In Germany, Father’s Day, celebrated on the Ascension Day public holiday, is not just about calling your dad. What Männertag (a word often used interchangibly with Vatertag) entails is viewed by many as toxic masculinity in a nutshell, and it’s not only fathers who celebrate it. While for some it’s simply an excuse to party, others see it as a day when loud groups of drunk men harass and catcall women on the street while pulling handcarts (a Vatertag symbol) full of beer.
While plenty of men in Berlin took part in traditional Father’s Day celebrations, others used the date to stage a protest against toxic masculinity and violence against women: close to a thousand male feminists gathered at the Brandenburg Gate yesterday for a demonstration under the motto “Solidarity with women instead of alcohol and handcarts”. While many FLINTA people joined them, the event was primarily aimed at men who oppose sexist celebrations of masculinity.
They had ample reasons to protest, as violence against women in its various forms (including digital and sexual) is rampant; the recent statistics from BVG show just how big of a problem public sexual harassment is becoming. Traditional Vatertag is a celebration of this violence and a celebration of dangerous behaviours; three times more alcohol-related road accidents are reported on Ascension Day than on average.
This is precisely what the protest at the Brandenburg Gate was about. “We stand against violence against women and queer people,” said comedian Aurel Mertz, who spoke at the rally. Some left-leaning politicians also attended the event, with Felix Banaszak, leader of the Greens, and Luke Hoß (Left Party) among those who publicly encouraged participation.
