On Saturday afternoon around 5,000 people took part in a procession across central London in to draw attention to the global ‘Slutwalk’ campaign which aims, through highly publicised demonstrations in various cities, to reclaim the use of the word ‘slut’ and challenge what the organisers see as its dangerously misogynist connotations.
The latest march attracted a huge number of students including many from Oxford, with several college women’s officers organising groups to march together. At Wadham the JCR passed a motion saying that students who wished to take part could have their travel expenses paid for.
Beth Evans, the Vice-President for graduates at OUSU, also attended the event and told Cherwell, “There was a fantastic atmosphere on the march, with people sending out the positive message that everyone has the right to control what happens to their own bodies. The march was made up of people of all genders, young and old, from various backgrounds.”
She added, “Labelling someone a ‘slut’ can have the effect of marking them out as somehow deserving violence, or at least not deserving protection from it, or the right to resist it. People wanted to assert the right to sleep with whoever and as many people as they want without being deemed more ‘deserving’ of violence.
“The message is that no matter what anyone wears, no matter if they sell sex for a living, no matter if they’ve had a drink (or two or three), rape is never the fault of the person who experiences it but that of the perpetrator.”
The rise of the ‘Slutwalk’ movement was triggered by the remarks Toronto police officer, Michael Sanguinetti, who, when addressing a group of local students as part of a talk on health and safety, reportedly said ‘You know, I think we’re beating around the bush here. I’ve been told I’m not supposed to say this – however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.’ Sanguinetti has since apologised for his remarks but he remains in his position.
Beth Evans, the Vice-President for graduates at OUSU, also attended the event and told Cherwell, “There was a fantastic atmosphere on the march, with people sending out the positive message that everyone has the right to control what happens to their own bodies. The march was made up of people of all genders, young and old, from various backgrounds.”
She added, “Labelling someone a ‘slut’ can have the effect of marking them out as somehow deserving violence, or at least not deserving protection from it, or the right to resist it. People wanted to assert the right to sleep with whoever and as many people as they want without being deemed more ‘deserving’ of violence.
“The message is that no matter what anyone wears, no matter if they sell sex for a living, no matter if they’ve had a drink (or two or three), rape is never the fault of the person who experiences it but that of the perpetrator.”
The rise of the ‘Slutwalk’ movement was triggered by the remarks Toronto police officer, Michael Sanguinetti, who, when addressing a group of local students as part of a talk on health and safety, reportedly said ‘You know, I think we’re beating around the bush here. I’ve been told I’m not supposed to say this – however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.’ Sanguinetti has since apologised for his remarks but he remains in his position.
