Slutwalk

[razors]

slutwalk

Ever feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall? Why is it that when a woman is sexually attacked her clothes and behaviour are what people look at and not the perpetrator? When will the authorities cotton on that a pervert is a pervert and regardless of what time of the day it is; and what a woman is wearing are not the reasons she is attacked. Your thoughts?

aargh, why, why, WHY did they have to go down the 'slutwalk' route? I would happily get behind a march against victim blaming but I am not confident enough in the likely positive outcome of 'reclaiming' the term to involve myself in it.

the pity is, virtually all the feminists I know feel the same way - we talked about it at our local group the other day and it has been discussed on here too.

I can think of probably 40 or so people who would make the effort to attend a march against rape victim-blaming, but not this one.

I hope it goes well and that there is a good turnout and that it helps rather than hinders the cause.

I agree Sybil - though I agree with the sentiment I wish they didn't have to call it slutwalk. It will alienate the cause I believe and give the impression that women want to dress like sluts rather than the real message behind it.

Although I want women to be able to dress however they please - as long as they have the confidence to handle the comments they will inevitably receive. However I don't think that the way a woman dresses is why she gets attacked - harassed maybe. I know women who have been attacked wearing jeans and trainers - looking nothing like a slut!

I am so torn on this.

I fucking hate the name; but then on the other hand I think it's great that they are highlighting rape myths and victim-blaming.

I do want to support the cause, but the name is really making me think twice. I didn't have to consider for a second whether it was the right thing to attend RTN and MWR, but this.......

I think if I were to go, I would absolutely NOT be dressed as a "slut". [cringe] I would probably go dressed as an OAP, with a walking stick and slippers on; with a banner reading something along the lines of: "Do I look like a slut? ONLY MEN CAN STOP RAPE" (although that might also be a stupid bloody idea).

I don't know.....I'm going to really think about this, and weigh up the pro's and con's.

Is anyone else planning on attending??

Well it's a confused campaign. The problem is not with the woman as regardless of clothing, when a rape occurs, the woman is de facto a victim. The problem is with the man, and specifically, with his intent. Undoubtedly there are men who will rape whether the woman is in a miniskirt or a burkah, and in these cases, yes bang your head on the wall and say it doesn't matter what the woman wears. But, there are occasionally cases where a slutty look or a slutty behaviour sends sexual signals to men, and occasionally the man is confused into thinking sex is in some way consensual.

In such a case, Primlico, the man's head can usually be cleared of confusion by a good slap. I like wearing revealing clothes and engaging in group sex, but that doesn't mean any man who feels like it can just jump on and have a go.

No of course not, SpringChicken, especially if he is given a good slap or clear negative feedback. But humans being humans, there are all sorts of different responses during sex (whether consensual or not). There are situations where the woman has not made clear her lack of consent, and it is precisely these situations where there have been genuinely confused signals that the Law aims to differentiate in order to apply appropriate justice. That is not to say women should have to dress any differently, merely that the slutwalk campaign has no meaning.

i think by cowering from the word you are agreeing to the premise behind it. saying you are too nice to go on a 'slutwalk'. it is a v. powerful name and a reaction to a spectacularly ignorant comment from the establishment that women have to rely on for protection.

The trouble with calling it 'slutwalk' is that it seems to buy into the horrible postfeminist trend of relishing the whole porno culture -- like having pole dancing lessons, and sooo many other faux-empowering cons.

I know that the campaign doesn't do this. I know that trying to claim the word 'slut' is more like when minority groups reclaim other hatewords like 'queer' and so on. But it doesn't work in this case. The word 'slut' just doesn't seem to have the capacity to work as a subversive self-identification. It's resonances are too stupid, too wholly male-originated.

Well I think I shall be rounding up some mates and going along on this. We'll be going along as Ethical Sluts: both the patriarchy and some feminists have problems with women who like to have lots of sex with lots of different sexual partners and engage in exhibitionism and sexual display.

It's in the bloody Guardian again page 9. Expect high turnout from lecherous supportive men. Loving your work sisters.

I've decided I'm not going. I've posted on the big thread in the main section.

Is ANYONE going???

I didn't realise there was another thread - sorry ladies will hunt it down and have a look.

True : )

Im going on this - its great that women taking to the streets to protest against rape myths even if the positioning is a bit flawed.

primlico rape is an attack of violence not sex. Men using their penis as a weapon. I speak from experience.

A sympathetic report by the BBC:

Slutwalk London: 'Yes means yes and no means no'

And some good slogans:

10 best signs from Slutwalk