit it’s a very useful day to point to on IWD when whiny idiots go “but when is international MENs day?!?”

It's also (unofficially) International Autogynephiliac's Day.

Happy AGP day too fellas!

Every day is Men's day.

But, agree that it is important to raise issues about Male mental and physical health.

The problem is that non men (as coined by the green party) are not permitted the same without a whole load of whatabouterry.

No objection from me. Men and boys have their own issues and demons and if this encourages even a few to talk about them then I think it's a good thing.

No objection from me. Men and boys have their own issues and demons and if this encourages even a few to talk about them then I think it's a good thing

Hear Hear!

it seems a very good idea to have a day focused on the damage and danger of imposing male stereotypes on boys, and encouraging men to explore whether they have been traumatised by that sexism and find ways to escape the cycle, and promote the achievements of men who are having unusual careers outside gender stereotypes.

I don't believe that most of the men who moan "so when is International Mens Day" on IWD are looking for that though. they are generally still in favour of patriarchal power and sexism and for them, there are already 364 international men's days so naming one day to officially celebrate how cool men are is pointless. And if IMD was simply a mirror of IWD this would be true. men are not generally discriminated against except for the few who dare challenge stereotypes so focusing media attention on high flying powerful men is not necessary.

I understand that the official thrust of IMD is about trying to release men from gender stereotype expectations and highlighting that things like stoicism and machismo are bad for the health but I suspect that 99.9% of those who hear it is IMD will not engage with those messages.

Maybe but 0.1 engaging would still be a start.

No objection from me either.

OP infant circumcision for cultural reasons is the medically unnecessary, permanent alteration of an unconsenting baby's genitals. I can quite see why men of all kinds, including MRAs, would campaign against this.

Absolutely there should be International Men's day, where male suicide, circumcision, prostate cancer are all discussed/addressed, along with men talking about, owning and addressing male violence to women and children, men not being connected to or expressing their feelings, the myth of "machismo". Absolutely men should have their day.

Of course not.

Happy international men's day everyone!

Feminists are known for centering women, but usually join in with other types of activism too.

For any men reading, I hope you check your health regularly for the common health problems specific to men such as prostate / testicular cancer.
Speak to doctors if you are suffering from depression don't keep it to yourself.

I discovered a brilliant deodorant in Holland and Barrett the other day, it's made from pure rock salt,
It's for both men and women, completely odourless, and I have found it to be very effective.
Use of deodorants, some of which contain mental, is linked to breast cancer, which is more common in women but is more fatal in men.

OP, maybe have a read of this article about the health issues experienced by Indian sanitation workers, and how marginalised and outcast they are because of what they do for a living, before you have a cheap laugh at the UN’s support for International Toilet Day.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-50406148

Even so, my answer to you is that no, another holiday dedicated to men...

You get the day off work!

Such privilege, such entitlement.

Theres an International Womens Day why shouldnt there be a Mens ?

It doesn't detract from women's rights at all. I'm perfectly happy with men having designated days to raise awareness of issues that affect them.

Feminism needs toxic masculinity to be abolished. The key themes to international men's day generally look to break down toxic masculinity to help improve men's mental wellbeing. This can only help with feminist issues. The less cavemen we have strutting around the more likely it is we can make sensible progress on women's sex based rights and protections.

I really don't see how having a day highlighting issues specific to men is insulting to women anymore than the reverse is true.

Whether any of these days are particularly effective is another question.

If men want to argue against the practise of routinely circumcising boys for no medical purpose I am with them all the way. I am opposed to all unnecessary cosmetic surgery and support the right of all children not to have their bodily autonomy interfered with.

Come on now women, what's with all the support for men, we have a reputation to maintain!