Hundreds Gather for Second Annual SlutWalk

     The SlutWalk protest rallies began when Constable Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto police officer, spoke on crime prevention at York University and suggested that in order for women to remain safe they should "avoid dressing like sluts." The first walk took place in Toronto on April 3, 2011, only three months after Const. Sanguinetti inadvertently supported rape-culture through victim blaming and the misrepresentation of assault on women. Over 3,000 people gathered at Queen's Park to listen to various speeches before marching on the Toronto Police Headquarters. While most women dressed in everyday wear (to symbolize ordinary women, sexually assaulted in ordinary life) some came dressed provokingly, representing sluts.

     The intention of the rally is to protest against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a women's appearance. The participants are also gathered to address what they see as a failure by authorities to properly help women who have been victimized. SlutWalk organizers go on to explain their disillusionment of the police on their website, which offers details of the walk as well as upcoming events and updates. An exert from the website reads as follows:

We are a movement demanding that our voices be heard. We are here to call foul on our Police Force and demand change. We want Toronto Police Services to take serious steps to regain our trust. We want to feel that we will be respected and protected should we ever need them, but more importantly be certain that those charged with our safety have a true understanding of what it is to be a survivor of sexual assault - slut or otherwise.       

More than 1,000 people marched in SlutWalk from Nathan Phillips Square, across Queen St. W. and up University Ave. to Queen's Park. (Michael Peake/QMI Agency) 

     On May 25, 2012, over 1,000 people gathered together for the second Toronto SlutWalk. A recent article written by Jenny Yuen from Sun Media quoted Colleen Westendorf, organizer for the rally, as having this to say, "We know there are some wonderful officers with Toronto Police. However, we also know not all officers receive the basic sexual assault training and we do hear stories of victim-blaming still." She concluding by stating that the organization doesn't feel that anything has changed since last year.

2011 SlutWalk in Toronto.

    The rally, while gaining popularity across the world, has not escaped some criticism, most of which stems from the organizations efforts to reclaim the word "slut" and redefine it to empower women rather than demean them. While the first protest focused on this effort in their advertising and media statements, organizers were less concerned with reappropriating the word this year because it was seen as "divisive" and "contentious." Feminist groups have also criticized the use of the word "slut" in the rally's name and advertising because it sets a dangerous precedent by giving the illusion that women are accepting the label given to them by misogynistic men.

     The walk has become popular in countries all over the world from London to New Delhi, where anywhere from a couple hundred to more than 3,000 protesters have turned out. SlutWalk has come to symbolize different things for different cultures as people come together to raise awareness and attempt to create a society grounded in understanding and equality. While I don't support the attempts to regain the word "slut" in order to empower women through redefinition I do believe that the organization has the potential to create change by illuminating the woeful state that is our current support system for women who have been victimized. For more details visit the SlutWalk website here.