A march to end victim-blaming, slut-shaming and rape culture; “SlutWalk” returns to Vancouver on June 7.
The original SlutWalk event was organized in 2011 in response to a comment made by a Toronto Police officer who suggested to students at York that they could prevent being assaulted if they avoided dressing like “sluts.”
The organizers of SlutWalk Vancouver say they feel that the culture of victim blaming and sex shaming that this officer’s comments represent is very much alive in Vancouver. The purpose of the rally is to challenge the culture of victim blaming by “creating a safe space to start a thousand conversations about ending the blame.”
“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,” writes the organizers on the event’s Facebook page.
“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.”
“We 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 event takes place on Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m. at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Following a series of speakers, participants will march through the downtown commercial district. Anyone is welcome to attend; the only dress code is “comfortable.”
SlutWalk Vancouver 2015 Rally
When: Sunday, June 7, 2015
Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
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