No-Shave November and Movember are very similar names with ways of raising awareness that involve growing out facial hair. But, there is a difference between these two facial hair related movements.
“No-Shave November is web-based, non-profit organization devoted to growing cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research, and education.” As stated on the No-Shave November website, “The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.”
The rule of No-Shave November is to stop shaving for 30 days and to donate the money used to maintain facial and body hairs towards the cause. The exception is that if there is a strict dress code at work, men and women are allowed to trim and groom themselves.
William Wobe Pratcher, a second-year student at UC Merced, is raising cancer awareness by participating in No Shave November “because it’s a form of stance, usually in sports you see athletes wear pink to represent the breast cancer awareness and for men or women also can participate in No-Shave November to spread the awareness of all kinds of cancers.”
On the other hand, Movember is focused on “…the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.” The rules for Movember ask men to enter “…November clean shaven and focus their growing and grooming on their mustache for the next 30 days.”
Michael Hall, another second-year student at UC Merced, is participating in Movember “because my [his] grandpa had prostate cancer. I did know what one [Movember] was for but I didn’t know the difference between the two.”
No matter the cause and stance, everyone should aid in some way in standing up for Cancer Awareness and Men’s Health Awareness this November.