http://www.slutwalktoronto.com/

seems like it's not encouraging people to be "sluts" in the traditional way, as much as validation of sex positivity and empowerment for women, especially rape victims etc in a society that tends to blame women for being "sluts" instead of looking at the sexism at the root of a lot of the problems.

It's not encouraging people to be sluts so much as saying that there's nothing wrong with being a woman and being sexually active. Society has this whole huge double-standard when it comes to sex but when it comes down to it as long as people are consenting (consenting also meaning mature enough to understand what they are getting into.) it's really nobody's business who has sex with who and how often and why (except for that of the people involved, of course.). It'd be nice if everyone could be responsible too but people aren't perfect. People are allowed to choose what they do with their own bodies.

The SlutWalk, while being in part about sex positivity, is also about how awful it is that our culture lets think that it's alright to say things that imply that people get raped or sexually assaulted because of their lifestyle choices or how they dress or how they hold themselves or whatever else. People get raped because somebody raped them. It's ridiculous and traumatic the way people are asked about previous sexual encounters and their clothes and other irrelevant BS when they report being raped or assaulted. Not to mention the awful way the media tends to present it; often mentioning irrelevant facts about the appearance of the victim or their history as if that makes it okay that something so terrible was done to them.

Think of it this way, if somebody gets mugged you don't shame them for lending money to friends or charities, or wearing expensive looking clothes. You don't grill them on why they were where they were when they were, or on every time they've lent money to someone or tell them that they shouldn't go around looking like someone that is likely to have money or give it to people. If someone gets mugged it's not their fault, it's the fault of the person who did that do them.

Rape and sexual assault are no different. There is NEVER a case where it is the victim's fault. I don't care if a woman takes a man up to her bedroom, gets half-naked, and then changes her mind and tells him to stop. No means no means no and that's that. (not only that, but not saying anything at all still means no.) If he doesn't respect that, that is in no way her fault. Even if she has had sex with him before. Even if they're married. There is no such thing as automatic consent.

So the SlutWalk is about raising awareness, and empowerment for women and survivors of sexual violence.

Sorry for going on so long about it, and for being kinda redundant at times... It's something I feel very strongly about.