Bharat is facing an 'epidemic' of fatal violence against men and it happens all the time! Every time we learn about a single death where the pervasive gender bias against men plays a contributing role, it appears to be isolated and unrelated, but it is indeed part of a huge problem.
The reported incidents only represent a small portion of the total number of suicides or killings of innocent men, the vast majority of which happen due to domestic violence/emotional abuse, or unhealthy relationships.
In a society that portrays masculinity as synonymous with strength and stoicism, men are often discouraged from expressing their emotions, particularly those of sadness, fear, or despair. This "strong and silent" archetype has devastating consequences, leading men to internalize their struggles and suffer in silence.
Governments should recognise that there exist numerous obstacles that restrict men from seeking help or reporting such abusive experiences, with the main obstacle being the absence of any platform for men. Other barriers include but are not limited to - stigma, stereotypes, under-reporting of cases, not knowing who to report, and lack of awareness that it is abuse, or staying in the relationship for the sake of the family. Our society needs a platform where men can speak up about their circumstances since domestic violence against men is rampant and very prevalent and no government DV survey tries to capture that data.
Amid nationwide protests over Atul's suicide, Daaman volunteers rocked today's #KanpurHalfMarathon as a constant reminder of the situation and to call on governments to act to at least consider Men too as human.
Many people came up and took pictures of the banner with the helpline number expressing support for the cause. It's wonderful that some people now understand how important it is to voice their opinions on these subjects, which were never discussed before.
In addition to all the participants who helped make the event a success, we also want to thank everyone who helped with its organization and execution.
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