On Sunday March 25 2012, The UNC colony of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated held their first Slut Walk as part of their Week of Illumination. Participants walked from the Dean Dome to the Post Office on Franklin Street holding up signs and chanting things like “No more victim blaming” and “Consent is sexy.”
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, a Latina-oriented sorority dedicated to diversity, community service and sisterhood, organized this Slut Walk in protest of Toronto police officer Michael Sanguinetti’s comment that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” This cause was especially important to Omega Phi Beta because their national philanthropy is raising awareness of violence against women. Sanguinetti’s comments highlighted a culture of victim blaming when it comes to rape and sexual assault. Slut walks are meant to bring attention to “slut-shaming,” shaming women for being sexual. Nobody deserves to be raped no matter what they wear. The fact that a law enforcement official publicly made these comments shows the extent to which we as a society are still allowing a culture that is too permissive when it comes to rape and sexual assault.
Sources:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42927752/ns/us_news-life/t/cops-rape-comment-sparks-wave-slutwalks/
http://www.omegaphibeta.org/site/
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