The SlutWalk protest marches began on April 3, 2011 in Toronto, Canada and have since become an international movement of rallies across the world.[1] They are a protest against the belief that any aspect of a woman's appearance might explain or excuse rape.[2] The rallies began in response to remarks made by Constable Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto Police officer, who suggested that in order not to be victimized, "women should avoid dressing like sluts."[3][4] The protest take the form of a march, by mainly young women, where some dress in ordinary clothing, and others dress provocatively; there are also speaker meetings and workshops.[5] Such protests have not been universally accepted as appropriate; for example some objectors have remarked that this approach is an example of women defining their sexuality in male terms.[6]
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History
On January 24, 2011 Constable Michael Sanguinetti was a speaker at a York University safety forum,[7] where he was addressing the issue of crime prevention. It was in this context that he commented: "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized."[7] Co-founders Sonya Barnett and Heather Jarvis therefore decided to use the word slut in their demonstration.[8] The organization's website observes that whilst historically, the term "slut" has carried a predominantly negative connotation, the purpose of the SlutWalks is to redeem the name from its negative connotations.[4] The organizers also write that women "are tired of being oppressed by slut-shaming; of being judged by our sexuality and feeling unsafe as a result." They continue: "Being in charge of our sexual lives should not mean that we are opening ourselves to an expectation of violence, regardless if we participate in sex for pleasure or work."[4] Sanguinetti later apologized for the remark.
On April 3, 2011, over 3,000[9] gathered at Queen's Park (Toronto). The day started off with speeches before the crowd proceeded to the Toronto Police Headquarters. Although the website for the group urged women to dress in everyday wear (to symbolize ordinary women that are sexually assaulted during everyday activities) many women dressed in provocative clothing.[10] The idea has spread to include major cities in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and Europe.[11][12] The events have been attended by thousands of women and men, and have been debated in the media.[13]
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Debate
It has been observed that advice for women on how to dress could be considered risk management,[14] which need not be seen as mutually exclusive with an end to victim-blaming culture.
Professor Gail Dines and Melinda Tankard Reist have suggested that the word slut is inherently indivisible from the madonna/whore binary opposition and thus "beyond redemption." They say: "Women need to find ways to create their own authentic sexuality, outside of male-defined terms like slut."[15]
Some have noted that the use of the word "slut" raises the hackles of those anxious about the "“pornification” of everything and the pressure on young girls to look like Barbie dolls."[16] Others have said "Women should not protest for the right to be called slut."[17]
British Tory MP Louise Bagshawe has objected to SlutWalk "on the grounds that it "lionises promiscuity", which she says is harmful."[18] She also added "promiscuity is not equality."[19]
Some commentators contrasted SlutWalk with Reclaim the Night philosophy, claiming that while the goals might have been similar, the attempt to reclaim the term "slut" and its prominent use in the title of the movement serves to cause difficulties for the public in differentiating SlutWalk politics from its media representations.[20]
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Other SlutWalks
Montreal, Quebec, 29 May 2011. [21]
Canberra, Australia. 4 June 2011; around 300 people.
Chicago, Illinois, USA. 4 June 2011.
Glasgow, Scotland. 4 June 2011; around 200 people, mostly younger women. The police have reported two organisers to the Procurator Fiscal for organising an unauthorised march.[22]
São Paulo, Brazil. 4 June 2011; with 3,000 people.
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 4 June 2011, 500 people.[23]
Copenhagen, Denmark. 4 June 2011; 150 people.[24]
Austin, Texas, USA. 11 June 2011; 400 people.[25]
London, England. 11 June 2011.
Recife, Brazil. 11 June 2011; 200 people.[26]
Sydney, Australia. 13 June 2011; with 200 people.[27]
Brasilia, Brazil. 17 June 2011; with 1,000 people.[28]
Birmingham, England. 18 June, 2011.[29]
Edinburgh, Scotland. 18 June, 2011.[30]
Belo Horizonte, Brazil. 18 June, 2011.
Seattle, Washington, USA. 18 June, 2011. [31]
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Scheduled marches
Lisbon, Portugal. 25 June, 2011.[32]
Auckland, New Zealand. 25 June, 2011.[33]
Wellington, New Zealand. 25 June, 2011.[34]
Delhi, India. 25 June 2011.[35]
Morelia, Mexico. 26 June 2011.[36]
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA 1 July 2011. [37]
Seoul, South Korea. 16 July 2011.[38]
Curitiba, Brazil. 16 July 2011.[39]
Johnson City, Tennessee USA. 23 July 2011.[40]
Portland, Oregon, USA. 31 July 2011.[41]
Helsinki, Finland. 6 August 2011.
Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt...Germany. 13 August 2011. [42]
Dublin, Ireland. 30 September 2011.
Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 2 October 2011.
WIKIPEDIA
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