It all started in Toronto, when a police officer uttered the words, "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized". The comment rightly riled up men and women and the result – The SlutWalk.
Slut is a word that comes from a place of hate and abuse and degradation; I do not want to reclaim it. I want to eradicate it and educate people - men and women alike should understand that it is unacceptable to judge someone based on how they experience their sexuality. The word ‘slut’ is a judgment. My body is mine and in the same way that I do not give any one the right to abuse it physically, I do not give anyone the right to abuse it with words. So no, I do not like the word slut and no, I don’t want to take it back.
On another note, the police officer’s comments were indicative of a misunderstanding of crime against women. Coming from someone meant to protect. I’m a little concerned. It gives rise to so many questions – how are victims of sexual assault treated when they approach the police? Do they experience a level of discrimination or stigma as a result of their chosen attire? I cannot begin to imagine what the experience might be like, imagine the added pressure when one feels judged while reporting a sexual assault. How many go unreported as a result? The police officer’s comments spotlight the need to educate people from every sphere; even those we might assume already understand the issues. We need more education - we need men to understand that what we wear does not give them the right to abuse, there is no excuse. Again, I reiterate - my body, my rules. No exceptions.
On that note, I’ll say that I think the SlutWalk is ineffective. Look at rape and what it is - power-driven. Rape is a crime perpetuated (more often than not) by someone close the victim – a family member, a friend, a trusted member of society – clothing choices are not at play here. Rape is used as a weapon of war in many countries; this in itself demonstrates that the motivation behind rape is so ingrained in ideas surrounding power and oppression. In countries where clothing is used as a medium to express conservative views etc, rapes still occur. Whether you are wearing a burqa, a sari, a pair of jeans or a mini skirt – rape doesn’t happen because a woman is wearing something specific, it happens because a woman is a woman.
No one can dictate what you choose to wear. I’ve heard the argument that women wear revealing clothes to get attention from men. I will admit, that about a week ago, I agreed. My academic background, my experiences with young girls – it all teaches me that there are a slew of influences out there and there are so many reasons why one might feel the need to gain attention. But what I’ve learned is that it is not my business to assume that I understand someone’s motivation based on how they dress. That is a judgment call that no on can make about another person.
But here’s what I think we need to focus on – self-esteem and confidence in one’s own choices. We live in a society that is so hypersexualized. Part of a young woman’s life is sifting through all the messages and not only coming to a personal decision, but feeling confident about the decision. We have what I call the ‘Pruddish/Sluttish’ continuum. And you need to figure out where you fall on this continuum, the only thing is that today, the decision is not yours. You are judged and placed on the continuum based on how people perceive the way you walk, talk, dress, act... Part of the feminist movement is sexual liberation- but how can one feel liberated if claiming responsibility and gaining confidence in one’s sexuality is deemed ‘sluttish’? And feeling confident does not mean you choose to be with 1 partner versus 3 or 10 – all it means is feeling confident in the choices you make for yourself no matter what they are.
I support the ideas behind the walk. I too believe that there needs to be a shift in ideology; a shift in the patriarchial ideology that clouds sexual assault and plays the blame game. But I don’t think the “SlutWalk” is the way to do it. Being associated with a word so deeply rooted in patriarchy and oppressive ideology is not the way to go about it. The word has spunk, it’s the new ‘buzz’ word; the word Slut has sensationalized the fight. I’m worried the walk itself will become a show. Women are not defined by their bodies; we do not wear our sexualities on our sleeves (or the lack thereof). Constantly focusing on women and their bodies and how that situates us in society, how that influences policy, etc has become tiresome for me to hear about. How about focusing a little more on what’s between my ears, as opposed to between my legs? How about a walk through the streets of Montreal where men and women walk in solidarity to raise awareness of gender issues - in hopes of integrating safe spaces where we can have a discussion about what sexual rights are, about respect for another person’s decisions, about equality and what constitutes harassment. That's a walk I will support.
