Slut Walk-----Is it effective?

As some of you may know, Slut Walk was a protest that started in Toronto in response to a police officer's comments on how women should prevent or avoid sexual assaults. Bascially, he commented that women should not "dress like sluts". The link to the original article can be found here:

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/940665--police-officer-to-apolo...

The article and pictures of the march can be found here:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/04/03/slut-walk-to...

Since then, similiar Slut Walk protests have started in cities such as Boston, Chicago, London and New Delhi.

It is a disturbing to know that there are still people with the mentality of victim blaming. There definitely needs to be more awareness and education on rape but, however, I think these protests could detract from their objective. It seems to be done for shock value rather than paying attention to the real issues that affect women.

Any thoughts regarding SlutWalk? Do you feel that this protest is effective in addressing women's issues or is it for shock value?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by dr. bels1dus on July 19, 2011 at 3:21pm

Parlor politics creates parlor movements, and they create parlor political actions. You are right - it does take on a certain shock value posture and it lacks a real political perspective in reaction to something that's real such as victim-blaming. I thought Take Back the Night was a great idea back in the day, but if people who are survivors of violence and against it, you have to be a 24/7 activist about it - and here is where the various 'radical' movements of the late 60s show their FAIL card - they think building liberation movements should be all about essays, posturing, shaming tactics, name-calling, and sloganeering. When the Panthers wanted to feed children of their community, an act building an autonomous zone of sorts, they knew it had to be a program with a need to be consistent and functional. Granted, it got press, but that's what they did, not once-a-year spectacle that makes a (valid) statement, then sits on the bench for the rest of the year.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brandi Parimon on July 19, 2011 at 4:46pm

It will go nowhere without action.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by kifaru on July 19, 2011 at 5:19pm

Marching is not an effective means of affecting change in this day and time. Sexual assault is not a political issue. Slutwalk also introduces a polarity into the issue that need not be. There are many women who are opposed to dressing like a "slut" who are also opposed to rape. They may not support a "Slutwalk" but they will support an anti rape walk.The focus should be on rape prevention, apprehending rapists, and laws to punish rapists regardless of the rapists gender and the gender of their victims.

Secondly women need to be honest about the fact that no one can guarantee their protection at all times and having the right to do something does not mean you have no responsibility for that risk. Ideally anyone should be able to go anywhere and be safe, that however is not the reality of the world and it never will be. Going off with a guy and getting drunk with him carries a certain amount of risk. Walking in a poorly lit area where homeless men frequent while wearing nothing but a bra and panties carries a certain amount of risk. Swimming in water infested with sharks carries a certain amount of risk. No one has the right to violate someones body by raping them but I would much rather it not happen and the best way to prevent this from happening is for women to be risk aware so they can make good choices.

BTW i think it's also hypocritical to focus on women because males especially younger boys and incarcerated men are sexually assaulted almost as frequently as women but I never hear about women wanting to do anything about it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by LesYpersound on July 19, 2011 at 6:19pm

^^^ patronizing and "well-meaning" misogyny that attempts to infantalize all women who don't conform to their misguided sense of what it means to be a woman, and victim-blaming that ultimately misses the point... even down to the accusations that not all rape victims are represented.

anyway, dr bes, i agree with you although i find the theory that flies around helpful when i'm in that mindset, but these flash in the pan annual events that spark even the smallest discussions outside the activist group is useful, but it should be a part of some larger and more consistent action or people-based movement. yeah, ia, the FAIL card rears it's ugly head b/c merely speaking and writing and publishing ideas don't liberate people...