Celebrating International Women’s Day has become a worldwide phenomenon of late — even in Pakistan. Surprisingly, although Pakistan is known to be a male chauvinistic nation, there is no mention of International Men’s Day — ever. And guess what — there is actually one! It is celebrated on November 19, and began in 1999, 90 years after International Women’s Day was conceived.

If you’re a woman — you’re probably thinking — why on earth does the world need a day to celebrate men — given the fact that in most cases, whether at home or work, men are supposedly treated like gods wherever they go.

But really, in these so-called modern times of gender equality, don’t the poor men need a bit of celebration now and then?

After all, it is us men, to rephrase, who bring home the ‘mutton’? We slave at our jobs day — and night — provide for the family, run many of the errands, brave the traffic, the pollution, and the never ending riots that seem to plague the country.

And for those who are married, the men give their wives the ultimate prized gift of motherhood; allowing them to stay home, loll around, pay for their maid servants’ salaries who do their every bidding, supply their wives with pricey purses, shoes and clothes, not to mention their children’s school fees. And despite it all, they are taken for granted.

 

Although Pakistan is known to be a male chauvinistic nation, there is no mention of International Men’s Day — ever. And guess what — there is actually one! It is celebrated on November 19, and began in 1999

 

Think about it. When was the last time you heard someone praising a man for earning a living? Or driving his kids to school? That’s supposed to be a man’s job. Just like women are ‘supposed’ to be housewives (or homemakers, to be politically correct) and they want to be thanked for that — and rightfully so. So then, by logic, shouldn’t men be appreciated and even celebrated on a day other than Father’s Day? (Which means, if you’re not a father, you ain’t worth being celebrated?)

Yes, women still have it tough in Pakistan and the rest of the world — I have to say that in order to prevent facing the wrath of all the women in my life — but surely men need a bit of celebrating now and then, don’t you think? We’re also human, remember!

And if the whole point of International Women’s Day is to promote gender equality, surely it is time that men got their due.

So, when November 19 arrives this year, can we hope to see the same amount of media coverage as we see today? Will we see men being given gifts to celebrate their many facets? Something tells me they won’t. Or maybe they will. But I don’t think I’ll be holding my breath.
___________________________________________________________________________________