International Men’s Day 2025: In a Changing World, Awareness of Men’s Issues Still Struggles to Break Through

In an age where gender roles are transforming rapidly and women are increasingly achieving parity — and even surpassing men in several spheres — International Men’s Day (IMD), observed on November 19, remains surprisingly unknown to much of the global population.

Even in a world that can no longer confidently be called “male-dominated”, public awareness and recognition of IMD continue to lag far behind International Women’s Day.

The theme for IMD 2025, “Celebrating Men and Boys”, aims to highlight the positive contributions men make to families, communities, and society.

Yet, the day remains unofficial in the eyes of the United Nations, and its observance is far less visible.

Ironically, the IMD website notes that India hosts the largest International Men’s Day celebrations globally, thanks largely to the efforts of an Indian woman.

What International Men’s Day Stands For

According to the IMD website, November 19 is meant to honour men’s positive roles and raise awareness of their well-being — from physical health to mental resilience.

Each year focuses on a theme; recent themes have ranged from preventing male suicide to promoting positive role models.

The 2025 theme continues this trajectory, urging society to recognise men and boys not as privileged by default, but as individuals facing their own unique struggles.

How the Idea of IMD Evolved

The concept of a dedicated day for men dates back to the late 1960s in the West, when debates around gender equality gained momentum.

Several attempts were made to popularise such a day, especially in the United States, Europe, and Australia, but the idea didn’t take firm root.

The modern version of International Men’s Day finally took shape on November 19, 1999, thanks to Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a historian from Trinidad and Tobago.

He chose the date to honour his father’s birthday and to commemorate a 1989 national football victory that unified his country across communities.

His efforts sparked worldwide participation, especially from men’s advocacy groups in Australia.

Uma Challa — The Indian Woman Behind India’s IMD Momentum

Remarkably, one of the strongest voices in making IMD a global event comes from India — and it is not a man.

IMD’s official website credits Uma Challa, founder of the Save Indian Family Foundation, for giving International Men’s Day an extraordinary push in India beginning in 2007.

A biologist and a long-time men’s rights advocate, she worked to highlight what she perceived as legal biases against men, continuing campaigns she had earlier pursued in the U.S.

Her efforts helped make India the world’s largest observer of IMD, demonstrating that advocacy for men’s issues can come from beyond traditional gender expectations.

Do We Really Need International Men’s Day in 2025?

Debates around IMD often run into philosophical and political complexities. Many argue that historically, special days exist to uplift marginalised groups — and that men, as a collective, do not fall into that category.

Others worry that men’s rights conversations sometimes derail into anti-women rhetoric, making the space uncomfortable for genuine dialogue.

But modern gender activists counter that “men” is not a monolithic privileged block.
In fact, men are increasingly emerging as a demographic facing silent crises:

• Men account for far more suicides globally.
• Heart disease and lifestyle ailments disproportionately affect men.
• Young men in several countries are drifting toward extreme political ideologies.
• Loneliness among men is now considered a global epidemic.
• Many still face immense societal pressure to remain the “provider” or “alpha”.

In a world where women are advancing rapidly — challenging patriarchal structures, occupying leadership roles, and excelling in fields once dominated by men — men too are grappling with emotional and psychological stress.

Experts argue that IMD can serve as a constructive platform not to counter women’s progress, but to ensure that men aren’t left behind silently.

Feminist thinkers also warn that a society where men feel isolated or emotionally damaged ultimately becomes unsafe for women and other genders.

Supporting men’s well-being, therefore, isn’t a zero-sum issue — it is essential for the health of the whole community.

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