Conflicting Visions for International Men's Day

GLOBAL – As International Men's Day is observed this Wednesday, November 19, a sharp ideological conflict in Australia is highlighting a global debate over the event's purpose. Australia's government-funded peak body for men's health, the Australian Men’s Health Forum (AMHF), has publicly distanced itself from a campaign run by a conservative Christian organisation, the Fatherhood Foundation, which trades as Dads4Kids. Both organisations are promoting the day with similar branding but starkly different underlying philosophies.

The AMHF's campaign theme is “Supporting Men and Boys,” focusing on inclusive mental and physical health initiatives. In contrast, Dads4Kids, which promotes traditional gender roles and holds anti-feminist and anti-LGBTQI+ views, is using the theme “Celebrating Men and Boys.” The Dads4Kids website espouses views such as feminism being a campaign to "vilify men and fathers" and quotes commentators who claim that efforts to curb "toxic masculinity" dangerously "feminise" men. Glen Poole, CEO of AMHF, stated, “AMHF is not affiliated with any International Men’s Day website that does not support this inclusive approach to marking the date.”

The Kenyan Context: A Resonating Debate

While this specific conflict is unfolding in Australia, the core issues resonate powerfully within Kenya. The public conversation around the “boy child” has been a prominent feature of Kenyan society for over a decade. This discourse often suggests that a sustained and necessary focus on empowering the girl child has inadvertently led to the neglect of boys. A 2017 assessment by Kenya's National Gender and Equality Commission found that a majority of respondents felt the boy child was lagging behind due to an over-focus on girls by the government and NGOs.

This narrative is not monolithic; analysis of Kenyan media shows that arguments for supporting the “boy child” come from various perspectives. Some advocates express concern over a perceived decline in men's societal power, while others, including women, use the narrative to highlight issues like violence and family stability that affect the entire community.

Men's Health: The Data Behind the Discourse

Underpinning these societal debates are stark health realities. In Kenya, men face significant, often silent, health crises. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), men globally are less likely to seek help for mental health issues. This trend holds true locally, where cultural norms often discourage men from showing vulnerability. A 2022 report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicated that men have higher suicide rates compared to women and that 56.9% of Kenyans who have experienced mental disorders are men. Despite this, less than 30% of men with conditions like anxiety or depression seek treatment.

Economic instability, unemployment, and the societal pressure to be the primary provider are major stressors contributing to poor mental health outcomes among Kenyan men. Access to care remains a significant barrier, with mental health services concentrated in urban areas and a shortage of professionals nationwide.

A Global Day, A Local Meaning

International Men's Day, first celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999, is now marked in over 80 countries. The 2025 global theme is “Celebrating Men and Boys,” focusing on positive role models and well-being. However, as the Australian case demonstrates, regions often adapt themes to their local context, with the UK and Australia also using “Supporting Men and Boys.”

The divergence in Australia reveals a fundamental tension in men's advocacy worldwide: whether the focus should be on inclusive health and well-being for all men, or on reinforcing specific, often traditionalist, views of masculinity. The Dads4Kids organisation, for instance, has previously submitted official statements opposing marriage equality, claiming it attacks children's rights to a mother and father and distorts gender.

As Kenyans observe the day, the Australian controversy serves as a critical case study. It underscores the importance of scrutinising the motivations behind advocacy and ensuring that efforts to support men and boys are inclusive, evidence-based, and contribute positively to the broader goal of gender equality, rather than serving a narrow ideological agenda.