Now, more than a year later ‘Sibling' SlutWalks are happening across many different communities, different cities, different countries, in different languages and with different people. We do not create or organize other SlutWalks – these are founded by people in their own cities who feel the need to publicly challenge sexual violence and issues specific to where they are
Across The Globe
SlutWalks demonstrate “the spontaneous outrage of women, the LGBT communities, and pro-feminist men around the world against patriarchal rhetoric.” These “creative and edgy protests against the misogynist culture” were innovative in their novelty and provided women with a new and attention grabbing way of telling important narratives and seeking overall cultural and political change.
Europe
In Europe studies had just recently depicted the frequency of victim blaming, and at the same time, sexually violent acts had been shown to have risen despite the decline in crime overall. The comments of the Toronto police office acted as a catalyst as protesters used this moment and the precursory events to resurrect the fight against these traditional beliefs. Capitalizing on these shocking performance tactics, participants addressed the double standards women faced. SlutWalk Switzerland expanded their claims to also include the role of the witness and address the passivity of many onlookers. With the help of social media these women and men utilized the attention garnered from the risqué outfits and jarring vocabulary to turn societal expectations on their heads.
Latin America |
The discussion around patriarchal oppression had reemerged among women in Latin American countries now accompanied by the question: “Why hadn’t they started their own SlutWalk as yet?” Social media provided a path for activists to start making that change. Latina women used this opportunity to not only challenge cultural “machismo” but also combat government apathy towards violence against women. Adapting the pivotal phrases used in the first SlutWalk as they saw fit, these women translated “SlutWalk” to “Marcha de las Putas” and used P.U.T.A.S. as an acronym to signify “Por una transformación Auténtica y Social.” Fighting more than the cultural and societal barriers these women walked for sex workers’ rights, abortion rights and against government limitations on dress code.
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AsiaSmaller in numbers but just as powerful in the messages sent, the Asian youth used joined this wave of marches. Korean students mobilized in the streets to protest rape, and seek protection for young women. In India, particularly New Delhi, women used this as an opportunity to speak out against femicide. In spite of the critiques, some scholars argue that in addressing women’s freedom to do as she pleases with her body, these protesters also brought awareness general plight of women. Choosing to stray away from the revealing clothes and the word “slut” they used this as a pathway to discuss broader women’s issues. Some used the contrast of wearing clothing from head to toe to emphasize that vicitmization should not be the fault of the women and her state of attire. Others adhered to government expectations while still protesting the general consensus regarding women’s rights.
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Header photo taken by AgenciaAndes. Quote taken from SlutWalk TO: HOW