About the Walk
Why are we doing this? Because we’ve had enough!
On January 24th, 2011, a Toronto police officer gave some advice that is all too common: “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” From an 11-year-old in Texas being blamed for being gang-raped to a teenager in Seattle not being able to file rape charges because witnesses “portrayed the act as consensual,” this line of thought pervades our culture. As long as it seems like the woman might like sex, they’re made to take the blame.
The idea that women invite sexual violence by looking like they enjoy sex, or that men’s urges become so uncontrollable at the sight of a little extra skin that they can’t hold themselves back from raping, is ludicrous. People aren’t assaulted because they invited it or enticed others to it by looking a certain way; they’re assaulted because somebody chose to assault them. Saying that survivors could have protected themselves by not looking like “sluts” implies that the survivors are at fault and creates a culture in which the heinous crime of sexual assault is seen as no big deal.
Whatever reason a person is called a “slut,” the word is always meant to hurt them. In addition, the use of the word “slut” to bring people—primarily women—down for their sexuality feeds into a culture that accepts rape. When people are brought down for their sexual choices, it dehumanizes them and allows others to see them as not as worthy of protection from violence. As long as people are judged for how few or how many sex partners they have, how rarely or how often they have sex, or whatever other choices they make for their own sex lives, we cannot eradicate the myth that survivors of sexual assault were “asking for it.”
We’re sick of slut-shaming and victim-blaming being a part of our culture, so we’re doing something about it: we’re going to make our voices heard. This June we will walk in Seattle to stand together, fight the social acceptance of rape in our culture, and re-appropriate the word “slut” as one that cannot be used to harm.
People of all orientations, gender identities, races, ages, abilities, walks of life, and levels of sluttiness are invited to join us. All we ask is that you stand with us for what is right. We’re sick of being shamed for our sex choices and being told that survivors of sexual assault brought it on themselves. If you’re sick of it too, come walk with us!
When and Where: SlutWalk Seattle 2012 will be held on August 4, 2012, from 12 to 4. The location has yet to be determined, but will be announced ASAP.
