”In Armenia, we always honour women and mothers, which is very important, but the role of fathers, especially in the care and upbringing of children, is, unfortunately, secondary,” says Sevak. He is a journalist who believes that, over time, this day could highlight the importance of fatherhood within Armenian society.

Armenian mothers enjoy an entire month of celebration between 8 March, International Women's Day – and 7 April, which is Armenia's own Day of Motherhood and Beauty. However, celebrating ”beauty” and motherhood does not necessarily translate into advocating for women's rights and equality, though this has begun to shift in recent years. Although twice as many women as men pursue postgraduate education in Armenia, men continue to earn more, women's political participation remains low, and societal views on gender roles, while gradually changing, remain largely inflexible. Globally, Father's Day is set not only to honour fatherhood but represent a step toward gender equality and evolving gender roles.

Serge, a young Armenian lawyer, shares this perspective. He points out that, like in other patriarchal societies, the father's role is often confined to financial support in Armenia as well. ”The father's role should go beyond just providing for the family. It's essential for fathers to be great friends with their children and create a safe environment on equal terms with mothers. Unfortunately, in our society, this role is often limited, and mothers end up fulfilling the father's role as well,” he says.

While Armenia's younger generation is increasingly aware of the societal issues surrounding traditional gender roles and is working to address them, many still uphold traditional family norms, often dismissing these changes as ”Western influences”.

In recent years, Armenia has seen progress in addressing gender inequality, such as the introduction of paternity leave and ongoing public discussions about anti-discrimination legislation. Although these initiatives are still in their early stages, they represent significant steps toward creating a safer, more equitable environment where responsibilities are shared and people feel valued regardless of their identity. Sevak and Serge are among the many men who hope that Father's Day will become a time for reflection on these societal issues and inspire positive change.

Father's Day is celebrated in various parts of Europe. In some countries, it has roots in the Christian tradition, while in others, it is simply a day to honour fathers. In places where the holiday is relatively new, like Armenia, unique local traditions have yet to form. Historically, traditional gender roles, especially those that involved military service, led to the celebration of the army or national ”Defenders' Day” as a de facto acknowledgement of men in most formerly Soviet states. In many Eastern European countries, for instance, the Soviet tradition of celebrating ”Defender of the Fatherland” Day on 23 February has continued, often mistakenly referred to as ”Men's Day” – equating state defence with masculinity.