The main focus of our gender equality work will continue to be on the inequalities faced by women https://t.co/1yr8LB09Zj #UoYMensDay — University of York (@UniOfYork) November 16, 2015

The University of York has been criticised on Twitter for announcing it no longer intends to celebrate International Men’s Day.

The tweet says the university’s ‘main focus’ in terms of its gender equalities work would be on women’s struggles, not men’s.

Many have tweeted in response saying they no longer plan to apply to the university because it discriminates against men, with some attaching statistics about mental health, education and employment.

Originally the university intended to celebrate International Men’s Day on Thursday November 18, in order to ‘draw attention to some of the issues men tell us they encounter… in particular the availability of mental health and welfare support which we know men are sometimes reluctant to access.’




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England, York University Campus, Teenagers reading prospectus. (Photo by Education Images/UIG via Getty Images)

But after a strongly-worded petition from 200 students and staff, claiming the event could ‘damage’ the university’s reputation, the plans were pulled.

Now a new petition has been launch in protest, which reads: ‘It is important that we recognise men’s day just as much as women’s day. True feminists should be fighting for gender equality for both men and women.

‘To cancel men’s day is simply hypocritical. Equality is not just for women and should concern both genders.’

So @UniOfYork more concerned with getting a few more women into management than addressing male suicide or falling male uni population? — Lac3y (@Lac3y1988) November 17, 2015

@UniOfYork Utterly sexist and ignorant decision. Just goes to show you have no interest in equality at all. Sexism is alive and well in York — Pam Western (@pamwestern123) November 17, 2015

@UniOfYork how many of your male students do you expect to die from suicide? And what will you be saying to their families and loved ones? — Trigga (@Catsplaining) November 17, 2015

Yeah, men can just deal with things themselves @UniOfYork All that suicide & homelessness & depression. Nothing compared to catcalls. — Jenny O'Henry (@JennyOHenry) November 17, 2015

A further response from the university read: ‘We have withdrawn the original statement about International Men’s Day, and do not propose to mark this event formally. In gender equality, our main focus has been, and will continue to be, on the inequalities faced by women, such as under-representation in the professoriate.

‘At the same time, we will not neglect other aspects of equality, and will take a balanced approach to all nine protected characteristics as defined in the 2010 Equality Act. Our overriding goal is to strive to treat every member of the university community with dignity and respect.’

In March this year the university held several events to mark International Women’s Day.

Metro.co.uk has contacted the university for comment.

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