Take Back the Day: Should Fem2pt0 CoSponsor SlutWalk DC?

June 28, 2011 Written by Current Events , Health , Women

There is something about a large group of women marching down a busy, public street in the light of day that forces us to confront false ideas about sexual assault. All the better if a lot of the women are half-naked. There are no hoards of men chasing after them due to their lack of clothing. There is nothing scary, dangerous, or even inherently sexy about the women’s bodies as they walk past the neighborhood café and drugstore. Rape and sexual mayhem is not compulsively breaking out in their wake, as the women chant “Yes mean yes, and no means no” holding signs that say “Slut” and “You have no right to touch me.”

Is this the new symbol of feminism?

Origins of Sluts Walking

SlutWalk is a grassroots movement that protests the belief that any aspect of a woman’s appearance might explain or excuse rape. The first SlutWalk was organized in Toronto, Canada on April 3rd as a response to a Toronto police officer’s remark that “women should avoid dressing like sluts” as a rape prevention measure. Since then, SlutWalk protest marches have spread like wildfire, surfacing across the U.S. and internationally as well, most recently in Australia and India.

Can or should “slut” be re-claimed?

The use of the word “slut” has sparked a debate about whether SlutWalk’s title is a positive or negative for the feminist movement. I must admit, when I first read Jessica Valenti’s Op-Ed in the Washington Post, the use of the word “slut” made me cringe. Criticism of SlutWalk’s messaging has come from several parties, including within the feminist community like Feminist Frequency. Others believe the usage of the word “slut” combats the misogynistic and dangerous way society uses women’s sexuality to discredit them, whether the context is sexual or not.  Now, Fem2pt0 has been invited to cosponsor SlutWalkDC this August, and it’s time we looked at the pros and cons.

Pros of SlutWalk

Young women have been inspired to organize themselves against sexual assault
The protests have injected some fresh energy into the feminist movement
The protests consistently attract media coverage as they occur in different cities
The messaging is attacking the victim-blaming attitude and rape myths prevalent in our culture
By re-claiming the word “slut”, we can stop it from being a justification for sexual assault

Cons of SlutWalk

The word “slut” has been used to shame, disrespect, dismiss, and silence women
The use of the word “slut” plays into virgin/whore dichotomy
The scantily clad protestors are personifying the hypersexualized exploitation of women
The word “slut” is detracting attention away from the actual issue of stopping sexual violence

Got Potential?

I think SlutWalk has potential to be a positive trend that attracts younger women who don’t currently identify with feminism or are advocates for women’s issues. The simplicity of SlutWalk’s point – no matter what I wear or how I appear, you have not right to harass, touch or assault me – is easy to support and hard to argue against. I understand how this approach is not going to seem right for everyone, but I think its potential to raise consciousness in the mainstream is something to consider.

Society uses the word “slut” to separate women “who are asking for it” from other women who deserve to be protected and respected. This separation is dangerous and illogical because women from all walks of life can and have experienced sexual assault. We need to take away the language society uses to make that separation and stop women’s expression of sexuality as being seen as a negative.  Is SlutWalk an opportunity to do this?

Readers: What do YOU think?

Fem2pt0 has been asked to be a cosponsor of SlutWalk DC, scheduled for August 13th.  Leave us a comment and let us know: should the Fem2pto community be a cosponsor of SlutWalk?

 

Photo Credits: Barbara Cook, The Guardian

 

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  • http://www.girlsgottarun.org Pat Ortman

    I don’t think the point of the walks is to reclaim the word “slut” because women never claimed it as a desirable thing in the first place. It’s always been a derogatory term, although very originally it might have meant simply slovenly or slatternly and have been equally applicable to both men and women. In that case I can’t see why anyone would want to reclaim it, either. The idea is to say that looking or acting like a “slut,” however someone defines that, is no excuse to perpetrate sexual violence on a woman, including labeling her a slut. So I would say support the walk but get clear on the point and purpose and make sure those are clear to onlookers.

    • K. Salis

      Pat – Excellent points. I think that some people may be trying to re-claim or neutralize the word slut. Others may be using to express that they are not going to be shamed or judged for appearing or being sexual. My take on it was that the protests could make that label seem irrelevant – that if women refused to let it sting that it would lose some of its power.

  • Andrea

    I cringed when I read this, “By re-claiming the word “slut”, we can stop it from being a justification for sexual assault”. Really? And what is the original,, positive meaning of the word “slut”.

    I completely agree with Pat’s post…..support it but be clear on the purpose and make it clear to others.

  • Katie

    Patricia, I agree with you — I don’t think participants want to own the word necessarily, although at this point interpretations of what slutwalks mean for those who walk in them and those who just find out about them are all over the board. The sarcasm inherent in using the word in this context doesn’t always come across in media coverage or on a sign — but there’s only so much we can do about that. What I like about this is that the point they are making goes beyond just talking about the word; it’s about so much more, and yes, we have to make THAT clear.

    In terms of connecting slutwalks to feminism, I think you’re right, Nicole — this is a way to let the point speak for itself, without getting into the nitty-gritty of feminist theory. It’s such a simple point when you think about it, and I think it should involve everyone, not just feminists or activists or even women, but everyone. Are there men’s groups involved, by the way? Is there a Hugo Schwyzer of DC hanging out over here?

    I say support the walk but be transparent about why and what it means. Let’s explore this for ourselves. People will do whatever they like with words; it’s actions that we should be concerned about.

  • http://www.fem2pt0.com Christina Black

    Thanks for posting this, K. I really appreciated your balanced look at the issues. I’ve been thinking about this a lot myself lately. While I was initially very opposed to the SlutWalk idea, the arguments I’ve been reading from some of my favorite bloggers have mitigated my stance somewhat. While it’s important for event planners to maintain a sense of the message they are sending, participants do not need to have the exact same agenda. Considering this, I could see myself attending the event to support it (as other commentators mentioned) without showing that I am completely on-board with the “reclaiming the word ‘slut” message.

    That said, it is hard to avoid that aspect of it when it’s in the title of the event. And I don’t think that’s a term I would ever want to re-claim for myself.

    • K. Salis

      I felt very similar – I liked the message but was uncomfortable with the word slut. its interesting how much power one word can have. I don’t know if re-claim is the right word but I think it would be great if women got to the point where we refused to let that word make us feel bad. I was talking about this issue with someone who asked me “if someone called you a liar or a child molester – would that make you feel bad?” And I said “No, because that’s completely untrue. Its ridiculous and stupid.” Then this person asked “So why does the word slut make you cringe if thats also not true?” And I had to admit that was a fair point. It made me think that when a slur means (negative + woman) that I may internalize it a little bit without thinking because the woman part of it is true.

  • http://madamaambi.blogspot.com MadamaAmbi

    When I first heard about “SlutWalk,” it was a protest organized in India, where women have far fewer freedoms than women in the U.S. The interesting point of the article I read was that it was organized by a woman who was born in the country where the SlutWalk was to take place (New Delhi), but who was raised in Canada. She had since returned to India to live and the differences in freedoms between Canada and India were inspiring her activism.

    Class stratification immediately reared its inevitable head. Women who were worried about what their employers would do, what their husbands would do, or who felt otherwise much too vulnerable, didn’t relate. Also, there is no word for “slut” in Indian language, so there was confusion about the whole point of the march.

    The controversy over this march is just so feminist: let’s make a big noise, even if the point is mushy, even if we haven’t built real coalitions, even if we have no 5-year or 10-year plan, even if this “march” has absolutely no teeth. You can rationalize by saying “Oh, but it’s getting young women involved.” Okay. Let me know if those women marching down the street in their G-strings will dig in for the long, long haul of dismantling patriarchy. Tell me if they even know what patriarchy is. Tell me if they’ve studied the history of women.

    Ayaan Hirsi Ali wrote a very pointed, poignant and damning piece in the NY Times about six months ago, in which she characterized American feminists as a bunch of Elizabeth Gilberts (author of Eat, Pray, Love), liberated from marriage and agonizing over what rug to buy. She characterized Gilbert as feminist, which surprised the hell out of me. Leaving your marriage doesn’t make you a feminist, imo. Anyway, Hirsi Ali’s point is that Western feminists are navel-gazing and oblivious to the grizzly, cruel and horrific lives of women under Islamic fundamentalism AND that these women NEED the help of Western feminists.

    Answer me this: how many of these “SlutWalkers” have read a first-person description of female genital mutilation? Of stoning? Of child marriage? Of enslavement to the family of one’s husband? And the list goes on and on. I don’t know if the SlutWalk will change anything, but it’ll pull some press. I fear it will look like a bunch of teens acting out. I hope I’m wrong.

    • K. Salis

      MadamAmbi – I don’t think Western feminists are oblivious about the lives and circumstances of other women. I think in many instances we are cognizant and careful not to speak for other women’s experiences or to appear as though we are dictating how women should organize or lead their own feminist movements. Feminism is not going to look the same in different places – and I find it curious to complain that a message is not universal enough while at the same time pointing out that women’s lives and conditions are very different across the world.

      Many of the young women may not have participated actively or are well educated about women’s issues, but that’s ok. This may be the starting point for them to get there – if they are invited and encouraged to make the connection between their own feelings of being harassed or afraid to the plight of other women (sexual assault is every where). Or if they realize that feminism principles have application to their lives and values. I think we need to recognize that people come to feminism in different ways and that theory does not have to be the starting point.

      Changing ingrained culture, especially patriarchy, often comes with a shift in understanding that does not come about through strategic plans and big coalitions. Its comes through individuals recognizing and believing a different version of truth and letting that inform their actions. Culture change often happens in small steps as people re-negotiate acceptable standards of behavior in their individual every day lives. To start doing that a lot of women will need to believe in their inherent value and rights – and that may start with believing that no one has the right to ever assualt them, whether they are college girls or strippers.

  • http://madamaambi.blogspot.com MadamaAmbi

    I made a pretty funny spelling mistake…not “grizzly,” but grisly! Although, some of the men in these pathological patriarchies are as easily threatened by grizzly bears…

  • http://www.fem2pt0.com Abigail Collazo

    MadamaAmbi: I think you are very unfairly critical of what these women have done and were trying to do. The women who started SlutWalk DIDN’T do it as part of the greater feminist establishment. They didn’t consult prominent feminists about how to make sure it was diverse, how to make sure it addressed women’s issues in, say, India (an example you bring up), or how to incorporate it into the broader feminist movement and values and missions.

    Why? Because they had no idea this would go global – that’s how grassroots this is. These women were upset about something someone said and wanted to march in protest – just them and their friends. To go on a rampage about how they clearly don’t understand anything about patriarchy and don’t care about women in oppressed societies because they are a bunch of white elitist babies pretending to ‘play feminism’ is, I think, overly harsh.

    What I think is very ironic here is your comments about patriarchy – and established system exercising privilege and power. To imply that it’s unacceptable and inappropriate for these women to have put together any feminist event without doing it in within the confines and with the approval of the feminist establishment is, I think, to fall into the same trap. Since these marches have been so hugely popular – on a global scale no less!!! – maybe the formal feminist establishment you speak of should take note. Maybe they should realize that instead of just being asked to donate money to Planned Parenthood or share an article with a first hand account of FGM, women want the opportunity to make their voices heard – to come out of the shadows and the woodwork and to scream at the sky, even if it’s not part of a 10 point plan.

    I’m also, I must admit, truly offended that you questioned whether these women can define patriarchy. They are marching because they are done with being sexually harassed and done with society telling them they were asking for it. They understand patriarchy. And just because they haven’t dedicated every breath every minute of their lives – in the long haul, as you say – to dismantling patriarchy doesn’t mean they don’t get it or don’t get how it affects their lives. Trust us, we get it. Just because some women aren’t comfortable with the idea of using the term ‘SlutWalk’ or with ‘marching down the street in G strings’ as you put it doesn’t mean it is any less valid a form of expression or advocacy.

  • http://madamaambi.blogspot.com MadamaAmbi

    Abigail–You know, my critique wasn’t a rampage. There’s a real attitude among young women who are outraged over longstanding, systemic problems as if they’re the first ones to discover these instituionalized structures and that no one, especially older feminists, should share insights from decades of seeing progress rolled-back or non-progress. Abigail, you pretty much consistently take umbrage at my point-of-view. I don’t advocate a movement of non-profits, including Planned Parenthood or other. I’ve been critiquing feminism-as-we-know it since I’ve been doing online feminism. I’ve written to many name-brand feminist organizations to ask “When are we going to have a united feminist front?” When are we going to figure out what our leverage is and use it? I even posted an open letter to feminists titled “Bitch Slap.” Gloria Feldt, in her book No Excuses, also has some harsh criticisms of feminism, such as the BlogHer conference she attended, which she called a missed opportunity. Gloria’s been around a long, long, long time (I’m sure you know she was president of Planned Parenthood). Gloria and I don’t agree on many issues, and we’ve had some public and private disagreements. Disagreement is healthy & necessary to forging strategy. I’m not rampaging, although I will admit that I’m plenty frustrated.

    Sister, some of us older feminists actually know things you younger feminists don’t. I know that’s going to make you mad as hell. But here’s the thing: I don’t think you’re really upset with me having a much more sober view of where we stand vis-a-vis patriarchy. I think you’re really experiencing the truth about patriarchy and that it’s a more powerful system than you thought…and that we’re really, really, really not post-patriarchy. I think you’re experiencing the awful taste of powerlessness…

    But hey, I could be wrong. Maybe SlutWalk will go worldwide, just like the so-called “Arab Spring.” I have doubts about that, too. Democracy won’t spring from these uprisings and I sincerely doubt that women will be represented in governmental bodies although empty promises have been made. I sincerely doubt that worldwide SlutWalks will end rape because, frankly, it’s a one-thread analysis of the Gorgon knot rape really is. This is where mainstream feminism is really weak.

    I’m glad there are young feminists and I wish you the best of luck, sincerely, but I think I’m wasting my time commenting here. I’m currently doing some research that, I hope, will really push the envelope and point the way to new strategies. Why? Because history is repeating and I’m beginning to understand why.

  • http://www.fem2pt0.com Maggie Arden

    From the first mention of the name of the walks I wasn’t thrilled with the entire idea. As I have since discussed it endlessly with friends, the first and immediate comment I heard was that it gets attention and gets people talking. That is has indeed done!

    I agree with all said above about ‘re-claiming’ the word slut. Again, as said above, this isn’t and shouldn’t just be a feminist issue. This is a societal issue, and everyone needs to be part of the solution. I support the bigger message of sexual assault and rape are wrong. Period. And it never matters what someone was wearing or if they’d had a drink. No means no. And there is no reason not to support that.

  • Abigail Collazo

    I think it’s incredibly important for us to bridge the young and older gaps in feminism. As you say, there is tons that we can learn from older feminists and as well tons that older feminists can learn from us. But I’m reading about a lot of older feminists who just want to criticize the women participating in the march. I don’t know that a tone that comes off as “these younger women don’t know what they’re doing – they don’t even know what partiarchy is!” is really the best way to get the feminist movement whipped up and into shape. Unless you are only referring to a feminist movement that doesn’t involve young women. I think sharing insights across the generations of feminism is absolutely the best way to do it – but if that means that older generations of feminists just want us to sit back and listen to them criticize us and our methods without offering constructive feedback or making an effort to include us in the conversation (we are just as affected by all of this), then I’m not sure we’re really going to get anywhere.

    All movements need people to question our mission, goals, tactics, strategies, etc. I’m glad SlutWalk has gotten so many people talking across so many mediums about sexual assault, and that it’s given so many women an outlet to make their voices heard.

    The main question then, is “what’s next?”

  • Jen G

    I’m so glad to see grassroots feminist movements popping up across America, even if they use the word “slut” (which yes, I do have mixed feelings about). At the risk of being too verbose, I want to share a story about why these movements, no matter what they’re called, are so important.

    About a week ago, two women were walking through my quiet, suburban Seattle neighborhood at about 1am. Two men jumped out of the bushes and assaulted them. One woman was able to get away, while her friend was dragged about 30 feet into a car at gunpoint. One of the men even made a point to stop at the convenience store while the woman was in captive in the car. They poured beer over her, knocked out more than one of her teeth, raped her, and then dropped her off about two miles away in the middle of the night.

    What appalled me the most about this whole scenario, even more than the violence of the crime itself, were the responses I heard from neighbors, colleagues, news reporters, etc. as the details of this story emerged in the news. What were those women doing walking outside at 1am? Maybe they were prostitutes! They should have known better than to walk by those bushes! And, when the woman was hesitant to come forward with details about the assault, police and the media speculated: Maybe she knew the assailant and it wasn’t a “real rape” (apparently the teeth she had knocked out during the attack were not enough to prove this was serious and real).

    Side note: The man who had the gall to stop in the convenience store was caught on surveillance camera and caught two days ago. A bartender recognized him from the tape shown on the news and called the police when he stopped at his favorite watering hole. This guy had a history of violent crime and assault. He had assaulted before, and likely would again. People have now stopped questioning the survivor, but why should they have questioned her like that in the first place? Why does the rapist need a rap sheet a mile long to validate the survivor?

    I was horrified that in this day and age, these sorts of speculations and questions were being posed to the survivor. This is why we need movements like Slutwalk. Had I been aware of the Slutwalk happening recently in Seattle, I would have participated…while fully clothed, but participating nonetheless, to say: it doesn’t matter what these women were wearing, what time they were out, what bushes they walked by, or whether they knew their assailants…the blame should like with the rapists, not the survivor!

    As a teacher, I am held to a high moral and professional standard, so I do wonder what my colleagues, students, parents, etc. would think of me participating in something called “Slutwalk.” Still, I think the undertones of placing responsibility of rape on the rapist are so important, I would participate regardless of the name. In fact, I think the name brings some shock value to the movement that gets it some media attention that it otherwise might lack, and media coverage can be an important way to spread the message that the blame for rape should lie with the rapist, and that rape can’t be stopped with a list of tips like “don’t go outside at night” or “carry mace;” it takes a community (men in particular, like the bartender from this story) to stop rape.

    As a college student, my first feminist experience was with Take Back the Night. When I first walked in it, I didn’t really understand what it was about or why I should be angry about being judged if I choose to walk at night. This movement was just the beginning of my exploration of feminism. I hope that Slutwalk can be that invitation for many young women today like Take Back the Night was for me around ten years ago, whether the name makes me cringe or not. I am rooting for Slutwalk in DC and for everywhere else!

    I’ll be keeping my eye out for the next Seattle Slutwalk!