By Laura BennettTuesday 19 Nov 2024Hope AfternoonsTrendingReading Time: 3 minutes
“International Men’s Day is about celebrating the good, focusing on the good and elevating the good.”
Key Point:
- This year’s theme “positive roles models” champions the positive value men bring to their world, family and communities while raising awareness of men’s overall wellbeing.
- 85% of single parent households are fatherless families, which has been shown to affect educational, psychological and social outcomes for children
- For men who step in to fill the gap of fatherless, or present dads wanting a healthy example to model too their children, Warrick’s advice is to “look at Jesus”.
In recent years dialogue around “toxic masculinity” has become amplified. We’re shown deplorable examples of violence and misogyny that highlight the worst of what “maleness” can look like.
Amid legitimate concerns around who and what is defining the ideals of masculinity, this International Men’s Day Dads4Kids Founder Warrick Marsh wants to make sure we’re not deeming masculinity itself to be toxic.
“The idea that men are inherently bad and that “maleness” is bad [is an] idea I’d reject entirely,” Warrick said.
“International Men’s Day is about celebrating the good, focusing on the good and elevating the good.”
This year’s theme “positive roles models” champions the positive value men bring to their world, family and communities while raising awareness of men’s overall wellbeing.
“…to be courageous and act nobly and with integrity because children are looking [and they] need positive role models.”
“[We don’t want] to applaud men doing the wrong thing,” Warrick said.
“It’s about encouraging men to do good things: to be courageous and act nobly and with integrity because children are looking [and they] need positive role models.”
One of the most significant role models any child will have is their father, but unfortunately father absence is a reality for many families.
A report from Dads4kids noted that 85% of single parent households are fatherless families, which has been shown to affect educational, psychological and social outcomes for children.
Quoting Bryan Rodgers of the Australian National University the Dads4Kids report said:
“Parental divorce [is a] risk factor for a wide range of social and psychological problems in adolescence and adulthood including poor academic achievement, low self-esteem, psychological distress, delinquency and recidivism, substance use and abuse, sexual precocity, adult criminal offending, depression, and suicidal behaviour.”
“There is no scientific justification for disregarding the public health significance of marital dissolution in Australia, especially with respect to mental health.”
For men who step in to fill the gap of fatherless, or present dads wanting a healthy example to model too their children, Warrick’s advice is to “look at Jesus”.
“Jesus lived amongst us as one who serves,” Warrick said.
“He washed his disciples feet and He dried their feet and said ‘you must do this too’: if you get a leadership role don’t lord it over people, but serve them.
“Ultimately Jesus gave up His life for the whole world, and I would argue that’s what men are called to do.
“To bear the brunt of a lot of bad things for the greater good.”
On November 19th Warrick hopes we can celebrate the men doing a good job, and highlight the value we place on their support and influence in our lives.
“This International Men’s Day, let’s encourage men,” Warrick said.
“Smile, and say, ‘we appreciate you’.
“Mother Theresa said the greatest thing you can give people is a smile, so [let’s] show some smiles and some love to the men around you and encourage them.”
Image: Canva Pro