General Question

elbanditoroso's avatar

Is November Men's Moustache month an effective way to raise awareness for Men's health?

Asked by elbanditoroso (33592points) November 4th, 2013

It seems unfocused and too easy to ignore. I have a moustache 12 months out of the year.

How many people realize that this is the theoretical equivalent of the pink ribbon?

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17 Answers

Blackberry's avatar

I had no idea it was about men’s health awareness. I thought it was just a thing people did for no reason and I’ve known about it for years and years. That shows how effective it is lol.

Seek's avatar

It’s exactly as effective as no-bras-for-breast-cancer.

Which is, it is a nice reminder to the sick people of what they no longer have. (Cancer patients losing both hair and breasts to their respective illnesses.)

If you’re interested…

ucme's avatar

Movember raises awareness because famous folks, sports stars/celebrities join in.
Certainly grabs your attention seeing previously clean shaven footballers looking like a seventies porn star.

elbanditoroso's avatar

@ucme – and just what is wrong with a seventies porn star?

I have no problem with the sentiments – awareness of testicular cancer, prostate cancer, etc. I just think that the means of delivering the message is so subtle it is ineffective. Anyone can have a moustache, and millions do. (Even some women) If they wanted to really get peoples’ attention the symbol might be exposed phalluses or something similar.

Seek's avatar

^ Please no.

livelaughlove21's avatar

I haven’t even heard of this. I’ve heard of no-shave November, but that’s not just a mustache.

The only man that has pulled off having just a mustache in the past two or three decades is Tom Selleck. The rest just look like Jeffrey Dahmer. Normally gorgeous men can transform into someone you’d never let your kids near with just a little upper lip hair. It’s a shame.

livelaughlove21's avatar

@elbanditoroso I believed you. I’d just never heard of it until now.

I prefer no-shave November. Grow it all out.

GoldieAV16's avatar

I realized it, and I’ve donated, so it’s at least minimally effective. :-)

glacial's avatar

I’ve never heard anyone call it “November Men’s Moustache Month”... that sounds cumbersome and weird to me. Here, it’s Movember, which is catchy and fun.

As to whether it raises awareness, it depends on who’s wearing the ‘stache and what they say and do about it. In the university I last attended, guys would talk about why they were growing them, and ask people to pledge donations. Then at the end of November, there was an event where they had it shaved off (sometimes along with the rest of their hair!), so it was always obvious why it was being done. Money was given to the appropriate charity. Done.

But if some dudes just grow facial hair for a month, say nothing about it, then remove it quietly… then no, it’s not going to raise anyone’s awareness, and I don’t see the point.

Crafter's avatar

It’s exactly as effective as no-bras-for-breast-cancer.

Don’t you dare touching no-bras-thing!))

ibstubro's avatar

Never heard of it.
Maybe those of us that sport a mustache all year should be encouraged to shave it off. That might get more attention?

Kinda reminds me of the “Start Seeing Motorcycles” campaign, which I was never clear about until someone finally started posting “Watch for Motorcycles” instead. KISS…keep it simple, stupid.

fundevogel's avatar

As a fan of male facial I am generally in favor of anything that promotes its growing…but as a means of promoting awarness or actually accomplishing something in the realm of men’s health?  Doubtful.

I like the comaradie it encourages since there is often a social component to growing, but I have a hard time seeing how this (or similar do-nothing action) actually helps.  If the goal is simply to raise awareness, well, it’s fucking cancer.  I don’t think it needs publicity.  If the goal was something more tangible like, getting people screened that would be something.  But it seems like the fluffy sort of action with goals so vague it gets to skate on masquerading as “good work” while secretly it’s much more about the celebration of the noble arts of beard and moustachery than prostates.

But Nick Offerman is still awesome.

GoldieAV16's avatar

Last year they raised $147 million for men’s health.

“Movember is ranked in the top 100 best NGOs (charity) in the world by the Global Journal based on three key main criteria: impact, innovation and sustainability. To put that in context, there are an estimated 5 million NGOs around the world.”

(from the Movember US site)

Seek's avatar

Because the ILS (Invisible Lat Syndrome) is enough ego posturing to deal with without a bunch of idiots waving their little winkies around like they’re something to be proud of.

SecondHandStoke's avatar

^ I’ll limit my reply to “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

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