Slutwalk: because you're not allowed to rape sluts either
It’s not often that I actually agree with Catherine Deveny, but she’s summed this one up quite well.
For those who are unfamiliar, Slutwalk started in Toronto, Canada, on January 24 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police Force advised a group of university students that: “ women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”. Because, you know, if you dress like a slut some guy might mistake you for a slut and thus think that it’s okay to rape you. WTF!?! So on April 3 2011 the students organized a protest rally called Slutwalk.
There are now Slutwalks happening around the world. Sydney’s is happening on the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday. Sadly I will miss it due to a prior commitment. But otherwise I’d be there with bells on. If you’re able to make it, I’d encourage you to go, whether male or female, young or old.
There’s been a lot of discussion lately about Slutwalk, and I think some of the criticism is pretty confused or missing the point. There’s been a lot of argument about whether it’s women demeaning themselves or a valid form of protest against victim blaming. I’m very firmly in the “valid and useful protest” camp.
There are plenty out there who argue that Slutwalk is about women empowering themselves by being overtly sexual. It goes hand in hand with the argument that going to burlesque shows and engaging in pole dancing as a sport is somehow empowering to women. This is the argument that says women can be powerful by using their sexuality to exert control over men. That by celebrating your objectified status you somehow gain control over it. I don’t really agree with that and I don’t think that’s what feminism is about. But I don’t think Slutwalk is really about that either.
It’s not about empowering women through embracing their sexuality. It’s not even really about reclaiming the word “slut” and stripping it of its negative connotations, like was done for “queer” and “nigger.” (Although if it achieves that, more the better.)
It’s about reminding everyone that if a woman is promiscuous or drunk or dressed provocatively, it is still not okay to rape her.
Some people want to embrace their sexuality, not all women, but some of them. Some people want to dress provocatively and be the centre of attention, not all, but some. Some people like to feel sexy and bump and grind next to a steel pole. If you enjoy these things, then good for you. You still have a right not to be raped. And even those of you who don’t necessarily want these things for yourselves still need to recognise that it is not okay to rape those who do.
It doesn’t matter if she’s promiscuous and meets every text book definition for the label “slut”. It doesn’t matter if she’s an AFL groupie and would really like to go to bed with a footballer. It doesn’t matter that she’s said yes to heaps of people before; if she hasn’t said yes now, it’s not okay.
The word “slut” does not mean “a woman whom it is okay to rape.” We don’t need a word for that.
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