3 interesting facts about International Men's Day

Launched in 1999 and set for November 19th, International Men's Day is celebrated today in more than 60 countries around the world. You didn't know it? It is time to tell you some details ...

1. It was founded in Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies

In 1999, professor Jerome Teelucksingh, teacher of Caribbean history, had the idea of ​​highlighting, one day a year, the specific men's problems. The goal was not to compete with Women's Day, celebrated on March 8th. It was rather about showcasing the experiences of men from all walks of life and all social classes and promoting the positive aspects of male identity. All this to create another model and block the path of negative gender stereotypes.

“Being a male is a matter of birth. Being a man is a matter of choice.” — Edwin Louis Cole

2. Men's day is not recognized by the UN

It's true. For the United Nations, November 19 is ... World Toilet Day !!! Do not be offended - this is a very pressing cause. In the face of significant climate change, floods, drought, and sea-level rise present serious threats to sanitation systems, especially in the poorest countries. 

3. The month of November under the sign of man

Surely you remember the Movember movement, dedicated to raising awareness of men's health issues (we talked about this at Joe Snyder Europe this month) and celebrated during November. International Men's Day joins several of Movember's goals, highlighting the issues of high suicide rates among men, shorter life expectancies than those of women, and diseases affecting only men. But it also denounces other aspects of inequalities, in family rights and education in particular (boys are more subject to difficulties in learning to read than girls).

It is important to understand that the international men's day isn't an even deeper assertion of "machismo". Quite the opposite, it aims to improve gender relations and promote all that is good in men.

A little wink to test our famous self-mockery ... 

It is scientifically proven that men die earlier than women. But why? Purely biological reasons alone cannot provide a reliable answer. 

These YouTubers have found the explanation ;-)