In the fast pace of life, men in Aruba carry many roles: provider, protector, father, partner, friend and leader. But International Men’s Day is not only a recognition of traditional roles; it is a deep invitation to look further: how do men really feel? How do we guide our families? How do we shape the moral compass of our community? According to Eduard Pieters of the PPA faction, this day is not meant to glorify machismo, but to celebrate integrity, responsibility and emotional health — three areas that require much more attention on our island.
Men in Aruba: between expectation and reality
According to Eduard Pieters:
“Many men feel pressure to constantly perform: earn money, be strong, show no emotion and ‘solve everything’. These expectations create a silent mental health crisis, such as depression and anxiety, domestic violence, which in many cases is connected to frustration, lack of emotional management, and limited family presence due to long work hours, multiple jobs and structural fatigue. On this day, we must reflect and truly give men more space to express their emotions, ask for help, and not feel judged. A strong community is born from men who are physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy.”
The responsibility of men: Leadership without abuse, force or violence
Men play a crucial role in shaping our society. But leadership is not using power; leadership is setting an example.
“As a father, you are the first model of respect, discipline and love. As a partner, your role is to care, communicate and build a relationship — not to control. As a citizen, your responsibility is to protect and keep an eye on everything happening around you,” Eduard emphasized.
In Aruba we are seeing a transformation: more men are taking active roles in parenting, in the community, and in volunteer work. This is a change that must be strengthened with structural support, health programs and educational spaces that work on positive masculinity.
How can we support our men?
“A man cannot grow up healthy without a strong foundation from a young age. This is not only the responsibility of the mother or a female figure, but also of the father and of all of us. We must ensure that from childhood our boys learn responsibility, receive love and affection, express their emotions and regulate them in a correct and responsible way. We must teach them from an early age what respect and empathy are, and that men are a crucial part of our community and must have space to talk and seek help when needed,” Eduard continued.
Finally, Eduard Pieters highlights that International Men’s Day should serve as a reminder that men do not only represent muscle and physical strength, but also emotion, responsibility, dignity and courage.
“A country that does not care for its men cannot expect them to care for their families or their community. For the PPA faction, this is a crucial point: if we want an integral, safe and just Aruba, we must nurture a healthy masculinity based on respect, well-being and humanity. Healthy men create healthy families, and healthy families create an Aruba that can rise in peace, strength and dignity.”
Press release: PPA