Thousands of marchers are expected to show up today, Saturday, for the first annual SlutWalk in Boston. The action was prompted by a Toronto policeman who suggested earlier this year that women could avoid sexual assault by not dressing like a “slut”.

The first “SlutWalk” was appropriately held in Toronto in April and it inspired other walk a thons in Dallas and Hartford as well as far away like in Australia and Amsterdam. Facebook is helping to get the word out and sign up participants.

“We live in a culture that blames the victim instead of the perpetrator for sexual assaults,” said SlutWalk Chicago co-organizer Jessica Skolnik. She hopes that the walk will get the message out that blaming the victim is wrong. While the name is provocative, it helps with word of mouth and in a cheeky way gets attention in order to discuss the fundamental problem.

“As a survivor I can say from my own experience, when you encounter a culture and people in positions of authority who disbelieve you, who intimate it was your fault, it can be as violating as the initial assault,” explain Skolnik.

The walk is an opportunity for men and women to join together and stand against violent assault, putting the attention where it belongs: sympathy for the victim and condemnation for the offender.

Many cities are including workshops and support groups with the event.

Source: Reuters

By shelbydburns, NaturalFamilyOnline.com