“What About International Men’s Day?”

Written by

Chloe Peters

Why We Mark International Women’s Day — And Why It Matters

Every year, as 8 March approaches and we begin promoting our International Women’s Day event at The Bee’s Knees, the same question pops up:

“What about International Men’s Day?”

Often casually, sometimes with genuine curiosity. In my experience, it’s usually men who ask.

And honestly? It can feel a little exhausting to explain why International Women’s Day still exists — but here it goes…

No, it’s not about burning bras or standing up to men with pitchforks (though I won’t lie, sometimes the idea is a little tempting… Just ask my Brother-in-Law, Stephen).

That caricature of the angry, man-hating feminist? Totally outdated. International Women’s Day isn’t about hostility — it’s about recognising history, shining a light on inequalities, and celebrating women’s achievements.

The Reality: Equality Is Still Not Fully Achieved

Globally, women continue to face systemic inequality:

Around 1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
In 2023, approximately 51,000 women and girls were killed by partners or family members globally — that’s more than one woman every 10 minutes.
In England and Wales alone, an estimated 1.4 million women experienced domestic abuse in the last year.

These are not abstract numbers. They represent lived experiences.

Economic inequality also remains persistent:

Globally, women earn on average around 20% less than men.
In the UK, the gender pay gap currently sits at roughly 7% in median hourly pay — and the gap widens significantly for women over 40.
Women are more likely to work part-time due to caring responsibilities, more likely to experience career penalties after having children, and more likely to carry the unpaid labour of home and family life.

Progress? Yes. Parity? Not yet.

The Part We Forget: Many “Rights” Are Shockingly Recent

One of the most powerful ways to understand why International Women’s Day exists is to look at how recent some basic rights are.

Financial Independence

In the UK, it was only with the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 that it became unlawful to deny women credit, loans or mortgages based purely on gender.

Before the mid-1970s, many banks required women to have a husband or father co-sign. Even employed, financially stable women could be refused simply for being female.

That is not ancient history. That is within the lifetime of my parents.

Women in Competitive Football

In 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women’s football from affiliated grounds, claiming it was “unsuitable for females.”

That ban lasted 50 years — until 1971.

For half a century, women were actively prevented from accessing proper facilities and infrastructure. Today’s thriving women’s game exists despite those barriers, not because they never existed.

Legal and Political Rights

Women in the UK did not receive equal voting rights to men until 1928.

Married women only gradually gained independent property rights through the Married Women’s Property Acts in the late 19th century.

Legal identity, economic autonomy, political participation — these were fought for, not gifted.

So… What About International Men’s Day?

International Men’s Day exists. It is on 19 November.

And men absolutely face serious issues:

Higher suicide rates
Workplace fatalities
Higher risk for heart disease
Social stigma around mental health
Pressures around masculinity and provision

Those conversations are important.

But here’s the difference:

International Women’s Day exists because women’s inequality has been systemic, legal, economic and cultural for centuries — and many aspects of it remain embedded today.

When someone responds to International Women’s Day with “What about men?”, it often isn’t about raising men’s issues. It’s about redirecting the spotlight.

And equality doesn’t work by silencing one conversation in order to have another.

It’s Not Anti-Men. It’s Pro-Equality.

Despite the stereotype, International Women’s Day is not about:

Burning bras
Hating men
Claiming superiority
Dismissing men’s struggles

It’s about recognising that:

Women still experience disproportionate levels of domestic and sexual violence.
Women still carry the majority of unpaid care work.
Women’s careers are still more heavily impacted by parenthood.
Women were legally barred from financial independence and sporting participation within living memory.

Acknowledging that doesn’t diminish men.

It simply tells the truth.

Why We Mark It at The Bee’s Knees

For us, International Women’s Day is about:

Celebrating women in business and leadership
Creating space for honest conversations
Inspiring the next generation
Recognising progress — while being realistic about the work still to do

Equality benefits everyone. Economies grow stronger. Families thrive. Communities become safer.

When women advance, society advances.

So when someone asks, “What about International Men’s Day?” — the answer is simple:

International Men’s Day matters. We can support men’s wellbeing, advocate for boys’ mental health, and have those conversations — while still acknowledging that women’s equality remains unfinished. It’s not anti-anyone; it’s pro-progress.

That’s not anti-anyone.

It’s pro-progress.