Walk a mile in her shoes is part of the White Ribbon Campaign to end violence against women. It takes place October 1 at Yonge and Dundas in Toronto.
While we're on the subject, here are some thought-provoking comments on assault.
Found in the comments section, Broadsides, Antonia Zerbisias' column.
When I was at Carleton University, a group of women once suggested that men refrain from using a footpath from academic buildings to a distant parking lot after dark. Thus, women would know that any man on the path was dangerous. You should have heard the outrage from the men - "I don't rape women so why should I have my freedom limited!" The men appeared to be unaware of the fact that they often suggested women not use the path after dark in order to prevent themselves from being sexually assaulted. Well, women don't rape people either (for the most part) but our freedom just isn't worth as much, apparently.
Posted by: hysperia | September 16, 2009 at 01:38 AM
At the very least, women should pay 50% less tax than men do because of all the extra precautions we are forced to take to be safe from men. Also, we are allowed nowhere near the enjoyment of public space that men have. We should be compensated accordingly.
Posted by: sooey | September 16, 2009 at 01:24 PM
Quoted in: Women and violence By Barrie Levy, Seal Press, 2008, ISBN 1580052444, 9781580052443 - p. 27
Prime Minister Golda Meir met with her cabinet to discuss a series of rapes that had occurred in the state. Her all-male cabinet suggested addressing the problem by instituting a 9:00 p.m. curfew for women and girls; after a lengthy discussion, Meir said that since the rapists were men, a better solution would be to institute a curfew for men instead. According to Meir, the cabinet was silent for a time - and then decided against a curfew.
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I hate that "walk a mile in her shoes" crap. How about "set an MVP group in your area." How about "call out your buddies when they make rape jokes." Naw, just walk in heels, that'll end violence.
It's interesting that instead of making spaces safer for women, we get punished for being victims.
Carlton student here. I don't understand the Carlton path issue. I mean sure, this "women's group" can *suggest* that men "not use the path" all they want... that's fine. I mean, I sure as hell am not abiding by that suggestion, thus making it worthless (because not all men walking the path are dangerous), but sure, put up as many flyers as you want. By the same logic, the police can *suggest* that women not walk the path after dark... doesn't mean they have to abide my the suggestion, and most probably don't.
The difference is, to make the former effective for anyone, ALL men would need to be FORCED to abide by the "suggestion". For the latter, if one woman chooses to stay off the path, she has protected herself, but it doesn't affect anyone else. Straw man argument.
Oh, and the second comment is hilarious. Thanks for the laugh.