SlutWalk Struts Into Chicago

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Apr 24, 2011 8:00PM

"Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order to not be victimized." That's what a representative of the Toronto Police Service said, prompting Torontoites to create SlutWalk. It's a march to raise awareness of sexual assault and of this kind of slut-shaming that prevents many women from reporting attacks.

From the SlutWalk Toronto website:

Historically, the term "slut" has carried a predominantly negative connotation. Aimed at those who are sexually promiscuous, be it for work or pleasure, it has primarily been women who have suffered under the burden of this label. And whether dished out as a serious indictment of one's character or merely as a flippant insult, the intent behind the word is always to wound, so we're taking it back. "Slut" is being re-appropriated.

The Toronto event drew thousands, and now satellite events are popping up across the country. Chicago's own SlutWalk is planned for Saturday June 4, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The route hasn't been announced, but organizers say it will be downtown. And the event isn't just for the ladies. Everyone can come together to stop the all-too-frequent shifting of blame from the perpetrators to the victims of sexual assault.