November is a month full of crisp fall leaves, PSLs and men’s health. Every November, the men’s health campaigns No Shave November and Movember resurface in order to raise awareness for pressing issues in men’s health. With Her Campus American holding a No Shave November contest and an event for both No Shave November and Movember, it’s important to know the difference between the two.
Although both campaigns happen yearly, they differ in their platforms. Movember is sponsored by The Movember Foundation, which is a global charity for men’s health. The foundation, according to their website, is “committed to men living happier, healthier, longer lives.”
The organization tackles the topic of gender as a determinate for many health issues. Their website reads, “On average, across the world, men die 6 years earlier than women. Moreover, poor mental health affects men more than women: three quarters of suicides are by men. The World Health Organization estimates that 510,000 men die from suicide globally each year. That’s one every minute. The impact of prostate and testicular cancer on lives is substantial, with prostate cancer being the second most common cancer in men worldwide and the number of cases expected to almost double to 1.7 million cases by 2030.”
As a result, the Movember campaign brings together “Mo Bros and Mo Sistas” year round to raise awareness and educate the public on these pressing issues in men’s health.
Similarly, No Shave November also tackles the issue of men and women’s health head on. However, although many people use No Shave November as an excuse to let their beards grow wild and free all month long, the campaign itself an attempt to start a conversation about cancer awareness.
Their website states that the purpose of No Shave November is “to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.” No Shave November encourages both men and women to put a stop to their grooming for a month and to donate the money that would otherwise go towards that grooming to the cause.
Individuals who wish to participate in the No Shave November events can set up their own personal No Shave November page, where they can fundraise for various cancer organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Fight Colorectal Cancer and the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
Whether you choose to join the Movember movement, or drop the razor in support of No Shave November, this month is dedicated to raising public awareness of serious health issues. In wake of all of the tragic events that have been happening recently, everyone could benefit from fighting for a great cause. Regardless of what that cause may be, November (and every month of the year) is a great time to stand together and fight for something bigger than the rest of us.
So put down your razors, stand up and start fighting.