Five Problems with the Slutwalk Marches

[Language Alert:  I use the Sl** word in this post to address the phenomenon of thousands of women walking in Sl**Walk Marches]

This week marks the first anniversary of SlutWalk.

The first SlutWalk demonstration took place in Toronto, Canada, on April 3, 2011. The rally was held in response to a Toronto police officer's statement that young women could help safeguard themselves against rape by dressing more modestly. 

Feminist activist, Sonya Barnett, was incensed at his remark. She bristled at the implication that provocatively dressed women were in any way responsible for their own victimization and abuse. Barnett argued that girls should have the right to dress slutty without fear of sexual assault. Suggesting otherwise, places the blame on the female victim, and excuses the behavior of the male perpetrator. 

Barnett organized a protest march to the Toronto Police Station, which she dubbed "SlutWalk." Through it, she hoped to raise society's collective consciousness, and to encourage girls to:

• "reclaim" the word "slut" and other such negative male-defined labels,
• exert their right to reject male-defined, patriarchal norms of female dress and behavior, and
• protest a culture that puts blame on the victims of sexual assault.

Proud to be a Slut?

Over the past year, more than 50 SlutWalks have taken place in the US, Canada, and around the world, including Australia and Britain. The events are similar to "Take Back the Night" rallies. But they differ, because addressing sexual violence is only one of their aims. SlutWalk also wants to aggressively redefine notions about woman's sexuality.  Continue at Marry Kassian