Gender equality benefits men too

💥 November 19 is International Men’s Day 💥

This day of action has been observed for 25 years, is celebrated in around 80 countries, and is supported by the UN.

“The day aims to raise awareness for the mental and physical health of boys and men, for equality, and for specifically male social issues,” says the Federal Agency for Civic Education. (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung / Federal Agency for Civic Education) “Many boys and men still believe they must not show weakness as the so-called ‘stronger sex.’ These stereotypes are deeply rooted in our society and often shape us from childhood. Many men unconsciously use strategies to suppress their emotions, making them more susceptible to mental and physical illnesses.”

On the topic of gender roles, Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: “Young men have it tough. They are expected to be strong, confident, and assertive. At the same time, they are expected to be gentle, show vulnerability, and even cry. Plenty of room for overwhelm and frustration.”

This uncertainty around gender roles might be one reason why societal debates are becoming increasingly contentious. Many people react extremely sensitively, even aggressively, to certain “trigger points” (the title of a book by Steffen Mau, Thomas Lux, and Linus Westheuser).

“Trigger points have a ‘dual-use character.’ They can contribute positively to societal change and progress, or negatively, for instance, by being exploited by populists or extremists to manipulate debates for their own purposes—whether to gain attention or win votes,” says Deutschlandfunk in its review of the book. The key to whether these effects are positive or negative lies in the culture of debate.

“More respect, please!” is the title of a study on the culture of discussion in German municipal politics—just one example of the many approaches to improving this culture. It’s about fostering better relationships, which is something particularly important to us at herCAREER. After all, gender equality benefits everyone and requires the inclusion of people of all genders on the path toward equality.

Martin Speer shares this view. Together with Vincent-Immanuel Herr, Miriam Steckl, Robert Peter, Amy Herr, PhD, William McInerney, PhD, Aileen McKay, and the Feminist Lab, he co-authored The Book Every Man Should Read: Four Steps to Becoming a Feminist.

The four steps are: listen, learn, reflect, and act.

In an interview with herCAREER, Martin discusses how men can become allies for gender equality: