Yesterday June 4th SlutWalk Los Angeles took place at West Hollywood Park in West Hollywood. The march was another addition to the SlutWalks that have been taking place in various cities. The original Slut Walk took place on April 3rd of this year in Toronto. To read my post on that event click here.
So, why is a feminist like me embracing something with the word "Slut" in the title? Well, here's some history.
On January 24th, 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police gave a speech in which he stated: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”.
It is frightening that a person in a position of authority and someone who we are supposed to depend on for safety would make such a statement. His words discourage victims and survivors to come forward from the curtain of fear.
This man's sentiments are found in other areas of society. In other words he is not the only person to carry this belief. Understand this. Women are not responsible for getting raped.
We live in a society that believes that women are responsible for not getting raped.
I'm not someone who prefers or admires revealing clothing however, that is not the point. I don't care if you are strolling down the street naked. No matter what a woman does she does not deserve sexual assault or rape. No matter what a woman wears she is not inviting violation. Do not assume a woman wants to have sex by what she wears. Society needs to stop blaming women.
Here were some basic ground rules posted on the Slut Walk Los Angles facebook site.
•SlutWalk is not about hate, and we do not use hateful language.
•SlutWalk aims to reclaim the word “slut” and use it in a positive, empowering and respectful way.
•Refer to sexual assault, not solely rape.
•Do not frame sexual assault as something solely done by men to women.
•Women are most often the targets and men are most often the perpetrators, but all genders are affected. SlutWalk recognizes all gender expressions as those that have been and can be negatively impacted. All genders can be sluts or allies.
•Some communities/people are at a higher risk of sexual assault than others based on their status, work, ability, access, race, identity, and a variety of other factors. We aim to recognize this and come together, in all our diversity, as people who are all affected and unite as sluts and allies.
•Use inclusive and respectful language when discussing the diversity of people affected: men/women and all gender expressions, racialized communities, people of different abilities, etc.
•SlutWalk is an impassioned and peaceful stance that aims to engage others in dialogue.
Lastly, I'd like to give credit to one of the main organizers of SlutWalk. He is a man whom I greatly admirer.
Hugo Schwyzer is a gender studies professor at Pasadena College in Southern California. He is a youth minister, a feminist, an activist, an author, an avid blogger and a father and husband. He is a man who has continues to inspire me and provoke thought. What a gift ay?
To learn more about Hugo Schwyzer visit his blog (and I highly recommend you do) at http://hugoschwyzer.net.
To learn more about Slut Walk visit www.slutwalktoronto.com.
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