International Men’s Day 2020: Suresh Raina speaks on altered responsibilities, lifestyle changes in COVID times

International Men’s day, Inaugurated on 7 February 1992 by Thomas Oaster, is an annual international event celebrated on the 19th of November. The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day are set out in 'The Six Pillars of International Men's Day' and it is an occasion to celebrate boys' and men's achievements and contributions. These in particular include their contributions to nation, society, community, family, marriage, and childcare. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic humanitarian values. In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there has been some massive changes in the way men have altered their lifestyle and responsibility. Suresh Raina, the former India cricket team batsman, has said that men have now become co-parents in many ways as they have never spent time with family so deeply. Raina has stressed that responsibility is now shared on an equal basis.

“For many men, the pandemic has altered the entire lifestyle and responsibilities. Never before have so many men spent so much time deep in the family trenches. With the pandemic came more time at home for everyone. And with that, came more time with their families specially children, getting involved in activities like making lunches, managing schedules, negotiating television and video game time, tending to tantrums and sibling spats. This International Men's Day, we need to envision men as active co-parents, who are not just "helpers" in parenting but also an equal-half, who take up equal responsibility,” Raina said in an interview to ANI

Strong foundation for 'parennials'

Suresh Raina also coined a very interesting term for parents who are in the current generation, calling them parennials. This means parents to the millennial generation.

“We need to create a fertile environment for today’s parennials (millennial who is a parent) to question regressive gendered division of labour and establish better parental bonds with his child. The parennial generation, comprised young parents, is more open to this change. It`s great to see the parennial fathers actively trying to change the usual behaviour pattern and get more involved with their children," he added. The 33-year-old Raina also talked about the change in the roles of men over the years as they are no longers just the wage earners for their home,” Raina said.

Raina also added that the coronavirus pandemic has changed the very definition of men’s responsibilities at home. “We celebrate the men who are learning and taking-up more responsibility as never before, while also excelling in their other roles. Roles of men has drastically changed over the years, we are no longer tagged just as the wage earners of the house but form a strong foundation alongside with their partners,” Raina said.