International Men’s Day is celebrated globally every year on November 19, and until this year, there are usually no special celebrations held on this day in Anguilla. However, I find it important to commemorate International Men’s Day in Anguilla as we mark the contributions of men who embody positive character and act as meaningful role models.
The six pillars that are foundational to this day are:
1) To promote positive role models, not just movie stars and sportsmen – but everyday, working class men who are living decent, honest lives.
2) To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, community, family, relationship, child care, and to the environment.
3) To focus on men’s health and wellbeing, social, emotional and physical.
4) To highlight discrimination against males, in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations and law.
5) To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.
6) To create a safer, better world, where people can live free from harm and grow to reach their full potential.
One of the aims of this day, to promote gender equality, means that we will broaden our ideas of what a man CAN or SHOULD be. More than half of men have been told at some point in their lives, that real men should behave in a certain way. This “boxing in” of men hinders our ability to be true to ourselves and be able to express ourselves in the unique ways that we have been gifted.
A celebration of International Men’s Day is needed because young boys are more likely to develop mental delays, behavioural, and learning problems when they do not have positive male role models. Society has expectations that boys do not need to be cared for or nurtured but this is very far from the truth.
Here in Anguilla, unfortunately, all of the suicides in recent memory have been men, because men find it hard to show emotions and oftentimes suffer in silence. This is not the country that we want to create and this is not the environment that we want to build. Young men must be able to express their emotions and not have to feel the need to keep it in check. The burden of feeling you are supposed to be brave and strong for your family and others have made us weaker, not stronger.
Today, November 19, International Men’s Day, I have partnered with Dr. Ronya Foy Connor of Gender Affairs Anguilla and the Mentality organisation, to create an International Men’s Day celebration called “The Block” which will be held at 6:00 pm at Magic City. It is a time for men of Anguilla to come together for a supportive and empowering event.
So to all Dads, Brothers, Sons, Uncles, Cousins, Nephews, Grandfathers, Grandsons, Husbands, Boyfriends, Neighbours, Friends, continue to do great things and always become better. Happy International Men’s Day!
