Next up "Creepwalk," a protest designed to bring attention to the word "creep," and it's use as a mechanism to control the sexual behavior of men. Be on the look out for lots of guys with gold chains, greasy hair and thin mustaches, as well as a whole lot of pasty, overweight/underweight folks with straight up awful social skills who are tired of their awkward and abnormal advances being called "creepy."

Slutwalk is seriously awesome. I love our trajectory towards absolute freedom of sexual expression, let's tear down all control mechanisms for behavior and see what happens. At the very least things will be less boring.

That police officer was a dumbass on so many levels. Was he trying to have shit blow up in his face?

I like that last picture best! These Girls are so inspiring!

Dan Savage posted this video earlier today, focused on the "immodesty" with which college women dress, and satirizes the ridiculous message that we should present ourselves only in a way that does not tempt men:

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/04/04/have-your-dad-screen-your-wardrobe

I interviewed one of the organizers, Sonya JF Barnett, on Osocio:

http://osocio.org/message/walking_with_sluts/

Oh noes, but what can we can police women's behaviour with if slut isn't an insult anymore??? I'm sure you'll come up with something, CRACKSMOKERESQ.

Anyway, am I missing something about the "sluts say yes" sign? That...does not seem like a good sign the way I am understanding it.

Also, satellite Slutwalks coming up: http://www.slutwalktoronto.com/satellite

While I support the idea of protesting against the officer's comments, I wish they had chosen a more respectable and inclusive method of protesting. A rally that focused on not using misogynist slurs against women would have benefited all women, not just those who want to associate themselves with the behaviours suggested by that term.

As I get older, I realize how important it is that we balance the "do whatever you want" philosophy with social messages that contain moral guidance for the younger generation. I'm encountering 20-something people now who are not embracing casual sex as a means of rebelling, but, rather, who appear to have never have even been introduced to the idea that wise use of one's sexuality is a means of solidifying and deepening a spiritual relationship with a lifetime partner, not just a means to cheap and regret-inducing 'fun'. Watching them tumble confusedly through lives of heartache, mental distress, and physical infection is profoundly sad.

Yes, be good little girls and modestly protest. That's wicked effective.

If some in Toronto thought that this was over-the-top expressions, then I suppose that they REALLY wouldn't support groups like FEMEN, since FEMEN doesn't follow conservative social messages about what boils down to what is and isn't "appropriate" demonstrations about women and what they do with their bodies.

(info page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEMEN)

I love that they protested, but find it problematic that they think a word like "slut" can ever be reclaimed. The general lack of protesters performing the "slut" role (which is, after all, not some "natural expression of female sexuality," but is part of a false dichotomy created to oppress women), except in the last photo there, is pretty refreshing, though. It really looks like most of the protesters got it--that "slut" is a lie, a role, a way to threaten all women, regardless of sexual activity, into submission and designate them as permanently fair game for violence.

Some of the comments above really prove my point -- the focus on stopping rapists from raping, and stopping the blaming of rape victims/survivors, is overshadowed by the 'pro-sex' message that a lot of the participants, based on their signs, seem to be advocating. This was a very exclusionary event, in that women who don't want to associate themselves with an event sanctioning casual sexual activity are effectively given the message that their participation in the anti-rape movement is unwanted.

Every woman is against rape -- but only a small percentage would want their children (or the children in their community) to believe that casual sex is a morally acceptable course to pursue in their own lives. So, why choose an approach which marginalizes the majority of women, and brings public ridicule to women's-rights advocacy (just look at the comments on news stories about this event in the mainstream press)?

This is awesome.

These women don't even know why they're at this march. Some trying to be ironic by dressing like a stereotypical 'slut', some are protesting the use of the word 'slut', and others are protesting rape.

The funny thing is that if you look at these women’s appearances, the ones trying to be ironic, are putting themselves in the same danger that that thoughtful police officer was warning them about. And those women that are protesting rape are clearly in no danger of that at all.

As a major fan of the reclamation of words, one who inserts the word gay into just about anything ie. gaymazing, gaycation, thursgay, uses the word cunt frequently in positive settings, is all about fashun faggot, and is a bonafide slut, I am all for the slut parade, and naturally slut pride.
As a major fan of not getting raped, I'm all for a campaign that promotes the idea of "hey! don't rape people!".

However, Twisty at I Blame the Patriarchy does provide a rather stimulating analysis of the reclamation of the word "slut". I think it's an interesting, valuable perspective that deserves some energy. The gist of it is "nobody's a slut" and Twisty does have a point there.

If you wish to read it:
http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2011/03/31/toronto-activists-take-back-the-slut/

"they ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF SOMEONE MAKES THE DECISION TO RAPE THEM."

I agree, and I also think the officer's words were poorly chosen; but it seems to me that any advice offered to women to protect themselves from rape is immediately met with chants of "victim blaming." A woman once said to me, "I should be able to dance naked in a bar without any fear of a man touching me." Yes, she absolutely should. But she can't, and she should understand that it would be a stupid, dangerous thing to do.

Likewise I should be able to leave my car unlocked in the middle of Philly with a laptop computer sitting visible on the front seat, and fully expect it not to be stolen. If it is stolen, I blame the thief who stole it. If however, someone says to me, "Maybe leaving your computer in that position was a stupid thing to do." I have to say, "Yeah, it was."

Grizzly, i think you forgot the rest of the conversation, and that is where your metaphor struggles.
you blame the thief who stole the car, you agree leaving the car unlocked was a stupid thing to do
the police officer/society/judge/media/parents/peers bring up every time you left the car unlocked or your car was borrowed by friends and returned as examples of the fact that you actually just don't mind if people take your car unconsentually. They may also ague that you wanted the car to get stolen because you left it unlocked. They may argue that you actually consented to your car being stolen. If the theif is an anquaintice they may just laugh at you when you complain about it being stolen. They may say the theif couldn't help himself as he was just being a boy, responding to an unlocked car.

however at the end of the day. wether the car is locked or unlocked, if a theif intends to steal a car, they will. Cars with complex alarms systems, locks and deteriant devices get stolen all the time. I havn't locked my car in 7 years because i can't and it's still sitting out my window.

Can someone please explain to me how any sane, even marginally intelligent human being can say that, because some women have ravishment fantasies ("rape fantasy" is an idiotic oxymoron) that means they want to be literally and actually raped? Asides from a rapist, that is.

Women aren't property and can't be compared to an unlocked car. Unless we dress in plate armor and cover ourselves with spikes and wear chastity belts, we are always "unlocked" according to your metaphor. Rape occurs when a rapist is present and decides to rape someone. You can't guard yourself 24/7 against an person who is determined to harm you.

I got the slut label when I was in high school despite having never had sex. It still hurts 30+ years later, and if it can be reclaimed, good on the folks who are trying to do so. I'm with Twisty, that no one's a slut, but it's not like the label's going to go away; it's just another arrow in the bully arsenal.

My only comment here is that most men were raised by their mothers(fathers have a tendency to either be a deadbeat or not spend enough time with kids which maybe a part of this cycle).. Better parents make better children which make better adults which make better parents again.. two teenage boys were recently sentenced in BC for the planned rape and murder of a 17 yr old girl(and I dont care what she was wearing).. Someone explain to me how the parents of the boys(the older one raised by a single mom with the father in jail for a rape murder) cant be held accountable for failing as a parent? The solution is simple.. Jail offenders FOREVER.. Make parents responsible for failing.. They should be forced into parenting classes the first time their kid hurts someone.. Back to the whole thing about the way women dress.. Women can wear what they like.. girls need their parents permission - SIMPLE I dont believe in girls looking like women when their brain cant think like one yet.. Little boys dont dress slutty yet so many get sexually abused so I somewhat agree that what you wear does not play that much of a significant role.. My only advice here is that you can escape your attacker better without high heels.. Not a joke just plain physics..

I do not support this, in it's entirety. The sign which ends up reading, "tell men not to rape", umm yeah, noted....there is no such thing as reverse-sexism(it's sexism both ways same way reverse-racist, is an anti-white term) I am pretty sure most normal men understand the concept of not-raping. Problem no.2, the "ironic" statement caters to the pandering perverts they are protesting against. How many "pervert ringers" do you think there was in that crowd?
Queer means weird, and the gays took it back sure. I just think, slut-reclaiming is a sort of silly idea to begin with. It didn't work out for the black community sadly. Besides women, run women down with those type of words way more than men do(sure rapists may use it while raping, but bunching the rest of us with them is way more than unfair). While I am at, my political platform involves painfully executing guilty rapists, starting with castration. Driving is a privilege, not a right, same idea could apply to being a penis owner.
Men don't quite wear whatever they want either if you think about it. I can't dress all gangsta to work or an interview. I can't wear leather pants without getting comments and/or advances at the village. It's silly, stupid analogy, whatever. The point is, the way you dress, sends EVERYBODY a message of what you think about yourself and how you would like others to perceive you.
Also, jerk, asshole, creep, weirdo, loser, gino, guido, nerd, dork, geek, wigger, wash-up, scrub, are either 80% to 100% used specifically to degrade men.

I would like to point out as someone who attended slutwalk that these photos do not even touch the amount and variety of messages portrayed on signs. The people wearing revealing or ridiculous clothing were in the minority yet the media and photographers focused so much on them that they left behind the major message of the walk.
Yes, this event was about women's sexual freedom, women's freedom to dress as they wish. This walk was about those who have been assaulted or will be assaulted and their freedom from shame. It was about freeing sexuality and clothing so that people don't have to live in fear of assault. The message wasn't to dress up in a stereotypical manner, but to come as you are and of any sexual proclivity. I can give you a transcript of various signs that were at the walk, or photos, my own or a link to others that show what this event was truly about.
It's bad enough that people have to survive sexual violence. Compounded on that pain is a society which points the finger at them, which doesn't seem to care about them. As a survivor my daily life is inundated with secondary harm. Rape myths hurt those who have suffered. Rape myths create a rape culture in which assault is excusable because "she was asking for it." The main thing we were asking for at slutwalk was respect as human beings. We were from different genders, races, ages, and sexual orientations and none of us want to ever be hurt for any reason.

The village is the Church and Wellesley area, you fool(In Toronto where this article derives from).
I pretty much yawned and tried to read most of the reply, but it was really, really boring.
Essentially, put it this way, none of your rebuttals will make up for the fact that this is a term women use to put down women more often than not.
None of the senseless jargon will make up for the fact that this idea was poorly thought out, inconsistent, etc.
Ok want to reclaim a word, sure, take it. Doesn't mean there won't be another word made up to mean the exact same thing. Your passion is admirable, but temper it with logic, real logic, none of this grammatic crap(English isn't the only language I speak, or care to study).

Ok, I realize I am trolling, so I am gonna get out before it gets addictive(which it somehow is). I realize this is not my cup of tea, and that anything I say, will be twisted around until I sound like a Fox News person. I get that rape is bad, and that should have probably been the emphasis, like the "Anti-sexual violence march" there, broad, easy to understand, easy to get behind(no pun intended, seriously). Or "Rape Awareness", whatever.
I haven't even come close to raping someone, but if I sound defensive it's because using power and violence are not exclusively male attributes(check out Abu Gharib).
ANYWAYS.....I hope you guys well in your endeavorers and whatever, I seriously do. Maybe I am old-school, maybe I am too traditional for this new world, or too male. I will focus my attention on my spic brothers for now, later crackers!(how is that for word reclamation?)
PS-So yes, I do disagree with all of this and whatever, doesn't make me evil, nor do I care if it does(cause ain't no hell in atheist land).

How this all got started is pretty sad, but the idea of slutwalk is great. I hope this spreads to every major city within the next few years.

www.slutwalktoronto.ce is the place to visit for ideas as to how u can start a slutwalk in your area.... go slutwalk go!!!

If a news station were to cover this, would it be sexually objectifying women?

D: please read 'the mission statement' and other info provided on www.slutwalktoronto.com for more info on the movement and how/why it is being covered in media...

D: to be accused of objectifying women, one needs to look at the coverage/examples/illustrations/depictions/portrayaTs etc.... for the intent implied and what exactly the station is saying.... (nowithstanding 'free speech', etc.),the coverage may simply be illustrative or even biased etc..... given the nature of the beast (no pun intended!); however, to adjudicate culpability, this coverage muset be obviously blatant and downright offensive to most reasonable people in society for any culpability to be attached to it..... !!!! (in a court of law, for example)
Look at other blatant examples of the objectification of women in our society... where these agents get away with it in the name of capitalism... e.g. using images of women to sell cars, beer, and a host of other items.... all in the name of advertising (in this case, unethical, immoral BUT legal), such advertising being
the biggest culprit in this whole affair...... !!! Cheers!

It's a shame that the focus of this action now centres more on debates about female sexuality and whether or not a male defined term can be 'reclaimed', than on the issue it was meant to address - male sexual violence. If people want to reclaim a sexist word or rally for women's right to sexual freedom that's one thing, but to try to meld those issues with an action that's meant to focus on and challenge male sexual violence against women is obviously flawed and makes for a very confused and watered down message.

I think it is a two-way street. Men and women OF COURSE should not ever abuse another person... ever! I also think that men and women should dress in ways that are not disrespectful to others.
I know that there are no excuses for rape, and it happens regardless of what a person wears, but we should try to make it easier on ourselves by covering up in the right ways.