SlutWalks?

[NaLisa]

While I certainly understand the protest/movement, I think I might have named it something different.

The AP story:

BOSTON – This social movement really gets around.

An international series of protests known as SlutWalks, sparked by a Toronto police officer's flippant comment that women should avoid dressing like "sluts" to avoid being raped or victimized, is taking root in the United States.

Some women and men who protest dress in nothing more remarkable than jeans and T-shirts, while others wear provocative or revealing outfits to bring attention to "slut-shaming," or shaming women for being sexual, and the treatment of sexual assault victims.

"It was taking the blame off the rapist and on the victim," said Nicole Sullivan, 21, a student at the University of Massachusetts-Boston and an organizer of the SlutWalk planned Saturday in that city. "So we are using these efforts to reclaim the word `slut.'"

The police officer made his comments in January to a group of York University students at a safety forum. He later apologized, but his comments were publicized widely on Facebook and Twitter. They inspired a march in Toronto last month that drew more than 3,000 people, as well as SlutWalks since then in Dallas, Asheville, N.C., and Ottawa, Ontario.

In addition to Boston, marches are planned in cities including Seattle; Chicago; Philadelphia; Reno, Nev.; and Austin, Texas.

"The event is in protest of a culture that we think is too permissive when it comes to rape and sexual assault," said Siobhan Connors, 20, of Lynn, Mass., another Boston organizer. "It's to bring awareness to the shame and degradation women still face for expressing their sexuality ... essentially for behaving in a healthy and sexual way."

The events are similar to "Take Back the Night" rallies and other marches that aim to bring attention to sexual violence. But there are key differences.

SlutWalkers have danced to hip-hop, worn T-shirts with the word "slut" and held signs that read "sluts pay taxes." Some women have skated around on Rollerblades in lingerie, while their male supporters wore shirts reading, "I love sluts."

The rallies typically end with speakers and workshops on stopping sexual violence and calling on law enforcement agencies not to blame victims after sexual assaults.

In San Francisco, SlutWalk organizers want to make their protest a family event.

"Singles, couples, parents, sisters, brothers, children, friends," the SlutWalk SF BAY Facebook page announces. "Come walk or roll or strut or holler or stomp with us."

Connors said organizers had initially planned for about 100 people to attend the Boston event; by Thursday, more than 2,300 had responded to a Facebook shout-out. Another 2,000 people have similarly committed to attend the SlutWalk Seattle on June 19.

"Everything happened organically," Sullivan said.

The officer who made the comments, Constable Michael Sanguinetti, was disciplined but remains on duty, Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash said Thursday.

"We said at the time that his comments were entirely unacceptable, that they didn't reflect in any way what we train and teach our people," Pugash said.

Pugash wouldn't comment on the movement the officer's comments have spawned.

The Boston SlutWalk group has had to delete several "inappropriate comments" about women and faced criticism from a group that promised to organize a counter "Pimp Walk" in Boston, Connors said.

"We think it was put there as a joke, but it's disturbing that a number of young people still feel that way," said Connors, referring to sexist comments left on the page.

Pages dedicated to other cities' SlutWalks also deleted inappropriate comments.

Connors said the Boston SlutWalk will proceed from the Government Center to the Boston Commons.

 

[Hoodie]

while their male supporters wore shirts reading, "I love sluts."

I bet they do!

 

[Donaldswife]

Well, I think the aim is to bring attention to the events in order to raise awareness, so I guess naming it that and having that kind of attire will get the job done.

I'm not sure I agree with the walks, but I do agree with the cause, it doesn't matter what a woman wears or how she acts, sexual assualt is rarely an act of sex, it is an act of violence and domination over a female. For a police officer to place blame on a victim is reprehensible, and part of the reason that these types of crimes are underreported and the perpetrators are often times left free to victimize others.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Well ain't that something! They say that using a word removes it's sting so I guess these people are doing it in an in your face way.... and humiliating the people who dehumanize females all at once. It certainly is gutsy, using the name, but the issue is hardcore so I suppose an equally hardcore name fits.

This topic is such a hot button one. For my part I'm just raising my son to respect women, all women, and to treat them with dignity whether or not they know they deserve it themselves. My daughter is being raised to not take anything from anyone, if someone steps over the line she puts them right back in place. Its all good here

 

[Hercules10]

They inspired a march in Toronto last month that drew more than 3,000 people, as well as SlutWalks since then in Dallas, Asheville, N.C., and Ottawa, Ontario.

And I missed it!!!!!

 

[FireDancer]

So the question I guess is what are they doing while they are there to prove they are actual sluts and not posers who just dress that way.

No one likes a poser or takes them seriously.

 

[Not My Fault!]

Let me know when they stage marches in Pyongyang, Riyadh, and Islamabad...then I'll be impressed. Until then it's just more posturing; people playing on toy barricades mocking the very freedoms that allow them to stage such events.

 

[Donaldswife]

So the question I guess is what are they doing while they are there to prove they are actual sluts and not posers who just dress that way.

No one likes a poser or takes them seriously.

I think I like you more and more each post of yours I read!

 

[stashbin]

My DD10 asked me the other day, "Mommy what's a slut?"

I remember when that word was dirty and you would never hear it on the TV or news. Now...it's a headline!

 

[Arielle22]

I work a few blocks from the Boston Common and didn't hear anything about this; either at work or on the local news. I just went to a local station's website and the article appears but it doesn't actually say when the walk will be.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Let me know when they stage marches in Pyongyang, Riyadh, and Islamabad...then I'll be impressed. Until then it's just more posturing; people playing on toy barricades mocking the very freedoms that allow them to stage such events.

What

 

[punkin]

What

I believe what the poster was trying to say is that women are lucky to be allowed to speak at all in this country and we should just thank the men that allow us to have such freedoms and just shut up. After all, we could be living in Islamabad, where we would be stoned for being raped.

 

[AJ12345]

the shock value they're looking to get is what will keep people from getting the purpose

 

[IdesOmarch]

Why are women "sluts" if they wear something "provocative" but a man isn't if he wears shorts or whatever? And why is a woman a "slut" if she is promiscuous but a man isn't? I have never understood that. Frankly I think our mores are messed up.

 

[dngnb8]

This thread is fail without pics

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Chicago is doing theirs on June 4th:
Come walk, roll, strut, holler, and stomp with us in demand of a revised cultural attitude toward sexual assault and rape.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I believe what the poster was trying to say is that women are lucky to be allowed to speak at all in this country and we should just thank the men that allow us to have such freedoms and just shut up. After all, we could be living in Islamabad, where we would be stoned for being raped.

Guess I should have run that through Babel Fish from DA to English, my bad, good catch punkin & thanks for the translation

 

[FireDancer]

I believe what the poster was trying to say is that women are lucky to be allowed to speak at all in this country and we should just thank the men that allow us to have such freedoms and just shut up. After all, we could be living in Islamabad, where we would be stoned for being raped.

Actually I think he meant the same freedom that gives women the right to walk around dressed like sluts gives policemen the freedom to speak their mind and give their opinion even if you don't agree with it. Here, there is no danger and in reality you aren't going to effect any actual change. If you want to really try and create social change go to a place that give women NO rights, like the places he mentioned, and walk around dressed that way.

Of course the initial comment was in Canada which isn't the U.S. but I get the spirit of what he is saying.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Actually I think he meant the same freedom that gives women the right to walk around dressed like sluts gives policemen the freedom to speak their mind and give their opinion even if you don't agree with it.

Of course the initial comment was in Canada which isn't the U.S. but I get the spirit of what he is saying.

Really? Well that's an entirely different interpretation.

Seems like some clarification from the pp might be useful.

 

[IdesOmarch]

And why is a woman considered a "slut" if she wants to wear a tight short leather dress and 6 inch heels? I seriously reject all USA mores, they are so outdated. Some people would consider that just nice or sexy? But it gets labeled "slutty"?