About a dozen people, men and women, gathered in downtown Kelowna Friday afternoon for the first annual Slut Walk.
Organized by UBC-O student Karyn Giesbrecht as part of a social work project, Slut Walk is a protest where women wear sexually provocative clothes and carry signs explaining the way a woman dresses is not a license to take advantage of her. It is a politically incorrect term being used for good intentions. The Slut Walk originated in Toronto after a police officer told women they could avoid sexual assault if they stopped dressing like sluts.
“What we’re hoping is that people will understand it’s not the women’s fault when she gets raped,” Giesbrecht said. “If a woman is raped and she’s wearing a slutty outfit or she’s drunk or she was flirting with the guy all night, it wasn’t her. It was him. He did it and to say she was asking for it is completely wrong.”
“I think it’s so easy to forget that what we wear does not define us,” said Genevieve Sellers, who was wearing a skimpy outfit with a black bra visible underneath. “Just because I choose to look attractive and go out does not mean I’m looking for an invitation or looking to go home with someone.”
The Slut Walk fell on International Women’s Day, something Giesbrecht was deliberate about.
“It was just compounding the fact that this is for women and women should just be aware of this and even men,” she said.
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“We’re here today to show our support for International Women’s Day and to prove that women are never asking for it and never deserve rape no matter what they do or how they look,” said Tanya Moore.
Participants carried signs saying “Does my dress make you feel like a rapist today?”, “My vagina, my choice” and “A kiss is not a contract”. Giesbrecht says the posters are meant to provoke thought about a controversial topic.
“You need to a bit of the shock factor in order for it to hit home,” said Sellers.
A few men joined the walk as it made its way from Bertram and Lawrence, an area known to be frequented by prostitutes, to the Elizabeth Fry Society.
Chris Gallardo says the sexually provocative dress of the participants is a tactic that helps get the message across.
“Most people are afraid to say certain things and dress certain ways. It’s an issue we need to tackle head on and not push to the side,” he said.
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