Name: (first and/or second. You can also be anonymous)
Place of residence: (city, country)
Age:
Are you glad to be a man? Why (not)?
Men are at the extremes of success, on the one hand they are more likely to be directors, managers and politicians, on the other hand more likely to be homeless, have severe mental illnesses and be in prison. Why do men have such big extremes?
All over the world, men are more likely than women to commit suicide (data). Why is this? What do you think can be done to address this?
When did you have your last check-up for prostrate and testicular cancer? Why don't men tend to look after their health?
What male role models do you have?
How is it possible to address the problems that men and women face without competition between them?
What's your message for men for this year's International Men's Day?
Place of residence: (city, country)
Age:
Are you glad to be a man? Why (not)?
Men are at the extremes of success, on the one hand they are more likely to be directors, managers and politicians, on the other hand more likely to be homeless, have severe mental illnesses and be in prison. Why do men have such big extremes?
All over the world, men are more likely than women to commit suicide (data). Why is this? What do you think can be done to address this?
When did you have your last check-up for prostrate and testicular cancer? Why don't men tend to look after their health?
What male role models do you have?
How is it possible to address the problems that men and women face without competition between them?
What's your message for men for this year's International Men's Day?
Name: Mostafa Gamal
ReplyDeletePlace of residence: (Cairo , Egypt)
Age: 26
Are you glad to be a man? Why (not)?
- I dont know if it is positive or negative , I didnt try to be a women to have their feeling and to compare.
-but from my travels around the world (basically in Europe and Egypt too) i see that men had always advantages more than women.
Men are at the extremes of success, on the one hand they are more likely to be directors, managers and politicians, on the other hand more likely to be homeless, have severe mental illnesses and be in prison. Why do men have such big extremes?
because they are more independent so they can have more risks(to be a manger , a homeless or prisoner are all risks in live) than women, women are more connected to family specially when they have children.
All over the world, men are more likely than women to commit suicide (data). Why is this?
maybe because men are not able to accept injustice or not to be appreciated more than women. Men are not that flexibility as women. Men have more economical responsibilities that can be a reason especially when they cant do those responsibilities.
What do you think can be done to address this?
building a stronger family relationships can be a good solution (my point of view) and a good social justice system
When did you have your last check-up for prostrate and testicular cancer?
I did never check up for prostrate and testicular cancer
Why don't men tend to look after their health?
It depends on the person and his family and how he was raised up and the health facilities around him.
What male role models do you have?
-Amr Khaled a young Islamic thinker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amr_Khaled
-Mohamed El Baradie Egyptian politician and he was awarded the Noble peace prize
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_ElBaradei
How is it possible to address the problems that men and women face without competition between them?
when they both understand that they need each other,they will integrate. they shouldnt compete each other.
What's your message for men for this year's International Men's Day?
Dear world Men,
give care to women they are your mother , Sister , Wife or Daughter if not for you they will be for another man.
Mostafa Egypt
Name: (first and/or second. You can also be anonymous)
ReplyDeleteSEAN MCDERMOTT
Place of residence: (city, country)
MILTON KEYNES, UK
Age:
48
Are you glad to be a man? Why (not)?
I don’t think like that really, as I can see both sides. However, I know that dealing with sexism, periods, menopause etc. would be a definite downside to being a woman, although the last two are connected with childbirth, which I think must be an incredible experience (I told you I can see both sides)
Men are at the extremes of success, on the one hand they are more likely to be directors, managers and politicians, on the other hand more likely to be homeless, have severe mental illnesses and be in prison. Why do men have such big extremes?
I guess that men often see things in black and white rather than myriad shades of grey (and other colours) so that leads to much more specific definitions of success and means that many of the subtle positives or less tangible things in life are missed. I think men can also be very goal oriented and therefore are quicker to call label things and themselves as failures (or successes).
All over the world, men are more likely than women to commit suicide (data). Why is this? What do you think can be done to address this?
I think this is connected with the above question and my answer to it. I also strongly believe that men are still taught that they should be strong and not give in to emotions so when they have strong emotions they don’t know how to deal with them and this can result in extreme actions like violence or suicide. I have also seen a lot of men who have a double whammy of being convinced that they should be better at dealing with emotions and at the same time being frustrated with themselves for not being able to do it!
When did you have your last check-up for prostrate and testicular cancer? Why don't men tend to look after their health?
I have never had a medical check up for this although I have done self-examination for testicular problems. Generally men feel that something is not a problem until it gets serious, or shouldn’t be, so they leave it longer
What male role models do you have?
Generally it is characteristics of people rather than the total person but include some of my friends, Stephen Fry, John Lennon, Tony Benn, Nelson Mandela, Richard and David Attenborough, David Beckham and lots more!
How is it possible to address the problems that men and women face without competition between them?
By recognising the benefits that both will gain when the competition is removed
What's your message for men for this year's International Men's Day?
Live, love, laugh and enjoy life!
Name: (first and/or second. You can also be anonymous)
ReplyDeleteMarian Hîrcă
Place of residence: (city, country)
Beiuș, Romania
Age:
21
Are you glad to be a man? Why (not)?
Yes.
Men are at the extremes of success, on the one hand they are more likely to be directors, managers and politicians, on the other hand more likely to be homeless, have severe mental illnesses and be in prison. Why do men have such big extremes?
I believe it all depends on the environment the men grows in. You could say it's an extreme of extremes. For instance, if a boy would grow up in a poor family, he would aspire to become someone, like a director, so that hes family won't have to go through poorness. On the other side, if a boy would grow up in a wealthy family, he would think that he has everything he needs and not study for anything, and will eventually become homeless. But these situations vary, I don't think there's a specific pattern.
All over the world, men are more likely than women to commit suicide (data). Why is this? What do you think can be done to address this?
Well for example, in a family, the men is the main provider of the family, as seen by society. It generally falls on the shoulder of the men to provide for their family. This usually builds up pressure, and if something goes wrong, the depression kicks in and eventually suicide. Everything in this world is build around men, more tasks, more responsibilities, more opportunities to fail, more suicides.
When did you have your last check-up for prostrate and testicular cancer? Why don't men tend to look after their health?
I can't remember my last prostate or testicular cancer exam. I believe I've never had one. Men tend to look less after their health cause of society. Men don't go to doctors after the first cough, they would say "ah, it's just a cough, everything will be okay." So they seem to care less and focus on other things like success, and they tend to forget that the real success is actually being healthy.
What male role models do you have?
The closest to a role model would probably be my best friend. He thought me what kindness truly means, he thought me to value friendship, brotherhood, honor and to believe in something with all my heart and soul. My life has drastically changed since I met him and I dare say I would not be here today if it wasn't for him.
How is it possible to address the problems that men and women face without competition between them?
I don't think competition is bad as long as you know how to compete and what to compete for. The real challenge is how to win and more importantly how to loose.
What's your message for men for this year's International Men's Day?
Live every day like it's International Men's Day.
PART ONE
ReplyDeleteName:
Mick Olaf Ruddo
Place of residence:
Merseyside
Age:
44
Are you glad to be a man?
I could say no because I never had a choice, but I am happy to be a man just as I would be happy to be a woman were I born female. I'm happy to be a human, I'm happy to be alive. On a bit more light-hearted note, I can never get pregnant, nor have a period, nor do I have to shave my legs nor cover myself in makeup (although I could do the last two, were I that way inclined).
Men are at the extremes of success, on the one hand they are more likely to be directors, managers and politicians, on the other hand more likely to be homeless, have severe mental illnesses and be in prison. Why do men have such big extremes?
Perhaps it is a historic thing, going back maybe thousands of years, the hunter thing. In more recent times, I also wonder whether, as men are at the top, they stick together and keep it that way (the way the rich make sure they get richer). There is the obvious thing, of course. Men can't have babies. Rightly or wrongly, perhaps there is an element of consistency expected/desired from employers? I don't know, thinking aloud.
There are stereotypes which, although they are obviously much weaker even in my lifetime (from the 70’s to the present day), and if there was such a thing as a ‘boys’ club’, it is being dissolved. Maybe not quickly enough, but it’s only (I say ‘only’) about 100 years since the suffragette movement, isn’t it? I work for one of the biggest companies in the world, and the overall boss of the company is a woman.
Why more men might be politicians, are men better liars? More suited to lying? Or is it (more likely) the same as with other jobs, something which is breaking down gradually.
I think men (in general) see themselves as the hunter, and if they aren’t able to ‘provide’, this may be what leads to depression etc. Again, just thinking out loud, I have no evidence. More men being homeless - pride? Male pride? Too proud to ask for help? Is more demanded of men? I don’t know.
Generalising is always a bad thing - I know a lot of women who don’t seem very wise, and some very clever men, but I generally think women are wiser and more mature. Only tonight in the kitchen I was running around raising my leg and breaking wind whilst singing. Okay, maybe that’s just me. It got a few laughs, though.
Being in prison, again, I don’t know but a lot of men seem incapable of taking “orders” (for want of a better word) from women. I wonder whether that is a factor in domestic violence (although it is obviously much more involved than that).
I’m embarrassed by my own reactions sometimes. If a bloke drives past me like an idiot, I might call him an idiot, a moron, a prick. If it’s a woman, I often add on the word ‘woman’ to the word ‘stupid’. I never say ‘stupid man’. That seems sexist to me, although it is often in the heat of the moment. I always espouse respect for women, without women none of us would be here, the female figures in our lives are immense, strong, loving, wonderful people. But when I say “what are you doing, woman?” when I’m in the car and a female driver does something daft, is that true feelings coming out? Or just a lack of on-the-spot brain-processing power? Yet again, I don’t know for sure, although I will say I don’t think (I hope not, at least) it is sexism bubbling under.
So many of the worst criminals tend to be men. Paedophiles are almost always men, aren’t they? Again, I have no figures to hand. The six vermin in India who raped and murdered that poor 23yr old woman on her way home from the cinema. That makes me ashamed to be male, although I know I would never be involved in such a despicable act. All of these acts are abuses of power. I say that purely in the sense that men are, usually, physically stronger, one on one. But paedophiles with children, much more powerful. Six men with that one woman? Far more (physically) powerful. Utter cowards, abusing power.
I’m rambling a bit now, but maybe real strength comes in restraint and respect.
PART TWO
ReplyDeleteName:
Mick Olaf Ruddo
Place of residence:
Merseyside
Age:
44
Or maybe restraint should never even come in to the equation, maybe it should never be needed, respect should be enough. Anyway, perhaps that has to do with why there are more men in prison, abuses of power and greater expectations (possibly/probably stemming from males in the first place as opposed to any perhaps imagined pressure from females).
I have to qualify this again and again by saying I don’t know, these aren’t questions I contemplate every day.
All over the world, men are more likely than women to commit suicide (data). Why is this? What do you think can be done to address this?
I think that is probably answered in the previous question. Men need to know, if they don’t already know, that it is not weak to ask for help. Perhaps some men need to have this message reinforced.
When did you have your last check-up for prostrate and testicular cancer? Why don't men tend to look after their health?
Maybe 10 years ago. I think (once again with no basis in proof) that men are the ostriches of the human race, heads buried in the sand, fingers planted in the ears, singing “la la la la laaaaaa not listening” in the hope that anything unpleasant that shows up will keep riding straight back out of town again.
What male role models do you have?
Some cliched, but what the hell. As it stresses male role models, Mandela, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr are the obvious three. Nick Harper, Kenny Dalglish, my brother and father, George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Ronnie O’Sullivan, me(!), Dermot Morgan, Adrian Edmondson, Valentino Rossi, Steven Gerrard, there are probably hundreds if I had the time to keep thinking. Oh, Nigel Blackwell, must not forget him! Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Justin Sullivan. And, sadly, once I would have said Roy Harper. Everything about Roy I used as a role model until his arrest in November 2013. I believe he is innocent, but pending any court case, if he is ever found guilty, it will be hard to mention his name in such company, yet there are so many things he believes in which are undeniably right.
How is it possible to address the problems that men and women face without competition between them?
Now that I don’t know. My wife earns more than me, that makes me happy, I don’t want to compete with her, in that aspect of our lives, nor for the affection of our daughters. Men and women very often make formidable teams. I’m not a competitive man, so I may not be the best person to answer this question.
What's your message for men for this year's International Men's Day?
Relax. The only way not to end up stressed, depressed, dead, in prison etc etc. Relax and enjoy what you have, what is around you. I have little money but in my own head I’m the richest man in the universe!