Men are facing a health crisis that still isn’t being talked about enough. They are dying too young, before their time. Did you know that men die on average six years earlier than women? You probably knew something like that but it really shouldn’t be in this day and age.
These facts triggered a group of mates in Australia to start spreading the moustache fashion idea that sparked the Movember movement in 2003.
Today many have joined and are actively participating in Movember (a portmanteau of the Australian-English diminutive word for moustache, “mo”, and “November”), which is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s suicide (depression). The final goal of this movement is to “change the face of men’s health”.
Many observe this movement from online marketing point of view, which clearly has produced very successful results. The funds that have been raised for Movember are growing year after year. There are official campaigns currently in 21 countries, 4 million people raising awareness, and USD 559 million funds raised for the cause, so far! All it took was an idea and understanding the power of social media.
Besides the online campaigning success, we are also looking at the Movember influence on men’s health. In other words, the way it focuses on giving people a platform to talk about men’s health, broadcasting their personal experiences or of others, and encouraging discussion about the issues that lead to changes in attitudes and practice by everybody concerned – patients, doctors, health service providers and so on.
The following rules apply for the Movember participants and supporters:
- Come November 1st, men shave their face and register on the Foundation site.
- The entire month of November is then devoted to growing one’s own ‘stache
- One cannot cheat by growing just a beard or a goatee, one also can’t glue on a fake moustache!
- Find a friend to talk about men’s health. If someone asks “what’s that awkward shadow under your nose” – that’s your cue.
- Behave as a gentleman.
Those simple rules don’t require much. What they do is set up a platform for the men of the world to get creative by registering, talking about health, and by taking a picture of their growing shadow – it is an opportunity to raise awareness but most of all ask friends and family to donate to the cause.
By taking actions and getting involved in the Movember movement many people, men and women, have become committed and contributing to men living happier, healthier, longer lives.
