This comedian is replying to men asking when International Men's Day is, but some people aren't happy about it
You totally know this already (mainly as we’ve been banging on about it all week) but today, 8 March, is International Women’s Day.
A day to celebrate the brilliantness of women and pay tribute to those who are continuing the fight for gender equality.
But it is also the day that a depressing amount of people decide to question why there’s no such thing as International Men’s Day?
In fact, there is an International Men’s Day, celebrated each year on 19 November.
And each year on IWD one comedian,Richard Herring takes it upon himself to inform any men folk asking why there isn’t a special day just for them.
Here are a few examples of his tweets:
Um….. (quietly) might want to google that first mate. https://t.co/LeZmlntOuc
— Richard K Herring (@Herring1967) March 8, 2018
I know right. It’s an outrage. Apart from the one on November 19th there’s nothing. https://t.co/3zdyYxwUQA
— Richard K Herring (@Herring1967) March 8, 2018
It’s November 19th. The weird thing about equality is if women achieve it then men also achieve it. So don’t fight against today if equality is really your aim.
I suspect you’d like to give some money to Refuge. You just seem like that kind of a guy https://t.co/XV522ImcQR https://t.co/Kq0tBaUwgj— Richard K Herring (@Herring1967) March 8, 2018
This year, as well as highlighting the existence of International Men’s Day, Richard is also helping to raise funds for Refuge, a charity seeking to end domestic violence against women and children while he’s at it.
Writing on a JustGiving Page, he said: “For a few years now I have gone on Twitter to search for people asking, “When’s International Men’s Day?” to let them know that it is on November 19.
“I do this so that everyone else can get on with celebrating International Women’s Day and using it to raise awareness of the issues that affect women. And trying to achieve equality.”
But while there’s no doubt the raising of money and awareness has to be celebrated, there’s been a quiet rumbling on Twitter thanks to the fact that International Men’s Day is now trending.
“Why we need feminism: International men’s day is trending on #IWD2018,” one woman commented.
Why we need feminism:
International men’s day is trending on #IWD2018 pic.twitter.com/ftbVljSYWy
— Lydia Firth (@lydia_firth) March 8, 2018
Others’ have questioned whether the majority of tweets are people asking about International Men’s Day, or if it’s actually trending because people complaining about it.
“I will say it is slightly amusing that International Men’s Day is trending and the thread itself is full of women complaining that it is trending using the phrases that help it to trend. Never change Twitter,” one user wrote.
I will say it is slightly amusing that International Men’s Day is trending and the thread itself is full of women complaining that it is trending using the phrases that help it to trend. Never change Twitter.
— The Written Ward (@WrittenWard) March 8, 2018
Other people have questioned whether Richard is making the day more about himself, or if his role would be better played by a woman.
Every year I hope they’ll get a woman to play the Richard Herring role this time
— C. Buckthorn (@CBuckthorn) March 8, 2018
Happy International Men Praising Richard Herring Day! Sorry, is there something else happening too?
— Sarah Ditum (@sarahditum) March 8, 2018
Whatever your view, the generating of funds for Refuge and the raising of awareness about both International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day has to be applauded, no?
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