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Toronto Slut Walk

The "Toronto Slut Walk" refers to a protest held on April 03, 2011 in Toronto. Protesters walked from Queen's Park (Toronto) to the Toronto Police Headquarters located on Central Street . These protesters were dressed in revealing clothing and holding signs in order to combat the disturbing belief that somehow female rape victims are "asking for it". They marched in response to remarks made by a Toronto police officer and judge. Women are also organizing other "slut walks" around Canada and the United States, including one scheduled for August 20th,2011 in New York City .

Background

On January 24,2011 Const. Michael Sanguinetti and a Senior officer from 31 division were speakers at a York University safety forum . The school has had some problems with crime and the officers were meant to address prevention methods. Allegedly, Sanguinetti commented that "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”. This comment was followed by another controversial incident in the Canadian justice system involving Justice Robert Dewar. In February 2011, while presiding over a rape case, Dewar made comments that many Canadian women deemed inappropriate. He remarked that on the evening of the alleged raping "sex was in the air" and the victims' behavior and attire may have given the attacker the wrong impression (she was wearing a tube top and heels) He also mentioned that the victim was wearing makeup and had been drinking. The judge found the defendant guilty yet sentenced him to two years of probation. The judge also required that the defendant write the victim a letter of apology. The typical sentence for such a crime is usually at least three years in prison but since the judge felt that the defendant wasn't threatening just “insensitive to the fact (she) was not a willing participant” he will serve absolutely no jail time. These were the final straws that outraged Canadian women.

"Sluts"

The Co-founders of the walk, Sonya Barnett and Heather Jarvis, decided to use the word slut in their demonstration because it is the same word that was used by Sanguinetti to describe the attire of rape victims . The organizations website states "historically, the term ‘slut’ has carried a predominantly negative connotation. Aimed at those who are sexually promiscuous, be it for work or pleasure, it has primarily been women who have suffered under the burden of this label. And whether dished out as a serious indictment of one’s character or merely as a flippant insult, the intent behind the word is always to wound, so we’re taking it back. “Slut” is being re-appropriated." 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. 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. No one should equate enjoying sex with attracting sexual assault."

The Walk

At 1:30 PM on April 03, 2011, thousands gathered at Queen's Park (Toronto). The day started off with speeches before the crowd made it's way over to the Toronto Police Headquarters. Although the website for the group urged women to dress in everyday wear (to symbolize regular women that are sexually assaulted during everyday activities) many women dressed like the archetypal idea of a "slut". Many of the protesters dressed in heels and fishnets holding signs eluding to "sluttiness". Some of the signs read "sluts have dreams too", "NOT asking for it", "proud sluts", "sluts say yes" and "police look like sluts to uniform fetishists". There were even some men who participated; holding signs such as "real men take no for an answer", "sluts are not as disgusting as Toronto police services", and "real men don't rape". It is believed that so many people participated in the protest because of how frequent sexual assault is becoming in our society. Unfortunately many victims are too embarrassed or ashamed to report the crime. One in four college females have been a victim of sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault, yet only 40% of sexual assaults are ever reported to the police. If this isn't alarming enough, 15 out of 16 rapists never spend a day in jail. With so many men capable of sexual assault freely roaming our cities it is no wonder that in the United States somebody is sexually assaulted roughly every two minutes, that means roughly 248,300 victims a year . The supporters of Slut Walk are fed up with society's and the governments belief that rape victims somehow deserved it.

Rape and our Society

"Society teaches 'don't get raped' rather then 'don't rape'".In the United States the idea that Middle Eastern women must wear a burqa to prevent men from lusting after them seems disgusting. Men should be able to control their urges through morality and discipline. However, it's apparent that in our country it is a belief that if somebody is attractive they are asking to get raped. When you think about it, our societies are not that different after all.

On March 8, 2011 The New York Times published an article "Vicious Assault Shakes Texas Town". The article told a story about an 11 year old girl who was raped in an abandoned trailer by a group of 18 suspects ranging in age from middle school to 27 years of age . How could an 11 year old girl deserve to be raped by 18 males and have it video taped for everybody to see? Well, the article implies the reason to be that "she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said". Based on the article it also seems that the areas sympathy lies with the boys who committed the crime and not the victim, "These boys have to live with this the rest of their lives". What about the 11 year old girl who will no doubt be emotionally scarred by this incident forever? Also "supporters didn't claim that the men and boys did not have sex with the young girl; instead they blamed the girl for the way she dressed or claimed she must have lied about her age". Even a Florida State republican used the victim to push a school uniform bill; "There was an article about an 11 year old girl who was gangraped in Texas by 18 young men because she was dressed like a 21-year-old prostitute, and her parents let her attend school like that. And I think it’s incumbent upon us to create some areas where students can be safe in school and show up in proper attire so what happened in Texas doesn’t happen to our students."

In March 2011 a UK criminal known as the "night stalker" was sentenced to a minimum of 27 year in prison for rape. Over a period of 17 years Delroy Grant committed a reported three rapes and seven indecent assaults. What makes this case so different is that he couldn't be targeting victims because they were "asking for it" since all his victims were elderly. All of his victims were between the ages of 68 to 90. Some of them were even deaf, blind, suffered from Alzheimer's disease, or suffered from Parkinson's disease. Grant was infamous for sneaking in windows and developing repertoire with his victims for hours before assaulting them. Although this is a disgusting act, why is it that communities become outraged at the rape of the defenseless elderly but blame frail pre teens for sexual acts committed against them? The "night stalker" is one of many cases that demonstrates that rape is an action about domination and not one based solely on sexual fulfillment. Nobody "asks" to get raped or encourages rape any more then people ask to be assaulted or robbed.

(1) Thomas, Niki (April, 3,2011) 'Sluts' March Against Sexual Assault Stereotypes "The Toronto Star".

(2) Walk of Non-Shame: Toronto Sluts Say Don’t Blame Me at SlutWalk "HyperVocal".

(3) The Canadian Press (April 4 ,2011) ‘Slut walk’ crowded Protesters say police blame victims of sexual assault "The Spec".

(4) Megginson, Tom (March 6, 2011) Slut Walk Osocio.

(5) Cbc News (April 3, 2011) Toronto 'slut walk' takes to city streets "Cbc".

(6) Rush, Curtis (February 18,2011) Cop apologizes for ‘sluts' remark at law school "Toronto Star"

(7) CNN Wire Staff (February 25,2011) Canadian judge under review for controversial remarks in sex case "CNN Justice".

(8) Randall, Alissa (March 30,2011) Slutwalk set to strut past Queen’s Park to police HQ on April 3 "Toronto Observer".

(9) Official Slutwalk Toronto Site

(10) Stopera, Matt (April 2011) The 30 Best Signs At Slutwalk Toronto "Buzz Feed".

(11) Stampler, Laura (April 20,2011) SlutWalks Sweep The Nation "Huffington Post".

(12) Rape Abuse and Incest National Network Statistics

(13) Rape Abuse and Incest National Network Frequency

(14) Mckinley, James (March 8,2011) Vicious Assault Shakes Texas Town "The New York Times".

(15) Tillman, Jodie (March 15,2011) 'Sagging pants' bill passes House committee "The Buzz; St. Petersburg Times".

(16) Lozano, Juan (March 11,2011) Some in Texas town blaming young girl in assault "AP Texas News".

(17)McIntyre, Mark (February 25,2011) ‘No woman asks to be raped’: Victim slams judge’s decision "National Post; Winnipeg Press".

(18) Slutwalk Official Site; Images

(19)Brady, Enda (March 28, 2011) Britain's 'Night Stalker' Rapist Gets Life Sentence "Sky News".

(20)Morgan, Tom (March 25,2011) Cops fear Night Stalker Delory Grant could have 1000 victims "Daily Record UK".