The Rubberbandits’ idea for International Men’s Day is one we can all get behind

Hear, hear.

Wednesday, March 8 was International Women’s Day and in Ireland, it was marked by powerful scenes as huge crowds took the streets and marched on the Dáil as a show of solidarity with women in Ireland affected by the lack of an abortion provision in this country. As it does every year, unfortunately, International Women’s Day brought out a minority of men on Twitter angered by the absence of an International Men’s Day, despite the fact that such a day actually exists on 19 November.

#BeBoldForChange #Strike4Repeal https://t.co/BkE29wV7ZY

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) March 8, 2017

The Rubberbandits were amongst those peeved by such naysayers on social media yesterday and went on to to make a suggestion on Facebook that from now on, International Men's Day should be used by men “to address that we've been raised as men to not express or understand emotion, as a result of shit gender roles." The day should also be used, the post continued, to acknowledge that the “inability to express might be one of the cornerstones behind the disproportionately high rates of male suicide, as well as social and economic craic.

Together, we are strong. Amazing scenes in Dublin @Strike_4_Repeal #Strike4Repeal pic.twitter.com/cuuWQPuKqg

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) March 8, 2017

“Let’s eradicate the idea that a man expressing vulnerability equates to ‘having a vagina,’” it said; you can read it in full below and it's well worth having a look. The Facebook post, which included personal experience of how counselling can lead to an understanding of emotions such as weakness and low self-esteem, attracted just under 10,000 likes and over 2,000 shares in the space of two hours. Here's hoping the sentiments expressed in it will be embraced by men in this country and beyond by the time International Men’s Day arrives on 19 November.