Slutwalk

It’s been Grand

“Posted by sjfbarnett on May 26, 2011 in Blog | Comments Off

I never in a million years thought I would be where I am now. After trying to tackle 2 fulltime jobs and a family, I picked up a third. One very valuable in how I see my son’s world shaping up before him.

SlutWalk was a reaction to not one officer’s remark, but to a history that was doomed to keep repeating. Insults, degredation, shame, rape. As I’ve said before, I never thought it would resonate around the world. No matter what I’ve been labeled—slut, whore, feminist, anti-feminist, sexy feminist, fucking feminist, racist, anti-racist, privileged—I am not ashamed to have been part of something that garnered heated discussions about the use of language, shaming and sexual profiling.

Because of the immense attention that SlutWalk has received, all our lives have been turned upside down and inside out. One major lesson I learned is that with me fighting for a better future for my son, I was in fact, leaving him behind in the wake. I was trying so hard to be everything for everyone. I know now that it’s impossible to live without sleep and love, and with that, I have decided to step down from being a lead organizer for SlutWalk Toronto.

I lost one job to SlutWalk Toronto and almost lost my son, and it’s time to refocus on my life’s plan: to continue working on the business I’ve been killing myself to build for 2 years on the side, and to engage deeply with my family. I will still participate in SWTO, concentrating on the local aspect, primarily a PSA program against shaming and victim-blaming, and hoping to work with our Police force to help spread this word. But I leave the larger components to my good friend and Co-founder Heather Jarvis and the team she is building around her. They’ve been working hard to not only advance the cause, but to adjust and morph based on constructive criticisms we’ve experienced. It will just take time. If you want to help make a difference, engage with them to help propel the message forward.”

“'Slut Walk' protesters stand up for victims of sexual assault

BY ALLISON SALZ ,EDMONTON SUN

FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2011 5:10:08 MDT PM

The word “No” has never been yelled louder than it was Saturday afternoon.

More than 100 women and men showed up at the Alberta Legislature to stand up for victims of sexual assault in the city’s first ever Slut Walk.

The walk was geared towards defending victims of sexual assault who get blamed for crimes by dressing too provocatively or walking where there is high risk.

“It’s time to put our feet down and raise our fists and shout “No More!” said organizer Kasia Gawlak as the crowd echoed her demand.

The idea for the walk came from Toronto earlier this year after a police officer said, “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.”

Such comments are insulting to not only women, but everyone, said organizer Anna Joy Glover.

“Anyone should be insulted by that,” said Glover. “We are trying to demand change and the way people talk about women and sexual assault victims. We want them to know that we are angry and that it’s not acceptable.”

Tracy Johnson, 25, carried a sign that read “Blaming victims make us all sluts.”

“I think that we have a culture that promotes victim blaming, and it is conducive to rape and sexual assault,” she said. “I want to be a part of the voice that says that’s not OK.”

Johnson volunteers with a not for profit organization that puts on a kids writing camp.

She said she’s passed on her passion for change to the youngsters.

“I created a course on writing for activism,” she said. “I want to pass that onto them.”

The walk almost didn’t happen after organizers say they were blindsided to learn they’ll need to give the city $2,000 to do so.

Walks have taken place across Canada and are now spreading around the world.

The event in the U.K. was set up “in solidarity with our Canadian sisters,” the organizers wrote on their Facebook group. Nearly 700 women have signed up for different walks in London and Birmingham.

“There are more today, next week. I think they’ll continue to happen until there is another way of dialogue,” Glover said.

allison.salz@sunmedia.ca”