In defense of SlutWalk

On behalf of the Women’s Student Association, I am writing in response to the “Problems with SlutWalk” article published on Thursday, April 4.

SlutWalk is about expressing our unity by fighting to shed the stereotypes and myths of sexual assault and rape and putting the blame where it belongs: on those who perpetrate it.

Though it is a controversial event, it brings a significant message. We demand all bodies to be respected. No matter if you are a woman, man, trans, white, black, gay, straight, younger, older, have a low or high income — no one should feel worried that they might be victimized because of the way they dress.

SlutWalk is coming to Bloomington with more than 365 people attending on the Facebook event, more than 60 likes on the Facebook group and six organizations helping to organize this event.

It seems people support and understand that SlutWalk brings an important message. The power of SlutWalk comes from people who are tired of being told that a mini-skirt, tight shirt, high heels or jeans is an invitation or means that they are “asking for it.”

We acknowledge women of color have a relationship to the word “slut” that might make it difficult or impossible to reclaim that word. For this reason we have chosen not to emphasize reclamation as a process for our event.

What I hope comes from this is an event that helps create a conversation within this diverse Bloomington community around consent, victim-blaming and worth as human beings that is not determined by our sexuality. This is an event that fights to end the stigma of sexual assault, an event that educates people. I only see the event doing more good than harm.

If one person becomes aware of victim-blaming or stops thinking that people should suffer the consequences because of how someone dresses, then it has served its purpose.

If you believe that all are welcome — no matter what they wear — and should not be blamed for sexual assault or rape, then come to SlutWalk Bloomington at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Dunn Meadow for a march down Kirkwood Avenue.

­— Emily Kitchen,
Coordinator of SlutWalk Bloomington
emkitche@indiana.edu