Its that part of the year again where Men around the globe (the ones that are aware of the phenomenon) grow their moustaches and beards. MOVEMBER. While many like me, follow it for just another excuse to not shave; others try it to have a different "look". Very few have bothered to Google the reason behind why to not shave or grow a moustache/beard in November. (Remember the ALS Ice bucket challenge?) Well the reason, men don't shave is to contribute the amount of money saved on shaves for the whole month to organisations working on Men's health issues like Prostate and Testicular cancer.
While Women and Men not aware of this would be more than happy to criminalise you for your shabby and unkempt look, I was intrigued by the fact as to how easy we categorize and cry blasphemy at the smallest of things. Being a feminist from a young age, I was never done appreciating the skill set, effort and patience you needed to be a Woman. It still mesmerises me every day. But this article is not about the Fairer Sex, its about the under-appreciated one.
Men have traditionally always had upper hand when it came to opportunities of self-development. Whether it was to hunt, fight, educate or lead- these were considered "obvious" for the men while the women took care of medical health, animals, children and the old. These continued and progressed into today's times where most of the world societies are patriarchal-some more than the others.
The excess power in the hand of the Men made them misuse it terribly-crushing the other genders terribly. Which brings us to their generic impression of being Cruel, Rude, Unfaithful, Lecherous and even Inhuman. You ask a well-educated, well-travelled lady and she would say "all men are dogs"! If not always, most of the times. You go to the hinterlands and the small-town girl will tell you "Men are like that only". This is because the Women have been mishandled, cheated upon, treated unfairly or even attacked! Physically, mentally, psychologically. So the question is - are all the Men so bad?
I know your next thought, "No. My Papa isn't bad. He is the best man there is." And considering a majority of us needed a Papa to be here(!), there is a sizeable population of men whom each lady considers great. You remember the moments you spent with them- how he always understood what you wanted for your birthday, how he allowed you to go out that evening when Mum was hell bent on not letting you go, how he stayed up late when you came back from that "joint study". Most of us don't even understand, less appreciate the fact that our Dads go to work everyday, every week, year on year for dozens of years without complaining to bring food to family. He has fought all the office politics that you complain of today as "too much" for years! He took the family out for dinner after a bashing from the boss and still kept smiling all evening. All this while, when he is the "obvious" choice to be the bread-earner of the family, he cant show sign of weakness or fatigue. He kept going on and that's why we should have more respect for him than ever.
Same goes for the Husbands, Brothers & Sons. They might be going through a lot in their heads, but they show strength- not because they are proud; but because "Boys don't cry". Customs has told them they have to do this and continue doing it like a "Man". Have you ever thought what if a man just wanted to be a Home maker? Would you marry such a man? Date him? Possibly not because all women want a Man who is independent, strong, funny and much more.
So the current Man is trapped in the impression of Man that his predecessors had carved out for him. Not only the Men but also the Women. Their Mothers always told them to be strong, think of a good career or he may never find a good wife! The ones without a moustache or beard were called girly. The ones who liked pink, the ones who like art, the ones who like to cook, the ones who liked fashion. There was always a label, a category ready to put them in. The usual problem is that in trying to balance both gender's equation, we work on either extremities. Men's side dont consider the women opinion while the Feminists would get rid of the Men from the world totally!
So dear Ladies and "Gentle" Men; stop categorizing everything and everyone. Let people be. Let Men be. For once, dont force them to take control of things. For once, appreciate each one on their merit. For once, love them for who they are. For once, dont tell them they look like a rapist in that funny moustache. For once, buy him a nice beard oil to keep it tidy. For once, dont generalise.
And maybe the Men wont be so bad after all. Maybe the world won't be so bad after all!
Happy Movember!
