by Ballina Chamber of Commerce at Ballina Seagulls RLFC Ground
Featuring Kerry O’Keeffe as guest speaker!
Images are available by contacting Gary Patterson
International Men’s Day (IMD) is celebrated on 19 November every year and is marked in around 80 countries worldwide.
Some people ask why we need an International Men’s Day? In Australia, IMD is a great opportunity to take part in a global conversation about manhood, masculinity and men’s issues by:
- Highlighting some of the social issues than men and boys face
- 3 out of 4 suicides are men
- 2 out of 3 violent deaths are men
- Men die 6 years younger than women on average
- Boys under-perform girls at every stage of education
- Dads who want to be more involved in their children’s lives face a range of barriers
- Making a difference for the men and boys in your community
- Celebrating men and boys in all their diversity
- Having some serious fun in process
Despite the overwhelming evidence that men and boys face a range of issues related to their physical, mental and social health and welling, many people still persist in promoting a range rigid gender stereotypes and clichés like:
- “Man Up”
- “Boys don’t cry”
- “Men and boys don’t need help”
Everyone can take part in International Men’s Day:
- You can set up an event yourself and promote it on our events calendar
- You can use the events calendar to find an event to attend
- You can use some of our resources to get involved in the International Men’s Day conversation online
- You can give a talk about men using our KNOW YOUR MAN FACTS presentation toolkit.
- You can use the hashtag #TalkingAboutMen
Everyone is welcome to celebrate International Men’s Day.
International Men’s Day recognises that there are a broad variety of laws, values and viewpoints around the world that affect men and boys in different countries, in different ways. There is also a diversity of opinions about those laws, values and viewpoints, which are held by people of different genders and gender identities throughout the world.
As a day observance International Men’s Day places a focus on that which unites humanity, giving everyone who wants to celebrate International Men’s Day the opportunity to work together towards the day’s six key objectives, which apply equally to all males irrespective of their age, ability, social background, legal status, race, beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity.
It doesn’t matter who you are, every individual is free to celebrate International Men’s Day.
There are wide variety of ways you can mark International Men’s Day. As a general rule, the majority of celebrations share one or more of the following objectives:
- Valuing male role models
- Acknowledging the contribution of men and boys
- Improving male health
- Tackling discrimination and disadvantage
- Fostering positive gender relations
- Making the world a safer place for everyone
