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SlutWalk: End Victim Blaming
Today is the 1 year anniversary of SlutWalk (http://www.slutwalktoronto.com)! I am so happy that I live in city in which it was created, Toronto! SlutWalk was the first protest I have ever participated in and it is one of the best experiences of my life! (Ps. I will be moderating the hell out of any comments)
SlutWalk was founded by Heather Jarvis and Sonya Barnett who attend(ed) York University in North Toronto. York has a horribly history of its female students being sexually assaulted on campus grounds, including in their own dorm rooms! On January 24, 2011 York was having a crime prevention safety forum in which Toronto police officer, Constable Michael Sanguinetti, said:
“I’ve been told I’m not supposed to say this – however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.”
He is right! He shouldn’t have said that!
Why use Slut in SlutWalk? A lot of people have asked that. Slut because it is the language he used. Slut because is it a historically degrading word used towards women. Slut too say “FUCK YOU!”
A lot of people, sadly get hung up on the movement using the term Slut. This sometimes completely removes certain from ever support it! This is upsetting because you don’t need to identify with Slut, you don’t have to like the word but you should not abandon the cause! SlutWalk is more about ending sexual violence against women and ending victim blaming!
SlutWalk is about a lot of things:
SlutWalk is about ending sexual violence against girls and women!
SlutWalk is about supporting women in reporting their assaults!
SlutWalk is about showing that it doesn’t matter what you wear, how you act, where you go, girls and women should not be raped!
SlutWalk is about showing that all women are at risk for sexual violence but that certain women such as racialized and disabled women are at and even higher risk!
SlutWalk is about demanding the police not turn women away or dismiss their claims of rape!
SlutWalk is about demanding that individuals who sexually assault someone are given appropriate 
punishments!
SlutWalk is about reclaiming women’s sexuality and pleasure which has long been oppressed under our current patriarchal system which says a women needs to look, act and be a certain way!
SlutWalk is about support lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in their safety and sexuality and acknowledges that all sexual orientations are at risk of sexual violence!
SlutWalk is about reclaiming historically degrading words, such as Slut, to make them lose their power of us!
SlutWalk is about EDUCATING MEN to not rape because they are a key piece of ending rape culture!
SlutWalk is about globally supporting the rights or girls and women!
SlutWalk is about removing the shame experienced by girls and women who experience sexual assault!
SlutWalk also acknowledge the sexual assault experienced by men and seeks to support them!
SlutWalk helped me create a new self worth! As soon as I found out about SlutWalk, what the movement was about, I finally felt comfortable with myself. For too long had I be damned, and worse, damned myself, for my sexuality! SlutWalk allowed me to experience freedom. I was able to walk with women and men, young and old, who supported me, who understood my journey and I can’t explain how amazing that felt!
I have faced some anger from women who disagree with the movement. I have been told that I am betraying women by supporting a cause that uses such a degrading term and that I call myself a slut (proudly). These are usually the same women who then go on to say that clothing, behaviour, and location to condemn a women to be raped. This is a disgusting attitude!
I will be participating again in SllutWalk 2012 which will be on Saturday May 26 (two days after my birthday)! It will be bigger this time so probably more amazing than the first! I’m very proud to be a part of this movement!
Today, April 3 2012, is the first International Day Against Victim Blaming! Please do you part in eliminating the blaming of victims of assaults DONE TO THEM!!!
It DOES NOT matter what they’re wearing!
It DOES NOT matter how they’re are acting!
It DOES NOT matter if they’ve had sex with the person before!
It DOES NOT matter if they walked down the dark ally!
It DOES NOT matter if they’re are intoxicated!
It DOES NOT matter if they are in a sexual relationship with the person!
IT DOES NOT MATTER! DO NOT RAPE! NO MEANS NO! WE DON’T “ASK” FOR IT!
