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In April of 2011, in Toronto, Canada women gathered en masse to change the narrative surrounding rape and rape culture. “Slut Walk” in 2014 is transformed into a global movement to end rape culture and sexual violence against women.

Created in protest to a Toronto Constable advising women on a college campus to not dress provocatively to avoid sexual assault, Slut Walk reminds society that a woman’s attire is not an invitation to violate her. Currently a global movement, there are Slut Walks in the United States, Canada, Singapore, India, and several Latin American nations.

Victim Shaming and victim blaming is seen frequently when the discussing sexual assault. Often we hear questions about a woman’s sexual history, the amount of alcohol she may or may not have digested, and the old standard what was she wearing. These questions move the blame of the attack to the victim, implying unfairly that she is in some way responsible for her own attack. Slut Walks hope to change the topic, and reveal the truth: the only one responsible for an attack, is the attacker. Period!

Slut Walk is about empowering women to speak out and reminding society that rape and sexual assault is not about lust. The cultural misconception is that a woman can invite assault needs to be addressed and Slut Walk is one of many ways we can change this conversation. To learn more about Slut Walk and Sexual Assault Awareness you can visit the website of Slut Walk Seattle or search for a walk in or near your city

Aphrodite Brown