‘Slutwalk’ from Toronto to Tehran and Trafalgar Square

Published: 13th May, 2011
by PAVAN AMARA

MORE than 2,000 Londoners have signed up to take part in a West End protest sparked by a Canadian police officer’s advice to women to “avoid dressing like sluts”.

The Slutwalk march will start in Trafalgar Square on June 4, with 2,485 people already claiming they will attend on the Slutwalk UK Facebook page. 

Organisers say the march will highlight the fact victims’ clothes are not to blame for violence against women.

Writing on Facebook, Lana Puddy Garth, who will be attending the march, wrote: “So if women should avoid dressing like a slut in order not to be victimised does that mean that ethnic minorities should paint their skin white in order not to be a victim of racism?”

Slutwalks are becoming an international phenomenon. Slutwalk Tehran is being planned, with 48 women due to attend so far. 

Writing on its Facebook page, the organiser wrote:  “Dont’ forget Grrrrls!!! Slutwalk’s gonna ROCK the Islamic Republic of Iran on 04.02.2012 at 2000 hrs in Azadi Square! BE THERE!! RECLAIM!”

Laura Woodhouse, a Soho-based writer, who regularly writes for the F-Word feminist blog said: “The event aims to challenge the default social position of ‘Don’t get raped’ and replace it with ‘Don’t rape’, taking the focus off the victims. 

“In this spirit, the organisers encourage people of all genders, races, ages, religions and sexualities to join the march and raise your voices, hemlines and heels against a violent culture that blames the victims of rape.”

Feminists appear to be divided by the walk, with some claiming it empowers women by reclaiming the word “slut”, and other saying the walk is evidence that women are accepting a label given to them by misogynistic men.

In April, more than 3,000 women marched in Toronto’s Slutwalk. 

Other Slutwalks have been held in Vancouver, Dallas, and Boston.